Dear WBW celebrants-
    I have the opportunity to teach "prepared childbirth" theory to medical
students when they do their rotation  at our local hospital.  Of course, I
also give them a speil about breastfeeding, show them the video of babies
crawling up to mom's breast, etc.  Fun, but after doing this every 6 weeks
for  3 years it was starting to get a bit ho-hum.
     Today being the final day of World Breastfeeding Week, I decided to
change the routine.  I wished each student a hearty Happy WBW, then told them
that they were going to be breastfeeding advocates.  I pinned a breastfeeding
slogan pin on each of them, mostly Linda Smith's Zealots buttons, and had
them read each button to their colleagues.  Great to get them revved up.
 Then, I assigned each of them a persona.  One gentleman was mother, and
female med student was a dad, another student a physician, one an insurance
company executive, one a tax payer, and one a baby.  I gave them five minutes
to brainstorm together and then share why they were breastfeeding advocates.
    They were GREAT!!!  The man who was mom told us that he enjoys a special
bond with his child, was losing weight, didn't have to get up to prepare
bottles, and enjoyed the contraceptive effect.  The "dad" was glad that her
baby was happy, healty and intelligent, and shared that she was breastfed
(reinforcement---"See...and here you are in medical school:) ).  The taxpayer
brought up WIC dollars spent on formula and health care costs, etc.  I got to
correct misconceptions, amplify and clarify for them.  Then they started
asking really terrific questions, like "Why do women choose Not to
breastfeed?", and we talked about that a lot and all the peices of community
that need to come together in support.  A lot of emphatic head nodding.  It
was sinking in.  And we all had a lot of fun and laughter in the process.
     Thanks for letting me share my excitement!

-Debi Page Ferrarello, RN, CCE, IBCLC
  In Abington, PA