After reading the many posts about the childbirth classes and breastfeeding classes, I had to respond to add yet another view. I am the only bilingual CCE and LC in the our area and the only one giving classes in Spanish in a VERY large radius. 90% of the clients I work with are of a lower socioeconomic status, many are teens and a good number have high risk behaviors. I give a "benefits of bfg class in the 1st trimester, a "How to breastfeed" in the 3rd trimester, talk about it incessantly throughout my childbirth classes and do rounds through our postpartum floor and NICU 3x's a week. I also do PP consultations and will be starting a pumping support group in 2 weeks for our NICU moms. I'm pretty busy! The childbirth classes I give is for some the first time they realize that they can say "no" to a procedure and that the birth of their child can be an experience they can own. Because of the culture and language barriers many would never have voiced a concern or question to the HCP and after will. They learn that if more start asking for a natural experience, the MD will have to comply. We role play, and encourage each other to not fear what is the fulfillment of their bodies-the strength to bear a child and then continue to norish through bfg.We talk about cultural beliefs, myths and fears. I took all 3 of my children to work for from 3-4 months(was at home prior) to 12-18 months and modeled breastfeeding,slingwearing and parenting,while teaching. My clients do not have the resources of midwives, doulas and free standing birthing centers- geographically, not monetary-wise,or transportation wise. I have been called on the carpet by anesthesia-"what was I saying to the patients about epidurals? They are refusing them!" I stood by my point and eventually won over the most opposed, after helping her breastfeed. She is now my ally-and went on to breastfeed for over a year. Some pediatricians are bothered by my push for exclusive bfg, others are grateful to refer. I have been called on the carpet by a few OB's and Nurses-but continue to preach the "gospel" of birth and bfg and the classes are growing in numbers and more moms asking for no or less interventions.Some HCP's think I am trouble and others have thanked me for saying what they have thought for years and have never voiced. While I may not be as "pure" as others opinions have expressed I KNOW that I have helped many as our birthing practices have improved and our bfg rates are rising-change has been slow-nonetheless there has been change. I continue to be employed by my hospital and feel that I continue to be true to myself and to those who need to be educated and empowered to truly experience the richness of motherhood through birth and breastfeeding. Sorry so long. Dina Ovando-Brown BSN, CCE, IBCLC Long Beach, CA _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp *********************************************** 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