Here's the reply I sent:

Dear folks,

As a potential subscriber, I have to say, the "20 rules to break now"
article in the August issue has just made me a forever non-subscriber. The
Ob-Gyn who is quoted in the article is way, way off. The worst things that
could happen to a baby who is not breastfed are myriad and serious -- not
every baby will have an adverse reaction, but try talking to parents whose
babies could not tolerate any of the formulas currently on the market and
ask them if it was simpler not to breastfeed! It's not just a matter of
missing out on bonding. They miss out on all the immune benefits of
breastmilk. They are more likely to have digestive disturbances as infants,
ranging from constipation, to milk protein allergies, to diarrhea. Babies
who are not fed breastmilk are more likely to suffer from diabetes, obesity,
Crohn's disease, and a number of other conditions later in life. All of this
is very well documented in medical literature... which your "expert" has
apparently not read. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing
for at least a year... but since your "expert" is not, in fact, an expert on
babies, I suppose we shouldn't expect him to realize this.

Bottle-feeding takes up far more time than breastfeeding -- when I was
breastfeeding my son, if he got hungry, all I had to do was put him to my
breast. Period. There was no preparation of formula, worrying about
sterilizing or cleaning bottles, wondering if I'd brought enough formula
with me on an errand, worrying about the staggering costs of formula
feeding... and I could rest assured knowing I was providing the most
appropriate and safest possible food for my child. I knew he was eating
enough because he had enough wet and dirty diapers. My husband could still
feed him when I went out, using pumped and frozen breastmilk... which I
pumped while my son was nursing, so no extra time spent there. Middle of
the night feedings were not an issue; my son (simply) slept beside me, and
when he wanted to eat, I'd latch him on and go back to sleep. No having to
reheat formula or keep a cooler beside the bed. No getting Dad up, and no
lost sleep for me.

I sincerely hope you will print just a few of the letters you will
undoubtedly receive on this topic from other parents who are as appalled as
I am at this terrible "advice". And I hope you will consider printing an
opposing viewpoint... like the viewpoint of the entire children's medical
field!

Sincerely,
Jan A. Heirtzler
happy to have breastfed her son, and looking forward to breastfeeding her
daughter -- because it's simple, and because it's the best.