Here's my letter to the Today Show:

First, let me applaud you for doing a segment where breastfeeding is
mentioned.  Since the DHHS has made breastfeeding support and
information a national health priority, the more people hear about it,
the better this goal can be met.  Thank you for doing your part.  I must
question, though, the wisdom of having a guest whose advice contradicts
that of her own professional organization and the DHHS and CDC!  I am
speaking of Dr. Cara Familian Natterson.  In this arena of infant
health, as you well know, a battle is raging over what is and is not
proper advice for parents to be getting in light of all the recent
research regarding how to feed their baby.  I would assume that, given
this new health objective, the advice these major health organizations
believe is best is to support and educate parents regarding the benefits
of breastfeeding.  As old and worn as that idea is, new research shows
that babies who receive only formula are 20 times more likely to die in
infancy and also more likely to develop illnesses, hence the focus of
the National Ad Campaign that is being launched by DHHS.  As reported in
the Washington Post,

"An analysis of a nationally representative sample of about 9,000 U.S.
babies found that breastfeeding decreased the risk of dying from any
cause by about 20 percent, the researchers reported. Based on the
findings, the researchers estimated that about 720 infant deaths would
be prevented annually if all American women breastfed their babies for
the first year, the researchers said. "

This caused the CDC to issue a statement reinforcing the importance of
breastfeeding to the public health.  The media's role in this endeavor
to protect the health of mothers and babies will have a major impact, we
are convinced.  Therefore, it would seem more care should be shown on
your part as to the messages you allow on your program.  This isn't just
a matter of opinion, so that both "sides" should get equal time.
Research confirms and major health organizations recommend that
educating, supporting and promoting breastfeeding here in the US will
positively impact the health of mothers and babies.


To tell mothers otherwise, as Dr. Familian Natterson does in her book,
and did on your program, is irresponsible and dangerous.
 She says,
"Some mothers choose to pump their breast milk and store it so that the
baby can get breast milk from the bottle. But this is not absolutely
necessary. Remember that many healthy children have been raised on
formula. A combination of breast milk and formula or just formula alone
is safe and healthy nutrition for your child."

This is a direct contradiction of the DHHS and CDC, as well as AAP
recommendations and completely ignores the scores of children who did
not "do fine" on formula.  That is simply intolerable advice and I hope
that you will put more research and thought into such segments in the
future so that parents are not mislead.  A "feel-good" message such as
Dr. Familian Natterson's could harm someone.
Respectfully,
Marsha Glass

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Marsha Glass RN, BSN, IBCLC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future
generations as all other earthly causes combined.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~John S. C. Abbot~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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