Good morning,
     In '93 I trained to be a breastfeeding counselor for the WIC program
when my daughter Fiona was 15 months old. Like many women my age, I worked
in my 20's for great pay under the table (no benefits). When I became
pregnant, my choices, like many women, were limited by my knowledge of the
healthcare system, but not by my desire to deliver naturally and
breastfeed. After many clinic visits, (and too many soap operas), it became
evident that there was something of a healthcare conspiracy to undermine my
choices. Hospital childbirth classes were dated and not supportive of
breastfeeding. My daughter was delivered late with the aid of prostiglandin
gel, much pitocin, demerol, vacuum extraction, forceps, and episiotomy. I
was left feeling like a cash cow because as much as I wanted to get up and
walk it was not an option. Eight hours after delivery my daughter was
brought to me but not before I cried, threatened and walked up to the
nursery several times. For breastfeeding information, a nurse was brought
up from another floor. She stood at the door, told me to wash my hands and
breasts well and to put the baby to my breast, then she left. As a black
woman, to have been treated so shabbily in a major metropolitan hospital
was naively unthinkable. Only one nurse, Carrie, put things back into
perspective. I forgot who I was, I thought race in the face of birth might
be secondary. Now I know that many white woman go through this experience
and that is not the point of my post. The point is that I did not give up,
even without help. For almost 3 years I've been a certified childbirth
educator, teaching in a clinic setting to woman of color, I hope to make
things better. I continue to see woman of color delivering babies into the
hands of white men that are totally indifferent to this most passionate experience.
I birthed a beautiful son around Christmas '93 with the assistance of a
midwife, an experience that went beyond empowering. It gave me the strength
to leave an abusive marriage and to remember who 'I am'. I labored
peacefully for 24 hours and birthed within 2 hours upon arriving at
hospital. Luc went to breast, we went home. But not before the ped. advised
me that boys were 'slow and stupid'.

The barriers are everywhere!
Ross markets the majority of its product to minority women. Ross states
that it is the educated woman that breastfeeds. Through continued practices
of undermining and misinforming many babies experience the ordeal of
routine separation and supplementation. I'm certain this goes on in the
'white' population, but for now I'm directing my energies here. The issue
of peer counselors has become an issue of marketing to some few practicing
lip service in the name of public health. From what I observe daily, I fear
the philosophy of peer counseling may become redundant...
The idea of having a doula is interesting, especially if all-inclusive in
terms of skills, not just someone paid to clean your house and take care of
meals, (while their own children are waiting) but someone prepared to
accompany the birth, assist with breastfeeding and help a new mother get
settled in. Getting it paid for by an HMO is another issue. I work for a
non-profit that manages WIC, it's been a long maze getting insurers to
understand pump rental for mothers with babies detained in hospital. Last
week we finally obtained a provider number for 1 HMO. 1 down, many to go.
It happened by much communication, pulling in key people from different
fields and the continued support of one extremely energetic and enlightened
BF pump rep!(Thanks PK)
It's been a long road, but the light's coming up close.

Soapbox down,
Regina Lockyer

I will sit for the exam in July '96, more importantly, I will remain a
patient advocate for ALL pregnant women.