Dear Helena:

I won't pretend to be an expert on this, but I do see a lot of Afro-American
women in our prenatal clinic.  When I ask them "What have you heard about
breastfeeding" (a less threatening question than "how to you plan to feed
your baby?"), invariably the issue of pain, modesty and feeling tied down
come up.  Pain is the most common issue.  I must say that in the past 3
years, I have seen a remarkable turn around in the general attitudes of these
women.  I am running into many who have successfully breastfed and many who
tried and failed (at least they tried!!)  Nearly all of them know someone who
successfully breastfed (another recent development!).  I attribute this to
our aggressive WIC program (which has 2 IBCLCs on staff) and to my own
determination that the women I see will be making an informed decision.  I
have been promoting breastfeeding in my prenatal clinic for the last 9 years
and, with the repeat business we have, a lot of these women remember hearing
about breastfeeding in the past.    Hope this helps...  Martha Grodrian
Brower RD LD IBCLC

 (another note on calcium--this week I had my first patient with pica who
eats plaster and the mortar between bricks-----blech...  I don't know if
there is calcium in either one, but they sure would be crunchy!)