Today Show on Breastfeeding
My kids are at my Mom’s house today, so I just happened to be watching the Today Show this morning. They did a segment on breastfeeding, which for the most part, was positive. They pointed out that the AAP encourages exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and that children should really breastfeed until at least 2 years of age. They highlighted the benefits for mom and baby. All in all, it was pretty well done. The main points can be read on the Today Show site.
However, female talk show hosts should just quit talking about breastfeeding altogether, I think. First Barbara Walters opens mouth, inserts foot about mothers nursing babies on airplanes, and on today’s segment Katie Couric was just about as bad. First, she went on and on about how hard it is to breastfeed. While she did encourage women to seek professional help if they were having difficulties, she made it seem like breastfeeding was one step away from torture. Then there was the end of the interview. After it was pointed out that babies should be nursed until 2 years of age, she said “But when they can ask for it, they’re too old, right?” The doctor responded with something like “It varies from mother to mother.” And Katie’s reply? “That sort of creeps me out.” She did follow up with “to each his own”.
So, ladies, perhaps it’s time for a bit of education, or a letter writing campaign, or a nurse in. It’s sad to me that it’s the women in the media who, more often than not, are the ones who torpedo the Moms who are just trying to provide the best possible life for their children.
The video of the interview, including the comments mentioned above, can be seen on the Today Show’s website.