It's hard to say which profession would have the most influence.  I AM a
pediatrician and I really enjoy my profession.  Pediatricians are in a good
position to encourage moms to keep on breastfeeding (if, that is, they're
knowledgeable and supportive); we can/should be able to pick up breasfeeding
problems and refer to LC's when indicated.  We often don't have much
influence on whether a mom initiates breastfeeding, but sometimes we can do
that when we give talks to the childbirth classes at the hospital or try to
talk a mom who didn't breastfeed her first child into breastfeeding the
second or third when they're in our offices.

The problem is:  many peds in practice don't know much about breastfeeding
and aren't supportive.

Linda L. Shaw MD FAAP

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