I have been trying to get a new private practice off the ground and am wondering if any of you visit moms in the hospital and did you need to obtain approval to see them there? I requested that I be able to see [my patients only] after delivery, but the hospital says I must be credentialed first (have physician backup, show educational background, etc. and pay a $350. application fee). Needless to say, the $ is a real deterrent. I had hoped to be able to visit moms soon after delivery to observe feeding and provide assistance early on. Do you think it is worth the yearly fee to have access to the mom/baby in the first few days? I have requested that the hospital reduce the application fee but they refused because *they see me as competing with their program* (which I developed and started, but that's another story...) Thanks. Beth McHugh, RN, BSN, IBCLC Teton Lactation Consultants Idaho Falls, ID ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]