Sir, - It seems unlikely that Anne Dempsey, who wrote an excellent article about breast-feeding (Health, September 22nd) had any say in the choice of photograph to accompany the article. The photograph showed a mother feeding her baby, and, as far as can be seen, they both appear to be naked. There would be nothing wrong with this, of course, and it is aesthetically a nice picture, but it reinforces the perception that breastfeeding involves embarrassing exposure of the mother's body.
It is the kind of photograph used by some formula milk manufacturers in their literature where they ostensibly offer equal "promotion" of breast feeding, but in fact reinforce a negative image. In reality, most breastfeeding mothers wear clothing which, with a little practice, permits them to nurse their babies without exposure or embarrassment. This is well demonstrated in some posters available from the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health, and such a photograph would have been more appropriate to the context of the article. As someone actively involved in supporting those mothers who wish to breastfeed, I found your choice of photography frustrating. - Yours, etc.,
Aidan Finnegan, The Health Centre, Portlaw, Co Waterford.