On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 13:02:51 EDT, Teresa Vinisky <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I wrote to Real Simple a few days ago concerning their article. This is the
>reply I received. Still less than pleased....but here you go.
>
>
>Thank you for your letter regarding the August story "What's the Worst
Thing
>That Could Happen If..." We have received a great number of passionate
reader
>letters about the breast-feeding issue. This came as no surprise to us as
it
>generated strong opinions among the editors as well. Ultimately, everyone
on
>staff agreed that breast-feeding is always better than not breast-feeding
(and
>in the article we clearly outline the benefits) but also recognized that
not
>every mother is capable of nursing for the 12 months recommended by the
American
>Academy of Pediatrics. There are women who are forced go back to work
after 8
>weeks of unpaid maternity leave and don't have private offices or
convenient,
>discreet stations for pumping. There are women who suffer from infections
>during breastfeeding, making nursing unpleasant and painful, and ultimately
>interfering with the enjoyment of their babies. This article was for the
benefit of
>those women, who try their hardest to do the right thing, but are defeated
by
>circumstance and subsequently saddled by guilt.
>
>Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with us. We take your opinions
>seriously.
>
>
>All the best,
>The Editors
>
>
>*Please note that Real Simple responds to every letter we receive, and
>therefore, regrettably, not all letters can be answered in a timely
manner. Please
>consult our website - www.realsimple.com - in the event your inquiry may be
>answered sooner.
>
>
>             ***********************************************

Theresa,
I received the EXACT same reply, word for word. Here was my response.
I have been a lactation consultant for a decade and and breastfeeding
counselor for more than 15 years. "An infection" is not a reason to wean.
In fact in several studies, the women who weaned during breast infection
were much more likely to suffer a serious consequence called a breast
abcess which requires surgery, more severe pain than the original
infection, and a long recovery time. Women who treat the infection, and
continue to nurse rarely if ever have this sequelae. Also there is nothing
in the milk of a mother with mastitis or in the medications to treat it
which is known to harm the child. In cases of mastitis, breastfeeding
should continue.

I have rented and sold breast pumps for almost 10 years and have yet to see
a woman who had to be separated from her child and could NOT find some way
to pump and continue nursing if she REALLY wanted to. One of my clients was
the only woman on an outdoor road construction crew, and she used the tiny
porta potty, and her rented pump with a rechargable power pack. All my
clients have found ways to pump, if they need to leave their babies for any
reason. Not having a "private office" is no reason to deny a child the
benefits of human milk. Most of my clients have no such luxury, yet they
all continue to breastfeed, and find a way to pump while they are away.

MOST women are capable of nursing for the full first year, if they want to
and get the right help. In my professional opinion, if your article was
aimed at women who were acually "unable" to breastfeed, it would be limited
to those who were undergoing cancer chemotherapy, those with post partum
psychosis and those who, for whatever reason, do not have breasts. MOST
women who don't breastfeed or feed their children human milk choose not to
do so, they are NOT "unable" to. Fifteen years in the field has taught me
this.

Your article should never had been so flip about the myraid benefits of
feeding human babies human milk.

Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC

end letter


Perhaps I was a bit "flip" but I think it was warrented.

Mary


>

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