Kathy:

I have found similar success here in Mexico, too, by not only accepting the
presence of the grandmothers, husband, etc. BUT ACTUALLY REQUESTING IT,
when I give my 30-45 min. bedside orientation to the new mother. I have
found that since we (us LC's) seem to represent some kind of "authority"
before lay people, by including them in the on-the-spot breastfeeding
class, with the baby as the real-life model to use in this real life
demonstration on how-to technique - we avoid providing the mother-in-laws
of the world with the chance to give opposing advice.....'cause she was
present and heard what we told the mother.

FUNNY STORY:
Here in Mexico, the upper middle-class mothers often contract for a nurse
(not a real one, but a lady who wears a white dress and has spent her life
helping new mothers with their newborns) during the first couple of weeks.
Once one of my very dedicated and successful nursing Moms (a japanese gal
married to a yucatecan) called me and asked me to come and RE-give my
orientation class WITH THE NURSE PRESENT, so that the nurse would
understand the whole picture and stop undermining this wonderful new
mother. In essence, I was paid a second time for my housecall, to do a
'theatre-show' for the nurse's benefit. When I finished, and the nurse left
the room - both the mother and the father and I broke out in suppressed
gales of laughter (if that is possible!)
Cute, no?
I figured whatever we can do to support a mom is valid. Even repeat
performances for hired help.

love to all you lovely ladies,

Roberta