In a message dated 97-08-14 08:38:48 EDT, Rachel Hamlet writes (in part):

<< I got this e-mail from ABC News 20/20 this morning.  I spoke to Ms. Hirsh,
who is researching this piece...she is looking for moms who are currently
breastfeeding 3+ year-old children.  She has already spoken to some
"experts"...who have told her that this is not a widespread phenomenon, but
she suspects that there is a lot of closet nursing going on.>>

Yikes, I think 20/20's sensationalistic reporting is RESPONSIBLE for some of
the closet nursing that is going on!!!

I did not keep my videotape, so this is from memory, but here goes...

In January of 1995, 20/20 televised an outrageously irresponsible and
grotesquely skewed segment on breastfeeding and infant dehydration.  A couple
of infants who had suffered permanent damage from severe dehydration were
shown (I think one had a stroke and the other was an amputee).  Breastfeeding
(mother was unable to produce enough milk, and didn't know it!) was
identified as the culprit in each case---not early discharge, maternal
ignorance (he was such a good baby---he never even wet his diapers!),
inadequate follow-up by health care providers (had anyone checked whether
these kids were latching properly before they left the hospital?), a heavily
medicated birth, etc.

The mothers of these infants, as well as other women who were "unable to
breastfeed" described how "breastfeeding fanatics" (yes, 20/20 used these
words) made them feel guilty when formula was clearly the best choice for
their children.  Then 20/20 interviewed some of the fanatics.

It was clear that 20/20 thought the breastfeeding crowd was utterly insane,
and they did everything in their power to make the viewing audience think so
too.  One of the teasers at the beginning of the show made me
cringe---something like, "You won't believe your eyes, but this woman is
breastfeeding a three year old!"  Not one of the medical benefits of extended
breastfeeding was described on air---why let the facts get in the way?  It's
better for the ratings when you can make people look foolish!

Lee Ann Deal, who was then the executive director of LLLI, was the only
person associated with LLL to be interviewed for this rubbish.  Ms. Deal was
interviewed for over an hour for this report, but spent all of fifteen
seconds on screen.  Apparently, her comments were not inflammatory enough to
generate interest.  I suspect that the producers misled her about the show's
focus.

20/20 is not a bastion of factual, unbiased reporting.  I can't imagine that
their negative attitude towards extended breastfeeding has changed much in
the past two years.  Please, before getting involved with this project, ask
Ms. Hirsh for a videotape of the January 1995 report, a detailed explanation
of the current report's focus, and a list of all of the people being
interviewed.  My guess is that the title of the show will be "Mother Love or
Sexual Abuse?" or maybe "Nutrition or Perversion?"  I would hate to see any
of my fellow Lactnetters get burned on national television!

Rita