To many of us who started working years ago when there was so much 
antagonism against childbirth educators and breastfeeding counsellors, and 
so much apathy from the public, it gives us tremendous satisfaction to hear 
these stories of how we made a difference.  Having lived in Haifa for the 
past 38 years and pioneered an organization that lobbied for change and 
trained new counsellors, I am seeing the effects on the next generation. 
One woman brought to me a faded document that was in her own baby album - 
the certificate that I gave to her parents at the end of their childbirth 
course which was the only "qualification" that gave dads entry to the labour 
ward back in the late 70~s.
And often young women who call me now for breastfeeding help tell me how I 
helped their mothers to breastfeed and how that influenced their decision to 
do so now - and when I visit of course there is a fantastically supportive 
grandmother.
There are so many ways that we give inspiration for the positive side of 
parenthood against all the obstacles of formula advertising, pressure on 
mums to return to work soon after birth and an unsympathetic media who like 
to keep their advertisers (formula companies) happy.
We recently had a visit from a couple living in Australia.  They had lived 
in Haifa for a few years in the early 80~s just at the time that they were 
starting their family.  Anne had been on the first founding committee of the 
Israel Childbirth Education Centre and active in the mother-and-baby groups 
that I had started as a continuation of the childbirth courses.  One of our 
friends made a dinner party for a few of those early pioneers and each one 
said that they were inspired to help start the organization because of the 
support they had got at a very vulnerable time.
Even the fact that organizations like ours are now marginalized by the 
government health services who provide subsidized childbirth courses and 
breastfeeding counselling is not altogether negative.  Their services may 
not always be of the quality that we give, particularly in terms of the time 
and continuity of our type of support, but at least they reach a far higher 
proportion of expectant and new parents.
That makes me feel that we did our job and that in cases where our own 
trained counsellors are also working in those health services, our message 
is reaching a much larger market.
So for those starting out, feeling frustrated by all the obstacles, don`t 
give up.  After you work for a number of years and look back, you will see 
that you truly made a difference.
Wendy Blumfield
NCT UK Trained Prenatal Tutor Teacher/Breastfeeding Counsellor
Founder Israel Childbirth Education Centre 

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