One of the first in-services I conducted (I will NOT tell you how many
years ago that was, but Doug was a baby; he was NOT ALLOWED to come to the
class, so I scheduled my arrival during his afternoon nap, which usually
ran 3 hours (that worked; he didn't miss a feed at all!).

I brought a baby doll with me and ended up rocking with it in arms
(unconsciously, which the teacher pointed out!).

Anyway, this instructor (for a Red Cross baby care class) was very wise.
She had me talk about breastfeeding (practicalities, etc) and then she
invited one of the preggers moms to come up to the front and "prepare" the
formula (this class was entitled breastfeeding and bottlefeeding).  She
spilled it all over herself and the table, etc., was most apologestic,
commented that it seemed to "smell funny" and on and on.  The teacher then
continued her disciussion about the importance of sterilization, etc.

After the class, that mother asked for my phone number (two days later she
gave birth and came to my house for some pointers about breastfeeding).

After the class, the teacher told me that she ALWAYS had a mother try to
make up the formula, becuase 90% of the time, they spilled it all over the
place and made a mess and got to smell how bad it was, etc. and she figured
this was a reality check (though that phrase wasn't exactly what she used)
and that people needed to know how awful bottle-feeding was (her words!).

What I will never forget is the looks of dismay on the pregnant moms when
their class member spilled it all over herself.  PS The teacher noted when
that happned that she should go into the ladies room immediately and at
least rinse her top, becuase the formula would stain and she might never be
able to get out the smell.

Talk about ways to impress!  I am a firm believer in demonstrations after
that little episode.

     mailto:[log in to unmask]

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
WEB PAGE: http://www.telcomplus.net/~kga/lactation.html
LACTNET archives http://library.ummed.edu/lsv/archives/lactnet.html