It was interesting to read Anne's comments about pre vs post delivery
referrals to support groups.  As an LC who has been involved with LLL
for many years and also WIC and high school support programs, my
personal experience is that seeing is believing.  For many years I
taught a class on breastfeeding to pregnant teens, BF rates didn't go
up much although their knowledge did. After I started bringing a
nursing mother and baby and encouraging them to watch, recognize what
a good latch on looks like, what swallowing sounds like and how sweet
it is to nurse a baby, rates started climbing. When we had other
teens come in the interest was even greater. Now when I ask those
moms if anything in the class helped them to breastfeed, they say YES-
 seeing the baby nurse helped.  They never can remember what I taught
them, but they call when they have problems.  At an in-service for
nurses several years ago, I brought a friend who is an RN and was an
LLL Leader and who was nursing twins to the class. 7 years later
those nurses can't even remeber the topic of the day, but they still
say... do you remember the time you brought the nursing twins to a
presentation? Watching a mother breastfeed her baby may be the most
effective teaching tool of all for pregnant women. Have them attend a
class, read a good breastfeeding book, view a video and visit a
support group.  That way they can find the resource that best meets
their needs.

I'd like to comment briefly on the need for class type information-
at our LLL meetings, we always include a time to teach breastfeeding
basics. Positioning, supply and demand, etc.  I agree that there is a
need for every mom to have a body of accurate information. Does
anyone else have experience with this?

Cathy with a C in College Station and mother to Benjamin-12, Marisa-
8 and Garrison (alias -HONEY)-4 and Chelsea Rose-our golden retriever
and Miss Clarabelle our sweet, Holland lop bunny and wife to Ben.