I just finished watching "Reading Rainbow" with my almost 4 year
old.  Today's segment featured new babies and included a birth.  No
where in any part of the program did it mention how babies are fed human
milk.  There were several parts of the program showing children how to
feed a bottle, and LeVar Burton feeding a baby a bottle.  The fact that
breastfeeding wasn't even mentioned - not even as an *alternate* way to
feed a human baby (as we all realize the "usual" way in media portrayal
is by bottle) - really ticks me off.  I am due next week and would like
to send a message to PBS - explaining as an expectant mother, how I had
to sit down and explain to my child that bottles are not how humans and
other mammals are equipped to feed their offspring.  Does anyone have a
handy address for Reading Rainbow or PBS?  I have seen this segment
before and know it will run again and again and again - maybe they can
make some changes to make it more realistic.
     I can't believe they might be worried about offending someone -
they showed the birth.  They are offending me by assuming everyone
bottlefeeds and teaching that to my children.  I usually like Reading
Rainbow and was surprised that breastfeeding was so blatantly left out.
Pam Rardon RN, IBCLC  (Soldotna, Alaska)