Hi again.  Since I shared my anger about the Prevention Guide for New Moms, I
thought I would share the letter that I sent...



February 26, 1997

Megan Otherson, Managing Editor
New Mom
33 East Minor Street
Emmaus, PA  18098


Dear Ms. Otherson,

     I am a lactation consultant who is very disappointed with an article
entitled, Breastfeeding or Bust, that appeared in the Prevention Guide for
New Moms that was created for display purposes in doctors' offices.  The
cover of the guide says, display until November 5, 1998, The truth about
breastfeeding.  At last--some honest answers.  It troubles me that expectant
moms will be reading this article until late next year.

     Prevention has always been representative of the best health choices.
 Many pregnant women will read this article throughout OB offices across the
country.  Television commercials toting formula tell them that breastfeeding
is best, BUT…  That but always tells our mothers that only the hard core,
earth mothers of this country can breastfeed, and that is simply not true.
 Annabelle Lee’s article provides the same message.      

    Her article begins with the difficulty the author experienced with
beginning breastfeeding, then she explains that everyone should be aware of
 breastfeeding myths.  Her focus is consistently negative.  If you were a
pregnant mom, would you want to breastfeed after reading her article?

     Lee makes derogatory comments to such an extent that I wonder whether
she actually breastfed.  If she did, it is obvious that she found it
exceptionally difficult and dissatisfying.  Is she the best person to write
this article?

     There are many examples of her negativity.  Her story about Maureen
Milici points out how happy and healthy Maureen’s son was on the bottle, and
that daddy gets to feed him too.  What place does this discussion have in a
breastfeeding article?  She quotes a study that obviously shows that the
health benefits of breastfeeding are statistically significant, and then
bottom lines it with, " Breastfeeding definitely helps boost your baby's
immunity, but it's no magic bullet".

    
      If breastfeeding is the healthier alternative, why is bottle-feeding
promoted so highly in a breastfeeding article by Prevention Guide? 

     Lee attacks convenience, "...when you nurse, no one can whip out <WHIP
IT OUT!!!> the breast at 3 a.m., but you.  Sure, you can have your partner
give your baby an occasional bottle.  But then, you'll have to endure the
hassle of pumping your breasts to fill those bottles.  And in the early
weeks, some doctors warn against giving breastfed babies even an occasional
bottle of expressed breast milk for fear they'll get confused by the
different nipple.
     Then there's work.  If you're returning to the office you'll have to
pump a few times a day while you're on the job and store the milk in a
refrigerator.  Convenient?  No way.  Do women pull it off?  Sure, but make no
mistake:  It's tough.
     Bottom Line:  Breastfeeding's anything but convenient."

     Here is the last paragraph of Lee’s article.  Read it again for me
please.  You decide whether it sound’s like an important breastfeeding
article from a leading health magazine or a quote from the book
 Bottle-feeding Without Guilt. 

     "Yes, it's healthy.  Yes, it's satisfying.  Yes, it can be wonderful.
 No question about it;  I'm living proof.  But the fact remains, nursing's
not for everybody.  The trick is to breastfeed only if you want to, to learn
everything you can before you try it and give it your best shot for as long
as you comfortably can--no longer.  And whatever happens, be good to yourself
and your baby.  What really matters is that you give your child love, not
your breasts." <IS THIS A POSITIVE BREASTFEEDING MESSAGE?

      As I stated before, I am a lactation consultant.  I deal with women who
are having difficulties with nursing every day.  Most women have problems
because they read nonsense articles like Lee’s, and other misleading and
inaccurate resources.  Then they will often attempt to do everything on their
own.  It’s like reading books and articles about flying, and then attempting
the first flight solo! 

     Which brings me to the only redeeming quality of Lee’s article.  She did
recommend La Leche League and Lactation Consultants as a resource.  I
appreciate the plug.  However I can’t help but wonder how many women are
going to be excited enough about breastfeeding once they see what the
Prevention Guide for New Moms has to say about it?

     Please consider using an expert for your next breastfeeding article.
 Annabelle Lee doesn’t quite fit that category.       

                                                Sincerely,


                                                                     Debbie
Albert, Ph.D., IBCLC

*International Board Certified Lactation Consultant