In a message dated 97-12-03 16:58:22 EST, Jan wrote:

<< I agree that I'd much rather have a good pump rental station that teaches
 about pumping rather than handing the pump over without instruction -- but
 the time to teach is at the time, not 3 or 4 months before the baby is born.
  >>

I don't know of too many moms at all who are taking the prenatal bf class much
more than 8 weeks before delivery. Furthermore, as I pointed out in my last
post, I am opposed to the dispensing of pumps without instruction, but moms
need to know about pumps in general before knowing which tube goes where.  And
the same way we teach postpartum care for mom during childbirth classes, pumps
are part of the bf landscape.  Let me say unequivocably that I agree that
every mom does not need a pump and I have wonderful friends who have nursed
into toddlerhood without even seeing a pump.  But the mom who has a bicycle
horn pump still in the baby shower gift wrap will continue to think she can
use that at the workplace until she is *educated* otherwise.  Or worse, she'll
think she can just pump once in 8 hours and everthing will be fine. Prenatal
bf classes are the logical, efficient ways for moms to learn about *all*
aspects of bf (including such seemingly unrelated stuff as how it affects
marital relations...).  Many pregnant moms unknowingly face difficult
situations ahead (pneumonia, cleft palate etc) and I always ask them, "Could
you have continued bf without the knowledge you got (about pumping) from the
class?"  Of course, their answer is an affirming "no, it was crucial".  And
not one of them said they felt captive.

Tammy Gharbi, [log in to unmask]