Nofia,
        The hospital I work in provides prenatal breastfeeding classes,
pamplets, and books for sale at a discount.   Postpartum inpatients are
visited by an in-house lactation consultant or RN/CLE.  The mother/baby
couple is seen in a 3-day follow-up clinic by an RN/LC to assess the baby
and mother, and any problems with breastfeeding (opened 6 weeks ago).
Further follow-up is done in the out-patient lactation clinic.  A
breastfeeding mothers support group also meets on the hospital grounds once
per week.  This is a large health maintainence organization (HMO) in which
the clients pay a monthly premium for medical services.  Most clients are
part of the HMO for their entire pregnancy, but we do have some who switch
over in the middle or at the end of the pregnancy.  Our breastfeeding
initiation rate has been running consistently in the 80% range for the last
4 years.  Unfortunately, the ABM gift packs are still a presence.  They have
been modified so that there is no free ready-made formula and they include
breast pads and water-sipper bottles for the moms; HOWEVER, they are still a
major nuisance to say the least!!  I have high hopes of one day getting rid
of them forever.  An affiliate HMO in Hawii, managed to free the hosp of ABM
influence so there is HOPE!

Donna Zitzelberger BSN CLE