From: Judy Knopf, Beer Sheva, Israel ([log in to unmask]) Hi all- Boundless thanks to the wonderful energetic Kathleens (Bruce and Auerbach) for establishing LACTNET, especially to Kathleen Bruce for subscribing me so promptly and for her warm welcome and introduction. I have one important correction. My name is Judy Knopf and not Judy Levy. Actually, I prefer Judy Holtzer Knopf. I was born and bred in Cincinnati Ohio, got a BSc in psychology from University of Illinois at Chicago in 1969 and then decamped to Beer Sheva, Israel. Married a former Bostonian in 1970 and we have 3 children: Danielle (22, a 1st year bachelor's degree nursing student, wants to be a midwife), Micha (19, serving in Israel Defence Forces), and Joel-who-only-answers-to-Joey (16, serving in 10th grade). I qualified as lactation counsellor in 1984 through the Israel Childbirth Education Center, a branch of the National Childbirth Trust of England, and have served as volunteer community LC since then with a hotline to my home. In 1993, my concise, how-to breastfeeding manual in Hebrew-aimed at the average Israeli woman-was published. In late 1993, I was allowed a room in a community health clinic one morning a week in which to receive women with questions or problems relating to breastfeeding. Still a volunteer, since nobody here really understands what an LC is ("you're a what???"). The rest of the week I spend earning a living as English medical secretary, translater, editor, fundraiser, whatever in the cardiology division of the regional medical center. Special interests in lactation: lactation-friendly birthing (for this, read "Down with routine interventions!") and "does obstetric ultrasound have a negative effect on learning how to suckle?". Sometimes I have trouble with the issue of medicalization of lactation, but I have the feeling that perimenopause may be at work here...... So much for intro. Too much, too. I'm trying to organize something locally for World Breastfeeding Week and am very, very open to suggestions. Please make them general, since although I may still be American in many ways in spite of living here for 25 years, the culture here is not (wannabe maybe, but that's still far off). I need all the help I can get. Thanks. One last note. I hope to have Internet installed at work soon, so my address will change. Bye. Judy Knopf Beer Sheva, Israel [log in to unmask]