Dr. Oz, Please do a show on Breastfeeding!

Dear Dr. Oz,

I recall the stir that you created in the parenting community by exposing the levels of arsenic found in popular brands of apple juice.  Although there was controversy surrounding this issue, as a mother, I appreciated this information!  I believe that it is easy for Americans to assume that everything available for public consumption is safe.  I think this was a wake-up call for many parents to start carefully checking labels and doing their own research to uncover the history and applicable regulations to which consumable items are subjected before serving them to their children.

As a mother and certified lactation counselor, I believe that there is an even greater controversy to be exposed on the subject of breastfeeding in the United States.  In the U.S., women are presented with many options for feeding their infants as if all options are equal; however, most mothers are not aware that human breast milk is far superior to any man made substitute.  Some women choose not to breastfeed because they don’t have all of the facts.  Furthermore, even with all of the evidence that breast milk is the best nutritional option for infants, there is still a stigma portraying breastfeeding as an indecent act that casts a shadow on all of its wonderful benefits and discourages mothers from providing this "liquid gold" for their babies. 

I would like to see a show in which your audience is made up of breastfeeding moms and babies, mixed into a diverse audience of men and women from various age groups, social and cultural backgrounds.  I think this would allow you to address popular concerns about public breastfeeding and explain why mothers need to be able to feed their babies on demand. 

Please address the social ignorance that rejects breastfeeding moms and please encourage them to continue providing the best nutrition for their babies.  I’d like to see you address the health benefits of breastfeeding for babies and their moms, including reduced risks of SIDS, obesity, childhood leukemia, asthma, skin problems/rashes, gastroenteritis, diabetes, etc., and the reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, postpartum depression, etc. for women. Not only should women have the facts about the life-sustaining value of breastfeeding, they should also have more public support to do so. 

By highlighting the health benefits of breastfeeding and promoting social acceptance of breastfeeding, this show could empower millions of women to choose to breastfeed, resulting in better health and lives saved.

Sincerely,
A MomFriendly Advocate