The reactions of others to pumping in public might be akin to other types
of personal grooming in front of others, like putting on make-up or
cleaning teeth (or, of course, being uptight- but let us be charitable).
Breastfeeding is just natural and maybe less jarring to the viewer. We have
a long way to go.

Something just flashed thru my head- what would people say about hand
expression in public?

Thought the transexual story was fascinating- just goes to show you the
complexity of human beings and how much this person want to feel like a
female.

Re bottle intro - I think that the bottle is just as much and enemy as ABM,
there are all sorts of cup feeders that do not mess up the suck. The only
drawback is the small volume you can put inside of most of them. Or, just a
regular cup. Most of the problem seems to come from the care giver who
feels that she/he does not have the time to feed the infant in such a way.
This to me is a social problem.

Jeanette P. - I kind of lean toward Mimi's thoughts about what happened
with the doctor.

 I think that you should try and stroke as many people as possible,
especially if you know they are turkeys. Maybe there is a way to let the
physician taking care of the family  know that this is what should be done,
why and by whom in non- threatening manner. The bigger the  turkey the
larger the threat. A secure person would be happy about the info. You are
on a small island it is not worth antagonizing if you can avoid it and get
your own way. Stroking and getting what you want is great 'revenge'. I love
to see the macho screamers fall.  We are living in a time where our
relations with doctors are varied, you will have people, who on
introduction will say "call me Jack" or they can think their first name is
Doctor ( like my late father). You have to know who you are dealing with.
Many doctors find it difficult to recieve info from a non- doc. Conserve
your energy.  I have done it both ways, you never know when you will win
but expending negative energy only stresses you out - not worth it.

I made it back to Tel-Aviv with several giant suitcases, the help of kind
humans who dragged them for me and the customs who had no patience for me
and just let me thru with all of my goodies. Now for several days of jet
lag, unpacking and cleaning the house.

Evi