I'm anxious to follow the discussion about zealotry since I struggle with it as well. In my role as teacher, I am quite clear that I am a zealot with no apologies and am not afraid to say why. As a doctor, I keep in mind that I want what's best for my patients; I'd love it if they would all breastfeed for a long time and encourage them to do so, but don't condemn them or think badly of them if they don't. (One can be anti-smoking and still care about smokers!) In some cases, exclusive breastfeeding with no supplements is not best for the baby. In occasional cases, weaning may the best answer to a mother's needs. I find it helpful to remember that any breastfeeding is better than none and there are no breastfeeding failures, only short or partial successes. I want moms to see their breastfeeding experience as positive, even if they only try once in the hospital, so they may try twice-- or breastfeed for two years-- with their future children. In LLL, I think we have a hard time looking at breastfeeding and mothering both together and separately. There are other LLL leaders who can't understand how I could have been accredited with a few months of less than optimal experience early in my son's life; there are others who are tremendously supportive. I don't think we need to be afraid to stand up for what we believe,and to model a particular way of mothering, but it's possible to do that while still allowing mothers to choose what works for them. -- Anne Montgomery, M.D., faculty family physician (part-time), LLL leader, [log in to unmask]