At least at one hospital in my area, anesthesiologists definitely did have a say in what was taught in childbirth classes.

A colleague, RN, IBCLC, ICCE, had been teaching childbirth classes for years, and was/is a very competent OB RN LC. She did explain possible effects of labor medications on baby's ability to BF. One of her student / mothers asked her anesthesiologist about the effect of an epidural on her soon to be born baby.

Result: my colleague was removed from teaching the childbirth classes for over a year. When she was finally allowed to teach, she was not to speak anything about labor medications. Her job was on the line. 
 
She later found an opportunity at another hospital on her own.

Yes, anesthesiologists can be very influential in the hospital setting.

Phyllis

--
Phyllis Adamson, IBCLC, RLC
Glendale, AZ.
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