Cindi, I know lots about low income moms and I think it is impossible to say something catagorical about them. Except that, they all love their babies and want the very best for them. They are willing to buy whatever it takes to do the best. When they are told by their physician, their midwife, their WIC nutritionist, and their peers and family, that BREAST is BEST, they try to do that. They rarely think that because formula costs something, it is better. The problem lies in the lack of support for moms who have: -- little family support, -- lots of media input (TV is on 24hr/d with formula and other subtle ads for ABM) -- formula which comes home from the hospital and also is delivered to their doorstep, -- very little confidence in their ability to mother and to provide for this new person -- conflicting information delivered to them from everywhere! and little ability to believe that they can make any judgment of what is best. So, they rely on what their mother's tell them worked with them. ABM does not come with so many variables--or at least, so they think. There are many research articles which show that when the many pieces necessary to support these women are in place, BF rates rise. My sense of the idea that mothers equate ABM as higher in value is that that idea is outdated and based on the way the rich and famous fed their babies 25 or 30 yr ago. Now the rich and famous are breastfeeding and showing it! eg Redbook cover, Princess Di, etc Michelle Scott, RD,MA,IBCLC in rural NH where I coordinate a peer counselor program Wise Ones - I was just called by a doctor at our local medical center. He and a colleague are interested in doing a report on low income moms who feel that since formula has a "value/price" it is better than breast milk. Can any of you steer me in the direction of papers, web pages, etc that pertain to this? I can certainly give them formula vs breast milk information, but I don't know anything about low income moms and their preceptions of the value of ABM. Off to do a web search. Thanks so much for your help. Cynthia D. Payne LLL of Berkshire County Mass.