7-30-97

Time Inc.
Time & Life Bldg
Rockefeller Center
New York NY  10020-1393
 
Editors:

I am writing in response to the cover story for LIFE August 1997 entitled
"The magic of touch" by George Howe Colt (p. 52 in the Discovery section). I
thoroughly enjoyed the article and the photographs.  I agree that "America is
suffering from an epidemic of skin hunger" (p. 62) and that other cultures
are more comfortable with touch.  Therefore, I felt that a brief discussion
of breastfeeding should have been included.  Most people think of
breastfeeding only as a method of infant feeding, but the touching,
caressing, and bonding are equally important.  Kangaroo care, a relatively
new method of caring for premature infants involving skin to skin holding
with great results, could have been discussed as well.

A new law is in effect in California protecting a mother’s right to nurse in
public places, making many headlines recently.  Why do we even need laws for
this?  Because breastfeeding is not the cultural norm here in America, many
people are uncomfortable with this very natural act. Think about it - even
LIFE did not mention breastfeeding nor photograph a breastfeeding couplet for
this important article. 

Sincerely,
Laurie Wheeler, RNC, MN, IBCLC
Coordinator, Louisiana Breastfeeding MediaWatch Campaign