'Today' contributor Dr. Judith Reichman offers some insight on feeding recommendations for infants and moms
We’ve all heard the expression “the next best thing to mother’s milk.” This implies, of course, that breast milk is a standard example of “best.” Yet, in a report published this year by the American Academy of Pediatrics, it was found that less than 60 percent of women breast-fed their newborns at the time of hospital discharge. And only 21 percent were nursing at six months, often adding formula supplements. As more and more studies are conducted, scientists give us increasingly persuasive reasons to breast-feed. Contributor and gynecologist, Dr. Judith Reichman, was invited to appear on “Today” to discuss why “breast is best” when it comes to the health of both baby and mom.
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2 comments:
Overall, this waas a good piece - well, as long as Katie kept her mouth shut, anyway. ;)
I was fairly offended and annoyed by Katie's comment, "If they can ask for it, they're too old, right?... that kind of creeps me out." Seriously now - this statement crossed the lips of a woman who got a colonscopy on broadcast television!
My letter to the Today show:
Thank you for the excellent segment on breastfeeding by Dr. Judith Reichman; it was informative and thorough (though I do wish you'd run it a week earlier, during World Breastfeeding week - what a missed opportunity to highlight this celebration!).
I was dismayed, however, by Katie Couric's comment at the end of the segment. Katie asked Dr. Reichman, "But when they can ask for it, they're too old, right?... I don't know, that kind of creeps me out." Hearing these words from an intelligent woman who has championed other health topics was very disappointing.
Katie underwent a colonoscopy live on national television in March 2005, and highlighted an important public health issue in the process. Colon cancer is not a topic that many people are comfortable discussing, but her efforts heightened awareness of this disease and made it less of a taboo matter.
Is not extended breastfeeding deserving of the same respect? Studies have proven that there are significant health benefits for both mother and child for as long as nursing continues, and the World Health Organization recommends that breastfeeding continue "for up to two years of age or beyond."
I hope that in the future Katie will - at the very least!- refrain from denigrating the practice of extended breastfeeding. There are many mothers of nursing toddlers out there in your audience, and comments like Katie's only serve to foster our society's disapproval of what is a normal, healthy and loving practice.
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