I had to think about this a little bit because I don't recall ever making the *decision* to breastfeed. My mother breastfed all four of us for varying lengths of time, I was the longest nursed (9 months). My father was in the military, this was in the early 1960's, and mom has told me that the military doctors were all young and pretty progressive, encouraging "natural" childbirth and thus the greater potential to breastfeed. My mom even read Grantly-Read then! Also, we were stationed both overseas (Okinawa) and far north US (Limestone, Maine) where the supply of foodstuffs was limited. My MIL who had babies also in the early 1960's had an old codger for a doctor and was knocked unconscious for all three of her deliveries. Baby was atleast 24 hours hold before she got to see it never mind HOLD it, and there was no encouragement to breastfeed. Partly, my decision to breastfeed stemmed from the fact that I knew that I wanted to stay at home to care for my children and, well, my breasts were going to stay at home with me so why not use them? I also liked to prove the point that small breasted women can successfully nourish their young :) BTW, my obstetrician NEVER asked me how I intended to feed my baby. Lisa Jones