Here's my $.02 regarding prenatal BF classes:  I feel strongly that
prenatal classes should not get into such things as nipple shapes, and
gadgets to evert nipples. Too many women are very quick to assume that
their bodies are defective, especially that majority of women whose breasts
and nipples do not resemble the Playboy variety.  Any indication that a mom
may not have the ideal BF nipple may be undermining.

Ruth Lawrence studied the effect of prenatal breastfeeding education on
subsequent breastfeeding and discovered that women who attend classes where
"everything you need to know" about BF is taught, are *less* likely to
breastfeed.  Sometimes we are so excited by all we know about BF, that we
can share way too much with our clients/patients.

I believe that the ideal prenatal breastfeeding class would have three
components:  1)  very simple information about good positioning, latch-on,
and hunger/satiety cues, and 2) an indepth introduction to community
breastfeeding resources.

Cindy



Cindy Turner-Maffei, MA, IBCLC