In a message dated Wed, 3 Jul 1996 12:04:18 -0400, Jay writes: >>Now let me ask you out there who teach Childbirth classes: If you were "Allowed" to give this kind of information to your classes, how many parents do you think would opt for NO meds???<< In the spirit of INDEPENDENCE DAY, I'd like to share that the reason I have always been an INDEPENDENT childbirth educator (in private practice) is because I would be unable to accept anyone telling me what I was "allowed" to share with my classes. I tell it like it is, as factually as I know how. I owe that honesty to my students. You see, I work FOR them. Not for a doctor or hospital. If I didn't present an honest, objective, and consumer-oriented series, I couldn't sleep well at night. The sad truth is, some moms DO still opt for meds/anesthesia for a variety of reasons, without considering the risks vs. benefits. Some people only *hear* what they want to hear, and *don't hear* what they don't want to hear when a childbirth educator presents risks vs. benefits. My theory is that denial of the facts (as in Righard's study) and denial of anecdotal observations (of LDR nurses & LC's) of the apparent impact of medications on breastfeeding is greatest in expectant moms when their fear is greatest. Some expectant moms come to us so burdened with fear accumulated from years of hearing horror stories, from low self-esteem, feeling so demeaned of their personal power that even the most caring, nurturing, supportive, empowering childbirth educator cannot undo in a few short weeks/months what has been done to some women over their lifetime......<sigh>......you get the picture. What we can do to change things is to continue to give the facts, give the facts, GIVE THE FACTS! Joyce Blangiardo RN, FACCE, IBCLC grateful for all the facts, studies, and references shared here on Lactnet, which help us each to empower women to give Informed Consent on medication/anesthesia choices in L & D, or while BFing.