Yes, it will have an impact--slowly.  Remember that several studies have
shown that physicians base their breastfeeding advice on their own
experiences.  Just like other parents, they want to belive they made good
chocies for their babies.  Remember also the HUGE influence formula
companies have and the money they spend to "contribute" to the education
of physicians.  Yes, some of us are working hard to influence medical
school and residency curricula; planting seeds that will someday change
the medical world (just as we hope to change the whole world one mother
and baby at a time....)

Perhaps it will cheer you a bit to hear the very preliminary results of a
study I'm doing.... in our residency practice (a combined faculty/resident
practice of 7 FP faculty, 2 peds faculty, 19 FP residents) in 1997, of 67
charts I've reviewed so far 66 babies started out breastfeeding!  I have
not found a single chart in which a resident or faculty member recommended
weaning or formula feeding without first obtaining a lactation consult or
otherwise encouraging continued breastfeeding.  I'm only about half done
with the chart reviews of all babies delivered by and cared for by our
practice in 1997, so don't have the 6-month rates yet.  I'm just really
pleased to discover that we seem to have a virtually 100 % breastfeeding
initiation rate!  That's good even for Washington state, particularly
given the socioeconomic status of our patient population and a relatively
high proportion of teen moms.  The six graduates are scattering now--one
to Oregon, one to Alaska, one to Vermont, three staying nearby....more
seeds planted.  This is happening many places in the country as more and
more breastfeeding-savvy faculty put more energy into training.  There is
hope!

--
Anne Montgomery, M.D., I.B.C.L.C.
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St.Peter Hospital Family Practice Residency
Olympia, WA