Jessica,
    I loved your lact-message.  I think that when the job gets further and
further away from your own personal experience and the empathy moves away in
time with the experience, a 'refresher' course is lovely. (Especially the
way you did it!)  (Congratulations on your new little one).  My last one was
11 years ago,yesterday.  I have tried to keep up my empathy and sympathy for
these mothers.  I think sharing our  experiences and sympathy is helpful,
supportive and can be very therapeutic to the mothers we help.
     I think, that the formula issue is very true also.  I have come to
understand that we all have 'formula-fed baby images' in our heads.  They
include what a baby looks like after feeds (don't include what a breastfed
baby looks like when they want to eat and eat and eat), the longer interval
between feeds,etc, etc, including "how much is there, anyway?".  So being an
advocate for BF and that things will and do resolve about suckling and the
amount of milk we produce is very important.  It is important to get
everyone around a mother saying the same consistant positive thing.
    Your note IS important and not boring.  It's always good to be refreshed
in our jobs!     Thank you,
             Betsy Wells-Gephart RN, IBCLC
             Chandler, AZ

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