Hello to all Lactnetters: I too have been "drowning in messages," so mostly printing them out and reading them later. This topic though I felt needed a response right away. I would like to assure you that there are many dietitians like myself who are dedicated to the promotion and support of breastfeeding. I'm the Perinatal Nutritionist at Wellstart International's Corporate Office in San Diego, and also newsletter editor for The Perinatal Nutrition Report which is distributed quarterly to the 600+ members of the Perinatal Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of The American Dietetic Association. We are a new practice group within the ADA focused on the the nutritional health of women from preception through pregnancy, and postpartum including lactation. Our last issue featured breastfeeding. A large number of our practice group are Certified Lactation Educators, Lactation Consultants, and carry IBCLC credentials. Thanks to Martha Brower for her fine response, and for mentioning the American Dietetic Association's position paper on breastfeeding. I authored it. To add to Martha Brower's and Alicia Dermer's recommended readings to help convince the RDs who seem not convinced about the superiority of breast milk to breast milk substitutes, I would also recommend the Healthy Start materials developed by Carol Bryant for the WIC Program's national breastfeeding promotion efforts (check with local WIC office for how to obtain these). Carol's social marketing work clearly showed that maternal diet (and all the "rules") became a barrier to breastfeeding. With this in mind, I am careful to reassure mothers that their milk is the best available for their infants regardless of their diets. However, I also remind them that the more nourishing their diet, the more energy they will have...so to eat for themselves. Vicky Newman, MS, RD Perinatal Nutritionist Lactation Management Education Program Wellstart International and Assistant Clinical Professor University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine Phone: (619) 295-5192 Fax: (619) 294-7787 E-mail: [log in to unmask]