>>WHen the assumption is that breastfeeding is how babies are fed, one can go
a long way toward not only informing but countering the other views that are
so much more prevalent. <snip> Bottles and bottle-feeding were NEVER
mentioned.<<

Kathleen, I'd like yours and anyone else's input on a class that I teach. I
feel like I have a captive audience at our local hospital; not only do I
teach breastfeeding and/or Working and Breastfeeding, but I also teach the
Infant Care class. I always use this latter class to pitch breastfeeding, but
since there is so much else to cover in my 2 hrs, I can't linger long other
than to spout a few benefits and *strongly* encourage them to breastfeed.  I
have been to similar classes that spend a long time on the "how-to's" of
bottlefeeding, and I despise that. BUT, since this is the only class that
they are going to get, I do feel honor-bound to address some bottle-feeding
issues. I go through this part very quickly and usually end up comparing some
of the drawbacks of bottlefeeding to breastfeeding (like constipation
issues--- not an issue if you breastfeed).  I sometimes wonder if I don't
tell those determined to bottlefeed enough; on the other hand, I figure that
they'll be inundated with that information from other sources.  How do you
all feel about this? Anyone else out there in my position?

And---- I recently had a mom who came to me for lactation help after delivery
comment that she felt that we should cover the advantages of breastfeeding in
the infant care class and leave them OUT of the breastfeeding class. She
wanted to see the 2 hours allotted to the breastfeeding class used more for
practical stuff (2 hrs is so inadequate, but all we have at present), and the
"convincing" done in Infant Care.  I would love to do this, but on the other
hand, I already don't get through my entire outline and would end up leaving
out even *more* material in that class if I did this.  An alternate idea
would be to pass out a "benefits of breastfeeding" sheet, or??????    I have
much control over these prenatal classes and can change how we do them, but
I'm not sure what is best yet. I would appreciate your feedback to help me
maximize the message and lessons to parents!

-Lisa Marasco, LLLL, IBCLC
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