We DO use our squat bar all the time, by the way and not just with midwifery patients,either! About follow-up visits. All of our local (within the surrounding towns) pediatricians take some form of the state insurances (in addition to the private ones). Also, as I work with many clients after discharge (a large portion of them NOT having delivered at my facility)I encounter many many different pediatricians that I do not know personally. It always seems that for the most part, all new babies are being seen within the first couple of days after d/c. I am not in a big rich city either. I cover many of the towns around the greater Hartford, Connecticut area and that includes small and large hospitals as well as a variety of pediatricians. So I guess what I am saying is that at least around here, we do not use health departments and most babies (on Medicaid or not) are seen by their pediatrician soon after discharge. As far as the childbirth piece of this goes. I have been teaching hospital classes for years and have NEVER had a physican tell me what I could and could not teach. In fact, I have told all of them that they are welcome to sit in on any of my classes whenever they wish. We often have couples who take classes with us but are not birthing with us. I can honestly say that philosophy wise, I wouldn't teach any differently if I taught private lessons in the home or out of the hospital. Advocating is advocating and couples need to have the ability to advocate for themselves. We can only do so much. I have to say that the longer I am in nursing and c'birth education, the more I see that times have changed. Just because we all (collectively) think things should be one way, does not mean that the large portion of young people coming along today feel as we do. I have had to learn (whether it be labor or breastfeeding) to take a deep breath and a step back. People want different things these days and all we can do is present facts and options. After that, it is up to the couple to decide what they want and work with their HCP. I am not into getting all bent out of shape about others' decisions. I will also continue to practice as I do regardless of what the IBLCE decides to do.I call physicians on a regular basis to collaborate and design a plan of care. Betsy Riedel RNC, IBCLC Connecticut *********************************************** 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 email list is powered by LISTSERV (R). There is only one LISTSERV. To learn more, visit: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html