Hi Betty and fellow lactnetter's, my name is Kellie Webster. I am currently doing postpartum home visits for an American Military Community in Germany. My qualifications do not compare to those who have responded thus far but here they are nonetheless! I just graduated from UND myself, December 1999. I worked in the NICU as a co-op student for 8 months as well as in the Research Department. I've breast fed my two girls (now 9 & 11) for 14 + months each. I read lactnet, attend Le Leche League meetings when ever possible and I've subscribed to nursing journals with this area of interest. I am waiting for the materials to begin studying to become IBCLC. The research and studying never stops! I've also had the good fortune to be taught by some wonderful breastfeeding supporters there at UND and Altru (Cindy, Patti, Jenni and Heidi) as well as here in Germany (Donna, LoriAnn, Jane and Karen). My postion is contracted with the Army Community Services rather than a medical facility. The goal is to prevent child abuse by educating new parents of normal infant development and help them learn and use appropriate bonding skills. I visit them in the hospital about 1 day post partum, just to introduce myself and offer them a home visit. About 99% gladly accept. I then try to visit them 2-3 days postpartum. At this visit, I try to observe a feeding, ask many questions and reinforce what they hopefully have learned before discharge. We admire the baby (fun) and talk about thier labor and delivery (theraputic). I encourage them to attend our parenting classes and a breastfeeding support group. I leave them my phone number to call any time, day or night (and they do). If needed, I refer them to a more expericenced LC. I also call them about 3 weeks postpartum if I haven't heard from them already. I find these new parents very receptive to my visits. By this time most have already learned the "how to" of breastfeeding but the reinforcement of this information given on day 2 - 3 postpartum is very beneficial. Please feel free to contact me personally if you have any more questions. *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html