I was really interested in Kathy D."s experiences taking Alex with her to the halls of academe. Since I am due in September with baby #2 I will be faced with the NEED to have my baby with me in the classroom for at least the fall term (late August-early December 1996). I had been worrying about this quite a bit--not about my own comfort doing so but about the reception of my prospective profs. I had been thinking I would have to approach them all well in advance and humbly ask leave to bring baby along. But now I"m wondering if I shouldn"t just hold my chin up and walk right in that classroom like it"s as normal as can be. Or maybe the right approach is to speak to them in advance but to *inform* them of what I will be doing rather than ask permission to do it (after all I"m not going to ask *permission* before giving birth during a school week <g>). Words of wisdom from any and all would be appreciated. (And apologies to those who might consider this off-topic). To return to the babies at conferences thread: I can"t resist reminding the people who brought up the issue of the expense of conference attending that the women with babies in tow have paid just as much to attend the conference. Obviously they need to be sensitive to the needs of the other attendees (just as would an attendee with a chronic cough) but they deserve to get their money"s worth too. Penny Piercy LLLL MOM (Patrick 4/6/93 & baby 9/96) from Bloomington IN <[log in to unmask]> P.S. Judy K.-- I was excited to hear that the crutch/wheelchair analogy I posted to Lactnet will be of use to you in your lecture half-way round the world. Ain"t Lactnet grand?!!!