The 3 Minute Activist
As the World Turns

E-mail: atwtgl@cbs.com

Dear Sirs,

Three cheers for "As the World Turns" for showing breastfeeding on a
daytime soap opera. It is odd that a society seemingly consumed with financial
prosperity and safety is largely unwilling to make the investment in breastfeeding, despite its proven benefits to babies' health and cognitive development. As I am sure you are aware, the American Academy of Pediatrics has strongly recommended that women breastfeed their children for at least 12 months, and thereafter as long as is mutually agreeable to mother and child.

This recommendation comes as a result of many studies that have demonstrated
that breastfed children have lower risks of diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, ear infections, allergies, eczema, bacterial meningitis, and many other illnesses, as well as higher IQs. The list of benefits to both mother and child is extensive.

One of the goals of the United States' "Healthy People 2000" program is increasing to 50% the number of women who breastfeed their children until at least 5 to 6 months of age. Sadly, though, less than 70% of mothers are breastfeeding at the time of hospital discharge, and only about 25% are still breastfeeding their babies at 6 months.

Because the media have an enormous impact on what we as a culture deem "socially acceptable," your tv show has tremendous potential for positive influence on the way Americans perceive breastfeeding.

This is especially important in a daytime television situation where bottle feeding is the prevalent way shown to nourish an infant. You are listening to your viewers, many of whom are stay-at-home nursing mothers, by patterning the character "Karly" like a real-life mom who makes her child a top priority by choosing breastfeeding. Hopefully, you will consider showing other characters who choose to be nursing mothers on "As the World Turns" in the future.

Also, please consider setting a new trend by portraying a mother who nurses into
toddlerhood! Many of your viewers could positively relate to that experience, and with that you may encounter even more support from nursing moms.

Breastmilk is one of the best starts in life anyone can ever hope to provide a
child, and nursing is one of the most natural acts in the world. Thank you for helping to spread this message so eloquently to daytime television.