Letters for May 15, 2008

May 15, 2008 07:05 am

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Have far to go on breastfeeding

Although I applaud your May 9 editorial, "Good more babies now breastfed," I am compelled to advise readers that upon closer examination, the 77 percent breastfeeding rate that includes "breastfed at least briefly" is not as impressive as it appears. The study question was specifically, "Was (name of the infant/child) ever breastfed or fed breast milk?"

Infants who only received breast milk once were then included in the responses, suggesting that 77 percent is somewhat of an inflated number.

Furthermore, the survey defines breastfeeding as "ever having been breastfed or received breast milk" and does not mention exclusive breastfeeding (infants receiving breast milk only, with no supplemental formula, liquids or solids).

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding (at least 6 months) is ideal, and provides infants with optimal developmental, psychological, health and immunological benefits. Accordingly, one of the more-significant goals of the government's Healthy People 2010 Initiative is reaching a 50 percent exclusive breastfeeding rate at 6 months of age. Though a 17 percent increase in breastfeeding initiation since 1994 is certainly an improvement, the bottom line is that we still lag behind: breastfeeding rates drop dramatically after three days postpartum, seven days, 21 days, and so on.

The current rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum is only about 14 percent (far short of the 50 percent goal).

Finally, the same survey you refer to in your editorial also finds that there was no significant change in 6-month postpartum breastfeeding rates since 1993! "Breast is Best" education has certainly reached U.S. mothers, but the keys to help them succeed in long-term breastfeeding include opposing aggressive formula-marketing, and having strong and unbiased support from family, friends, health-care professionals, employers and the public.

C. Ludden

Otego

Vote for Russo in Cooperstown

I have gotten to know Theresa Russo over the past year, and I was thrilled when she said she was running for the Cooperstown school board. I have learned what an intelligent, caring person she really is. To top it off, she's running for the right reasons: because she has the time, believes in community service and wants the best for all of our children. She's aware of the financial strains we are all under, and I know personally that she understands budgets and the hard work that goes into creating one and keeping increases to a minimum.

There are three positions open, but one is only for one year. I personally would like to see Theresa on the Cooperstown School Board for a full three-year term where she could be most effective. So it's important that you vote for Theresa Russo, who I believe will do a fantastic job!

Meg Kiernan

Fly Creek