Keeping the Breastfeeding Conversation Going

By: Jennifer Ashton
Topics: health

NEW YORK (CBS) We got a lot of great response from our recent video segment "The Challenges of Breastfeeding."

We'd especially like to thank the folks at the Best for Babes blog not just for featuring the piece but for giving some insightful feedback and challenging readers to reach out directly and let us know what content they want to see. Here's a short excerpt from the post by Bettina Lauf Forbes:

Here's what I loved about the video right off the bat:

The breastfeeding depictions in the opening help normalize breastfeeding in our squeamish culture.

Dr. Jennifer Ashton is attractive, sympathetic and articulate. Her image can help give breastfeeding a makeover and make it mainstream. Move over, Dr. Nancy Snyderman! I love that Dr. Ashton shares that breastfeeding was challenging for her personally, and how she was much more successful with baby #2, just like most moms (but we hope that someday, baby #1 won't get the short end of the breastfeeding stick any more, once the barriers are gone.)

Ashton notes that breastfeeding is important for the baby AND the mother! Yes! Too often the focus is just on the baby, but moms get huge health and emotional benefits from breastfeeding too, and they are worth it. Personally I have no problem with any mom who breastfeeds because it's good for HER.

Again, we love the "100 letters" challenge. Please leave comments below on this blog post and let us know what you thought of the piece. And also share your ideas for future Health and Wellness segments.

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by J_Castillo August 20, 2011 8:50 PM EDT: They are by far one of the most intelligent and honest groups out there and have bold and innovative ways of bringing breastfeeding back to the mainstream. I would love to see your news organization become the forerunner in women's health by incorporating a regular breastfeeding segment from Best for Babes

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by doulab January 22, 2011 1:00 PM EST: Hi,

Not sure if you were aware of this amazing event, somehow the media has not picked up on this!!! I'm writing to you in hopes that this "Call to Action" will get some very well deserved publicity/exposure. Anything you can do to bring this to the publics attention will be appreciated.

Thank you,
Beth Brownstein
Everyone Can Help Make Breastfeeding Easier, Surgeon General Says in "Call to Action"

Benjamin cites health benefits, offers steps for families, clinicians and employers
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/20110120a.html; Reply to this comment


by drvlasa November 13, 2010 10:59 PM EST: This is one of the things that I always encourage. There is nothing better than breast milk to get your antibodies and nutrition. Most women quit breast feeding early due to the stress and fatigue. There is a good book that can teach you how to breast feed and rest throughout the whole night (thats 7-9 hours a night of baby sleep), check: Babywise

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by willaimhill2010 October 29, 2010 9:13 AM EDT: Breast feeding is really great for the baby, it very nutritious for them..It gives them the anti-body..and can increase them....<a href =http://truevigrxplusreviews.com>Breastfeeding <a/>; Reply to this comment


by rselin April 24, 2010 4:36 PM EDT: I think it'd be a good idea to have segments about locations around the US that serve breastfeeding moms... Info about La Leche, info about yahoo group support groups, inner city lactation consultants that sacrifice their time for little or no pay, and businesses that go out of their way to make moms and babies comfortable during a time of life when many moms feel insecure. The ways communities come together to support people is what people need to see more of. Less of the divisive stuff and more about how people can help other people and find help when necessary. I think the average knowledge about La Leche is that it means hippies with 3 kids breastfeeding each mom (or some other exaggerated scenario) and breastfeeding consultants means that you're rich and hire people to do everything -- like nannies, chauffeurs etc. These common interpretations are not healthy for reaching the majority of moms that need support with breastfeeding. Let's avoid the extreme situations and depict the normal situations. For example, yesterday on kellymom.com's facebook fanpage, there was a TON of interaction about how normal moms manage to continue breastfeeding successfully while working.
Love what you're trying to do CBS!; Reply to this comment


by LauraKeegan April 23, 2010 11:54 AM EDT: What a great idea to have a regular breastfeeding segment from Best for Babes! For a 90 second video slide show summarizing Best for Babes work (motivated by my comment to the Let's Move Obesity Campaign in support of Best for Babes)go here http://******/djVS8l; Reply to this comment

by urbansuckling April 23, 2010 9:16 AM EDT

Thank you again for your awesome coverage of breastfeeding. And thank you for mentioning Best for Babes. I have spent the last five years researching breastfeeding and the advocacy groups that are doing their best to bring breastfeeding reform, and I am so impressed with the Best for Babes organization. They are by far one of the most intelligent and honest groups out there and have bold and innovative ways of bringing breastfeeding back to the mainstream. I would love to see your news organization become the forerunner in women's health by incorporating a regular breastfeeding segment from Best for Babes.
It is time that women take back their bodies and are allowed the freedom to make healthy decisions for themselves and their children, at home, in public, in media and in the workplace.
Thank you. Thank you.

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by LauraKeegan April 23, 2010 11:48 AM EDT: What a great idea! A regular breastfeeding segment from Best for Babes! For a 90 second video slide show of Best for Babes work (motivated by a comment to the Lets Move Obesity Campaign in support of Best for Babes), please go to http://******/djVS8l


by LauraKeegan April 23, 2010 12:58 AM EDT: I appreciated Dr. Ashton and CBSNews.com taking the time to share some of the realities of breastfeeding with a real mom and baby, while remaining positive despite discussion of the challenges. It seems media coverage of breastfeeding is either about the benefits or about the "mommy wars," while not touching on the experience of breastfeeding or exposing the public to any images of moms and babies breastfeeding. As Bettina Forbes of Best for Babes noted, it is important to normalize breastfeeding in our squeamish culture. I recommend you continue the breastfeeding conversation as you are, and to do more pieces with real moms and babies. There are many, many stories you and other moms could share with the public so that they understand what a breastfeeding mother needs from her community. (I also liked how you shared that you had your own breastfeeding challenges-I'm sure people would be interested in hearing more of your story.) Compassionate discussion and sharing of experiences while showing real moms and babies breastfeeding can help create a much needed cultural shift. Thank you again for being the beginning of this much needed conversation.
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by 60secondparent April 22, 2010 9:19 PM EDT: I really enjoyed the piece you did on breastfeeding and I am looking forward to more. Keep them coming.; Reply to this comment


by TheNewBornBaby April 22, 2010 8:57 PM EDT: It is so wonderful to see CBS covering breastfeeding in such a positive way. This is what America needs. Thank you Dr. Ashton. Keep the truth of breastfeeding coming!

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