Action Needed: Real Simple Magazine Falsely Representing Breastfeeding - Page 8

[hotmamacita]

what a great idea

Where is the office? A NURSE OUT!!!!!

Ha, wouldn't they flip?! Couldn't dismiss us then.

[anna]

I love that idea! Perhaps local LLLI or API groups would be willing to coordinate something. Below is the only address available at the web site, but it is just Time Inc's customer service center . Obviously the target of choice would be Real Simple's central offices. Anyone have a copy of that rag on hand to check it out?


"Special Note for Parents
The site you are visiting is one of the Time Inc. general audience sites. For more information about our online privacy practices for children's sites, consult the privacy notice at the children's site in which you are interested.

How to Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about the Time Inc. online policy for this site or its implementation please contact us via email by clicking here or at the following address:

Time Customer Service
Attention: Consumer Affairs
3000 University Center Drive
Tampa, Florida 33612-6408 "

[katencyn]

Real Simple Magazine
Time & Life Building
Rm 41-50B
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

[bonbon mama]

My computer has been out of commision for awhile but I just breezed through a couple of pages of replies and I don't think anyone has leafed page by page through the October issue yet. I did, while breastfeeding, to look for any references.

Well, there is a tiny mention of irate letters with a reference to their website to read a sampling regarding their breastfeeding mention. There is also a focus article on a mother M.D. who clearly states "breastfeeding" as the number one thing parents can do to provide for their child's health. And she lists reasons.

Too small a step so I've cancelled my subscription too. It will not go into effect, though, for two more months so I'll post any future breastfeeding references in the magazine through the Dec issue.

[Meiri]

Well I finally wrote them too. I'd been holding off since I rarely get this magazine off the shelf.

As someone who occasionally picks up your magazine I've been following this controversy about the "What's the worse thing that could happen..." article with interest.

You see, the truth is that the best thing that can happen when a mom doesn't breastfeed is nothing. I'll even go so far as to say that that may be what happens a decent percentage of the time.

But you claim that the worst that can happen is nothing, a flat out lie considering that illnesses both minor and serious can result from not breastfeeding or being breastfed and that the very worst that can and does happen is death from SIDS or cancer or allergic reaction etc. A bare minimum of basic research turns up these facts within minutes.

You then claim in your response that this article was written to assuage the bad feelings of moms who couldn't nurse.

Does the staff at Real Simple really think we are so simple-minded that LIES are preferable to TRUTH?

If you were facing an important medical decision, would you truly prefer the doctor to tell you comfortable lies instead of the truth? Why in the world do you think we women, when facing the decision on how to feed our babies, prefer pretty lies to hard fact? I for one would be suing any doctor who lied to me about a medical issue, thus denying me my right to make a fully informed decision. Information about breastfeeding is no different. By printing lies you deny women their right to make a fully informed decision. By lying and then defending that lie with another lie, you profoundly insult our intelligence as adult human beings.

my name
my town, state

[reagan]

duplicate post

[reagan]

Well, I decided to wait and see what Real Simple's response would be before I decided to cancel my subscription... and I'm unhappy with the way that they handled the issue, so I cancelled my subscription from their Web site this afternoon.

I quoted the letter I wrote to the editors, and then included this:

In reading the Editors' responses on the Web site, I was very unhappy to see that they disregarded a great majority of the letters, calls and e-mails that they have received regarding this issue.

It makes no sense to me as to why they discuss breastfeeding in an article describing "time-wasting habits to break," yet turn around and say, "in no way are we suggesting that breast-feeding is a waste of time."

I have always liked this magazine and looked forward to receiving it every month. However, with so many articles dedicated to ultra-expensive clothing and people who own large farms or islands... I do not feel that Real Simple truly reflects the type of life that I strive to live.

I think I'll take that $20 per year and put it towards a magazine that does reflect my lifestyle goals... MOTHERING!

[babyblues_36]

Well, that is not quite right, because I know for a fact that in formulas is MSG what is a neurotoxin and a lot of mothers are not aware of this.

[Quirky]

Can someone with a subscription post whatever subscriber code it is we need to access the site, if that's possible? They've made their site subscription only. If not, could you tell us what's online about this issue?

TIA!

