Hi Julie,

I've been an prenatal bf class educator for 12 years now and I would like to 
give my two cents.
As volunteers, we usually spend three evenings *informing* (not advising, 
maybe not even educating) parents, roughly on the next three themes: 1. 
theoretical basics, 2. latching and maintaining production (and a little 
problem solving... don't want them to think bf is about solving problems... 
hahaha) and 3. pumping and storing milk and combining bf with other 
obligations.
We are supposed to start with a little introduction on our association and 
ask moms to introduce themselves. When I started in 1996, this was a very 
short round: name, first or following child, expectations about the course. 
Over the years, I have changed this to a round that sometimes takes up half 
of the evening (one out of two hours). I feel this as remarkable 
improvement, and not as time loss. I ask about their bf experiences (if 
any), about stories from friends, siblings, parents, whether they were bf 
themselves, how they and their partner look upon bf, if they heard about old 
wives tales and misunderstandings, what they know about bf. Anything can 
come up and I usually pick one or two things from what everyone says and 
elaborate a bit on that. By doing so, they have 'unloaded' some of their 
thoughts on the issue and I have been able to address those and get back to 
them later on or the next evening.
Then I tell something about breast anatomy, baby's oral movements and supply 
and demand and several other things.
I realize you only have one evening, so it would probably have to be layed 
out differently than when you have three evenings available. What I 
personally DON'T do (or hardly), though, is tell in detail how wonderful and 
good bf is. Of course, all that I send into the group is how enjoyable it is 
and how miraculously the process functions. Anyone who sees me talking to my 
groups, can clearly see how much I love bf and nursing babies, but I do not 
defend bf against formula. I make no comparisons, as I feel there is nothing 
in bf to be defended. With me, bf is the norm; formula doesn't exist in my 
groups. We talk about bf, how to get off to a good start and what to do when 
things are hard or when a mom is in doubt (CALL ME! hahaha). In fact, the 
only message I want to bring across, is how nice it is to breastfeed, how 
logical a step this is after conceiving, carrying and delivering, even if 
things may go rough now and then, like they will remain doing for the next 
18 or so years after the birth of a child. ;o) I don't picture a pink cloud; 
I just emphasize how important it is to start well and to tackle problems 
when they are still small. I make a point out of trying to make parents see 
that it is THEIR child they will have to nurse and raise and lovingly care 
for, not mine or the doctor's or the hospital's and that they are not in any 
way obliged to do whatever whoever wants them to do. I tell that what takes 
time, is that you have to find out what your baby wants to tell you, that 
you both have to learn a new language and that bf is part of it. And in 
between all of that, we laugh a lot with a number of jokes that have proven 
effective. :o))
Of course I do tell about many things during three evenings, especially 
latching, but like I said: I don't compare options and don't defend bf. I 
think the biggest reason for quitting is: lack of fun and enjoyment of the 
whole process, so therefore I want to achieve an atmosphere of things being 
fun and empowering and joyful and something to really look forward to. Does 
this make any sense...?
(Others may completely differ in opinion and have wonderful lists of awesome 
characteristics of bf/mother's milk that I'm jealous of... You will have to 
find *your* own way, too, like all those parents! ;-))

Kindly,

Marianne Vanderveen, Netherlands 

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