I wanted to thank you all for sending such great letters to the Dispatch
and to Mark Somerson. I was heartened by all the support, especially on
this holiday week!

As for me, I sent Somerson a letter, but due to its content, I didn't feel
it was appropriate to forward it to a public forum. I did confess to
forwarding his column to you folks. :)

Last night, when I came out from nursing my daughter, my husband, Bruno,
was missing. Then I heard the unmistakable sound of fingers typing angrily
on keys. He was writing *his* letter to the editor. Here it is, for your
reading pleasure.

Happy New Year and thanks again!
Janice Berry
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> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Mark D. Somerson, "Medical Reporter"
> Date: Wednesday, December 31, 1997 8:52 AM
>
> Dear Editor:
>
> I was surprised to find Mark Somerson's 12/28 column ("Health benefits
> of nursing evade this toddler") on the "Insight - Discovery" page.
> Since the information in this column neither is insightful nor presents
> any kind of discovery, it seems out of place.  I was even more surprised
> to find out, after reading the column, that Somerson is the Dispatch's
> medical reporter.  This self-centered view of the health benefits of
> breastfeeding might fit in the editorial section, but presenting it in
> the Insight section as though it is valid medical information is
> downright irresponsible. Somerson's article seems to be nothing more
> than a father with a sick child complaining.  My kids have been sick
> too; it can be hard.  But using his position as medical reporter to bash
> breastfeeding is a bad way to vent frustrations and does a disservice to
> your readers.
>
> I'm sure that Somerson realizes that although his daughter Caroline has
> been sick many times, one child is not a statistically significant
> sample, and he cannot conclude that breastfeeding has not helped her
> immune system.  In fact, science tells us that it helps her immune
> system in many ways.  One can only imagine what Caroline would be going
> through if she weren't breastfed.  He compares her to her older sister
> who was formula-fed and hasn't been sick nearly as much, and quite
> clearly leaves the reader with the impression that the new AAP
> guidelines on breastfeeding are nonsense and that formula is at least as
> good as breastmilk.  Again, science tells us this is just not so.  A
> more valuable piece would have been an objective column on the AAP
> guidelines and the 111 studies cited within them.
>
> Unfortunately, some readers will read this column and conclude that
> there is no benefit to breastfeeding.  Considering the known short- and
> long-term benefits of breastfeeding to the child and the mother, I
> sincerely hope that you will print a follow-up article setting the
> record straight.  Expectant mothers deserve it.  Our children deserve
> it.