[myrrhmaid]

nak

here's my letter. i had to wait to cool off before i wrote! sooo infuriating!!
Breastfeeding my baby has been the greatest 'waste of time' I spend several times a day and night. Sometimes I get so hurried in my day I actually wake the baby myself so I can waste some more time nursing and nurturing her.
Shame on you for de-valuing our efforts as Mothers in nourishing and nurturing our children.
Maybe next time you can do an article on the time you save going to the Doctor/pharmacy for re-current colds and illness and allergies that women who breastfeed their children may experience.
There is nothing simpler than the pure food and love that a Mom and baby share when they have a nursing experience. For you to depict this act of sustenance & love as a waste of time is the epitome of absurdity.
Sincerely,
not quite as eloquent as some of your letters but hopefully it will get read. we'll see what kind of response i get. i'm proud of all us for being so proactive! we really do make a difference~in a big and many varied way!: pat on the back

[DaryLLL]

I just looked at the new issue in Borders. Did not buy it of course.

Saw the tiny sidebar in an article about a female pediatrician. Her first health tip for babies, breast-feed. Listing a few "benefits." Abt 6 of them out of the hundred or so. And of course, bfing is not beneficial, ABM feeding is hazardous.

Then she goes on to rec vaccines, downplaying side effects.

Saw the access code to the website hidden cleverly in the mag. CLOSET. Went to the webiste just now. Did not need access code.

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple...481682,00.html

Saw letters. Equal amt pro and con the original article. Letters embellished by---a photo of a baby being bottle fed!!!!

OK, maybe it was pumped human milk in the bottle. I am just wanting to believe this, but really, why did they do that?

One of the letters was from a sad mom with what seemed like real supply issues. She said LCs were "mercilessly egging her on" to nurse!

Even in the pro-bfing letters, the mag published ones with inaccurate bfing info!

This is so bad

[abigailvr]

Not that it excuses it, but I believe that is the photo they used with the original article.

I am constantly baffled by women who say there is too much pressure to nurse. Too much pressure when there are bottles every where you look! Ridiculous.

[Justice2]

I am not sure which one, but it's either the first or the second "Thank you so much for your article" letter sounds incredibly similar to their form response that they sent to everyone....just trying to make women feel less guilty for trying and not being able to bf.....I am willing to bet that those letters were probably written by the same person that sent those form responses. Lord, do I sound cynical or what???

[reagan]

just trying to make women feel less guilty for trying and not being able to bf.....

ITA...

I have been keeping a PG Blog (http://reagans.blogspot.com/), which helps keep friends/family updated on my pregnancy without inundating everyone with e-mails...

I posted on my blog about the Real Simple issue, including my letter to the magazine (and a link to Mothering! )

I received an e-mail from one friend in Australia (3 kids, all c-sections, all FF) saying that she agreed with the RS article; that she found BF to be too hard and too time-consuming; that FF made it so that her DH could help with feeds. She said she was glad to see that the magazine addressed FF-ing to make women who "couldn't BF" feel less-guilty.

As you know, here's the magazine's response on their Web site:

"But not all mothers are able to nurse for the 12 months recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The advice in the article is intended for those women — women who sincerely want to do the right thing but are defeated by circumstance and subsequently saddled by guilt. In no way are we suggesting that breast-feeding is a waste of time."

I excerpted this to my Aussie friend, and explained to her that, if RS truly wanted to offer comfort to these supposedly "defeated" or "guilt-ridden" women, then perhaps they should have written an insightful, sensitive article dedicated to the subject, instead of a 200-word blurb sandwiched between "What's the worst that can happen -- if you jaywalk?" or "if you sneak your own food into a movie theatre?" or "if you wash your dog with human shampoo?" Further, I explained that I view this as intellectual dishonesty, especially since the OB/GYN they used has taken fellowship monies from a company that makes infant formulas.... at the very least, he's a less-than-objective party.:

I think I was able to make the point that it isn't about BF vs. FF; it's how the matter was handled, from start to finish, by the magazine.

[ma2maya]

So this morning the editor(or one of them?) was on the Today Show doing a piece on home organizing. At the end of the piece she said that it was the mags goal to make life better for everybody(uh-huh). Although the piece had nothing to do with their uninformed and biased article in the August issue, I still wrote an email to NBC.
In the email I briefly mentioned the article and then went on to suggest that in the interest of public health and the well-being of our nations children, they should do a piece on the benefits of breastfeeding.
So what do you gals think? Maybe if we send in enough emails it might spark somebody's attention.
I sent my email to the following address and mentioned Real Simple Magazine in the Subject header.

[e-mail]