Kim,
You don't have to talk about "benefits" of artificial feeding.  You can
talk about bf like you normally do, then talk about how to artificially
feed correctly.  Make sure they know all the cautions:  have their tap
water tested for lead, never boil water used to dilute abm due to the
danger of lead poisoning (or overconcentrating any mineral contaminent),
the danger of excessive fluoride if using bottled "baby water", the need
for oral rehydration solutions on hand due to the higher risk of
diarrhea in artificially fed babies, the need to sterilize bottles and
nipples, the need to check nipples for damage at each use to prevent
choking or aspiration of latex/silicone pieces, short storage time of
abm, need to throw away any abm left in the bottle after feeds, need for
earlier solids to obtain trace elements, need to hold baby and bottle to
prevent choking, bottle mouth syndrome prevention, making sure they
stock up on extra abm in case of bad weather, trucking strikes, whatever
would limit their access to abm.  If we don't educate mothers to these
difficulties with artificial feeding, they believe the manufacturer's
advertising that makes it look easy.  And if you gloss through the
bottlefeeding information in your class, you make it look easy too.
Share this information as dispassionately as you can, and mothers will
feel less defensive, and more free to change their minds if
bottlefeeding turns out to be more trouble than they bargained for.
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC  mailto:[log in to unmask]