I've been lobbying to get our state statisticians to ASK THIS QUESTION at every infant birth, every death of children under 2 years, all hospitalizations for illness, and all maternity-care services for women - for over TEN years, without success. Actually, it should be asked at even more points of contact! Recently I had minor surgery, a mammogram, and a work-up in a sleep lab for apnea. None of these services asked how I was fed. I made a big stink about their NOT ASKING on my evaluation forms, and in the case of the mammogram, lodged a written complaint with a copy to the LC's at that hospital. "If you don't ask, you'll never find out." I'm currently in a big fight with our County health officials over the pending release of an anti-bedsharing brochure. I'm in touch with James McKenna, of course. I'm trying to get a copy of the questionnaire that the police and coroner fill out when an infant dies, to see if they even ask about feeding, among other things. If anyone has successfully beaten down the "all bedsharing is lethal" crowd, please comment on Lactnet AND send a copy to me off-list. I know the arguments - I am looking for successful strategies for changing the policies and practices of investigators and bureaucrats. Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre www.bflrc.com 6540 Cedarview Ct., Dayton, OH 45459-1214 USA (937) 438-9458 email [log in to unmask] *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] 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