Mothers can relax; formula isn’t poison
As a husband, father and pediatrician, I completely agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ statement regarding breast feeding. The evidence supports the fact that breast feeding is the optimal source of nutrition for babies. Having said that, breast feeding is not the only option.
Dr. Chris Magryta’s March 24 column describes formula as harmful and implies that those who use formula are uneducated or not interested in what is best for their babies. I have found both personally and professionally that such a hard-line stance can lead to unnecessary anxiety, frustration, tears and guilt for new parents.
My wife was fully committed to breast feeding our daughter. Prior to delivery, my wife researched, read and went to classes. After our daughter was born, nursing never really went well — but not for lack of effort. We met regularly with Connie Hoffner, the lactation consultant at Rowan Regional. Her advice and support were invaluable.
My wife took both herbal and prescription supplements to increase her supply, but our daughter just wasn’t getting enough. We fed her both formula and breast milk until she weaned herself at 6 months old. Thankfully, formula was an option because, in the absence of wet nurses, we would have returned to the tradition of poor weight gain, developmental delay and increased infant mortality.
Taking care of families where nursing is not going well is a very delicate situation. Many moms feel embarrassed or judged for not exclusively breast feeding. I encourage them to breast feed as much as they can: any amount of breast milk is good. But if for some reason it doesn’t work out, the goal is a healthy, growing child — regardless of what they eat. Breast feeding offers advantages that formula doesn’t, but formula still has a purpose. Feed your child, read to them and love them. I hope our society will be more supportive in the future and honor parenting with longer, paid parental leaves. Raising a child is full of things to feel guilty or bad about; what you feed them should not be one of them. Your baby will still be healthy, beautiful and smart.
— Dr. Jason Chan

Salisbury

Let us have peace
The recent lawsuit launched at our county commissioners concerns and saddens me. I feel that a person need not be told what they should personally believe or how to pray. For this reason I appeal to the commissioners to be conscious of those who don’t share their faith of Christianity. We have historically suffered from segregationist attitudes. We still suffer from it as a people. I do not see the wisdom of propagating this in the area of religion (gender, race and age have been enough).
What seems to be making the commissioners defensive over this is the very reason why an invocation at a governing assembly should be non-sectarian; people’s faiths are important to them. The inherent worth and dignity of all people’s faiths should be upheld by our governing bodies.
When we, by our speech, recognize only one faith as valid we, by extension, invalidate the rest. I hope that religious bigotry is not the face that the commissioners want to cast upon Rowan County.
Hopefully they will remember that when they are fulfilling the duties of their elected post, it is not about them personally — it is about us. It is about the people of this county, all of them, Christian and Non-Christian alike, to be represented by the commissioners to the best of their ability.
I hope that this matter get resolved amicably and does not allow anger and hate to fester among the people of our community, nor that the taxpayers are asked to shoulder any cost of defending one singular faith above all others.
— Kent Smith

Spencer

Time wasted on signs
Come on, our so-called leaders of Salisbury and Rowan County! Enough of the wasteful spending on such things as another study on sizes of signs. This is ridiculous!
Your first concern should be the 9.5 percent unemployment. Get your heads out of the sand and get new retail, etc. here to get these people back to work.
I understand that Rowan County is the worst around for the housing market. I live in Corbin Hills, and we have nine houses for sale. Some have been for sale for at least three years.
Instead of worrying about signs, you need to ride around town and look at all the dilapidated houses and buildings. If you don’t know where they are, I’ll take you for a ride. Enough is enough!
— Sally Edwards

Salisbury