Regarding ways of emphasising the importance of the BF relationship, not just
the benefits of HM:

In my BF class slide show I have one very beautiful photo of a mother and her
seven month old, nursing.  They are looking into each other's eyes, mom is
smiling, and they are clearly totally crazy in love with each other.  (Baby
has hand on mother's cheek...)  I put this picture up on the screen after
going over all of the technical stuff about benefits of human milk,
positioning, nipple confusion and how bottles are different in baby's mouth.
 I leave the picture up as I talk about how the pay-off for breastfeeding
often takes a month or two, for things to settle down, and for baby to begin
to give feedback to mom in the form of smiles and so on.  I remind class that
things are often difficult and tiring in the early weeks with a baby NO
MATTER HOW HE/SHE IS FED.  The preg mothers in my classes may never go to an
LLL meeting, which would be another way for them to learn about the greater
dimensions of BF.  At least my slide reminds me to make my little pitch about
the close bonding and I feel it is well recieved as food for thought and
gives them a vision for their breastfeeding relationship.

I would like to try and be more prepared with a mild and nonjudgemental way
to respond to those mothers who say they are just going to bottlefeed because
it's easier.  I want to say, "EASIER FOR WHOM?  YOU OR THE BABY?" (Don't
worry, I wouldn't say that!)    But maybe: (empathically) "Right now it seems
like bottlefeeding will be easier for you.  (thoughtfully) It won't be easier
for the baby, though... (sigh) That's what makes it a difficult decision.  On
the one hand, breastfeeding may be difficult at first, but on the other hand
the baby will be better able to avoid viruses and germs... etc."  ---What
else do people manage to say?

One thing to point out to those who say they plan to pump and feed with a
bottle, is that if this idea came to them *because they think it will be
easier,* they need to realise that it will take TWO times as long- first the
time to pump, and then the time to give the bottle.  -Unless they're going to
prop the bottle :(.   I have had people say "Oh, I hadn't thought about that!
 It's surprising what some people haven't thought about...

Sue Jacoby, IBCLC