Dear Everybody:
        Last night I tried a new teaching technique in the last class of a childbirth
series. First, I presented formula feeding: how to do it well, and safely
based on research and the work of some good people who have shared on LACTNET,
Jan and Pat, you know who you are and THANKS.
        It took a while and people were surprised. They wondered why they hadn't
heard those things before, such as keeping track of the lot numbers. We spent
an hour discussing formula feeding in a calm, research-based way. In my heart
was the sincere desire to communicate the importance of doing it well, with
optimum safety for the baby. When I mentioned that unused formula needs to be
thrown away after 1/2 hour, some folks were surprised. A woman, mother of 3
said "Oh yes, in the hospital they throw it away all the time after it has
been open 1/2 hour" which was great validation.  I also showed a bottle
feeding video, which told folks to sit the baby up at a 90 degree angle while
the man in the film was bottle feeding his baby who was lying down on a
pillow! That got a chuckle out of the class. It became obvious, after a while,
that bottle feeding correctly is very time consuming and difficult. And
everyone had stories about babies not tolerating any formula well, and bad
smells and expense.
        So the second hour was the breastfeeding class....which flowed very easily
out of the first hour. Breastfeeding speaks for itself, and when it is
contrasted with the alternative, there is no need to underline the
differences. The questions were all terrific; a lot of ground was covered.
        The class response was open and interested and thoughtful. It was fun for me
to teach the class like this.  Just presenting the truth about the mechanics
of bottle feeding, and all the ways to minimize the risks felt honest and I
sure hope it helps motivate people to at least begin breastfeeding. Warmly,
Nikki Lee