Hi all! Here is the letter I sent to intehealth and their response. This is the first letter that I write since my heart always skips a beat when I even think about writing to anyone including Lacnet, but I am getting gutsier! [log in to unmask] To Whom It May Concern: I recently heard that the Television show "Chicago Hope" will be mentioning breastfeeding during one of its episodes. Unfortunately, it seems that the show will be speaking about risks rather than benefits. I am writing to you because it is important that you know that providing this type of unbalanced information is not only incorrect, but also only serves to scare new parents and parents-to-be. As a fact of life, it is true that there are risks to feeding a newborn; however, the risks associated with breastfeeding are not due to the mother or baby but rather to the mismanagement of breastfeeding itself. On the other hand, the risks with formula feeding are numerous, never mentioned, and are associated with far more than a problem of mismanagement. Mismanagement of breastfeeding is a risk that can be avoided. Understanding the medical and natural aspects of breastfeeding is a good first step. The second step is knowing to whom (not what) to turn to when something does not seem quite right; Nursing Mothers Groups, La Leche League or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). A third critical step is opening communication between ALL members of the medical team involved in the care of the mother-baby dyad so that both receive the best of care. In order to accomplish the above-mentioned steps we must allow those individuals who have dedicated their lives to this aspect of medicine, breastfeeding, to be an integral part of the medical team. For further information and better representation of breastfeeding please have parents and other medical professionals call their local Nursing Mother's Counselor group, La Leche League or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Sincerely, Yvonne C. Bannister, IBCLC ANSWER Thank you for your interest in InteliHealth, Home to Johns Hopkins Health Information. Contrary to what was said in an unauthorized press release about a "Living with Hope" segment on the "risks associated with breast feeding," the segment, to air following the October 21 episode of "Chicago Hope," will demonstrate how to breastfeed and will highlight the benefits of breast feeding. Best, Maureen Platt Smiles, Yvonne ********************************** Yvonne C. Bannister, LLLL, IBCLC Temporarily in Bordentown, NJ (USA) Private Practice/Baby's BestFeeding "A mother holds her baby . . . who lovingly holds her breast and gets the best!" Mail to:[log in to unmask]