To the editor,

Just a quick reaction to a recent "Health Matters" column about
breastfeeding.  A column which supposedly promotes health and provides
accurate information should have been better researched, as it
accomplished neither.  Formula fed babies are, in fact, more likely to
become anemic.   Breastfed babies grow differently (more normally) than
those on formula.  You do not have to be a calm person to breastfeed - if
that was true, probably the human race would not have survived all these
millions of years. Bottle nipples are not sterile.  Many breastfeeding
mothers work outside the home.   Also, it is not just that "some people
think" that breastfeeding reduces the incidence of allergies and
respiratory disease - it is a proven fact borne out by many studies, some
of them quite recently done.  In fact, there is little in this article
which is factual or helpful to mothers trying to make the best choice on
how to feed their babies.  Looking forward to better work in the future.

Sincerely,
Sharon S. Knorr, BSMT, IBCLC
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