I'm going to ring in on this subject one more time.  First, I want to  thank 
Sarah for opening this topic to discussion on this site.  It can  be a real 
eye opener to hear about other aspects of our field. How often  are we able to 
take a world wide mini-poll
about these matters??--almost on the spot.  
Marsha asks a provocative question about where we should place our  
educational emphasis, health care providers or mothers?  For our area,  IMO, the 
disconnect in the forward progress in childbirth and breastfeeding  seemed to begin 
after the corporate take over of the hospital services.   The trickle down 
affect of 'ownership' of first contact with patients is  broad.  I think there 
are some excellent books available for pregnant women  that include very 
balanced information on childbirth, medications, and  breastfeeding.  Immaculate 
Deception was a long time ago but there are  similar and current books widely 
available.  So, as I asked the other  day--naively, why aren't the mothers raging 
against the system?  I imagine  we would all have interesting opinions on 
this.  I have twice heard Oprah,  one of our cultures most powerful women, say 
"....just give me my  epidural!" when discussing childbirth. There have been a 
few shows  that touched on the "controversies" among women and their "life 
choices."   They ended with an edginess that jumped through the screen.  Which icon 
 would attract the attention of the women of today?  Maria Striver is one  
who I have heard list breastfeeding as the first step to take towards fighting  
childhood obesity (and please, I'm not being political). Why doesn't every  
person who speaks on childhood obesity emphasize that?  How is it that  so many 
lifesaving facts never reach the mainstream?  Well, I imagine most  of us have 
opinions on that, too.  
So, fire me up, remove my occasional despair, tell me a plan as I work  
through my days as an honored care provider to new families.  I'd like to  know 
that we're turning a corner on these things before I retire.  This has  been my 
beloved life work and I truly feel that we have evolved in many ways and  
devolved in more crucial ways.  All done.
Thank you all for being there.
Jeanne Rago



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