>>Taught a breastfeeding class the other night.  I recently changed some of my
>>slides to reflect the newer language of breastfeeding promotion...  For the
>>first time in 6 years of teaching this class I got back several not so
>>wonderful evaluations and negative comments such as "too much time spent
>>bashing formula" and " a little too strong in her opinions" (actually

Aha -- opinions! Why do people think that support for breastfeeding is an "opinion"? This drives me crazy. Do people think we simply make this stuff up? I like to give parents a long list of references. They're not going to look them up, of course, but I think just the presence of the list gives weight to what I'm saying and also gives the moms something to show less-than-supportive friends and family members. I wonder if a highlighted (bright yellow!) copy of the AAP policy statement would do any good?

I'm going to be teaching a class for pregnant women in a couple of weeks, so I, too, have been thinking about how I'm going to use the newer language and subtly work in the campaign sabotage. I'm going to say right off the bat, "All the information I'll be giving you is based on the latest research. People have different opinions and ideas about breastfeeding, and we can certainly talk about things you may have heard or experienced, but I'm going to keep the focus on the facts. I'm not going to tell you anything that's just my opinion. If you weren't planning to breastfeed, please just listen to what I'm going to say about the very latest scientific findings so that you can base this important choice for your baby on all the available information."

Jennifer Herrin, RN, IBCLC
Germany

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