Childbirth classes will vary by content of course. However, I can only 
speak for myself but I can teach and teach and explain the risks/benefits 
of anything you want as well as extoll all the benefits of breastfeeding. 

However, the bottom line is up to the individual. I once had a Bradley 
patient tell me that when she took the series, she "took from class what 
she wanted and left the rest behind." Any person/couple who takes any kind 
of childbirth preparation is going to take from the classes what they want 
to hear. They will shut out what they do not want to hear.

For instance, when I speak about inductions and what true medical 
indications might be (as opposed to what is not an indication is;ie 
a "social induction"), the first thing I tell everyone is ....."when your 
doctor mentions the word induction, the first word out of your mouth 
should be WHY"? Again, there is only so much any of us can do. 
Accountability should be everyone's responsibility: not just those awful 
medical people that so many of you like to blast continuously.

There will always be those who blame childbuirth educators for teaching 
the party line. I am sure there are those out there, however, in all 
fairnes, I think there are a lot of us out there who go against the grain 
and teach what we all know should be taught.

All we can do is present the information and our couples will take what 
they want and leave the rest.

Some of you are never going to find any good in anything that is done. 
However, passing those feeling on to your clients is certainly NOT an 
example of "do no harm."

We LC's also have to accept the fact that not all people want to 
breastfeed. As I said before, we can do so much good by concentrating our 
efforts on prenatal education and supporting those who ultimately choose 
this method of infant feeding.

Betsy Riedel RNC, IBCLC

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