FROM: Sturgess, Frances Coulter
TO:[log in to unmask]
   [log in to unmask]
SUBJECT: Carla and Benton's baby
DATE: 05-29-97   16:02 EST
PRIORITY:


My letter to ER....:'>


Dear producers/writers of ER:

given all the problems that poor infant has, I and many of my professional
cohorts agree that Dr. Benton should investigate and encourage breastmilk as
the nutrition of choice for his infant.  Preemies can be given pumped milk via
tube, if they are too fragile to breastfeed, and the skin to skin
contact/kangaroo care is *very* soothing and supporting to the poor infant (if
you don't want to show Carla, show Dad without his shirt..:')..but you can
still have Carla discuss brfdg, or when baby is older, discreetly
brfdg--really in the right loose blouse all you see is the back of baby's
head, body, and moms arms--don't need a shawl, don't need to unbutton the
blouse.)

MOre evidence is accumulating that the very things we do to save/help preemies
actually *cause* some of the severe debilitation they can get (as was brought
out in a previous episode re: blindness vs suffocation/oxygenation/respirators
etc).  The feeding of artificial milks (formulas) is not without its risks
either, and even breastmilk *if fortified with manmade/constructed "human milk
fortifiers" * like formulas, increases the rates of gastric infection,
diarrhea, etc. as compared to breastmilk alone  (and yes, moms can pump milk
for preemies---lactation does not have to wait till full term)

We need the role models of Dads supporting breastfeeding, particularly African
Americans, as their breastfeeding rates are lower than other groups, so this
would be a great opportunity to continue to promote Dad involvement, *period*
and breastfeeding as well. (and of course the continued humanization of
Benton!)

There are a lot of highly qualified Lactation Consultants out there, and MDs
that support it also---one you might seek out is Dr. Jack Newman, at the
Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto--but UCLA has programs, and they're
closer to you, as well as Wellstart, at UCSanDiego.

Thanks for your attention---as an aside, I could *not* watch "doctor shows"
for almost 20 years after working as a nutritionist at a large teaching
hospital.  Either I have grown more tolerant or Hollywood has gotten more
*humane* and less "doctors as GOds".  (probably both)   :)

Frances Coulter Sturgess, MPH, RD
Public Health Nutritionist
Mediawatch for Breastfeeding Promotion (not a CDC position)

[log in to unmask]