For my 2 cents' worth, I'd like to agree with Linda Smith. I don't like the word "blame", however. I try to think and talk about "cause" - but so many moms have already been talked into blame and guilt! I believe that the ubiquitous interventions, hospital routines, health care professionals, etc. have tipped the "causation" of most of breastfeeding woes, problems and failures onto the babies' side, poor things. Yet it goes a long way to relieve a guilt-ridden mom who really wants to breastfeed to explain what's happening - how can she (or anybody) possibly "blame" or impose guilt feelings on a newborn? Bearing this in mind can help many of our clients, IMO. Reading Kathy D.'s post gave me chills. I constantly get hints to the tune of "modern women cannot breastfeed". I've always poo- poo'd this, saying that it takes an awfully long time to mutate, and this would be a major mutation. However, with all the labor/birth routine interventions going on (and I don't have to cite any examples to you people), in my present pessimistic mood I can see this coming true. What a downer! Quick, somebody cheer me up!! Judy Knopf in Israel [log in to unmask]