In response to Maurennes role of the LC: there's only so much a hospital based LC can do. Even if mom's got instruction in the hospital they can only take in and remember so much that first couple of days. First time moms are usually clueless re: breastfeeding; I never met one yet who didn't need some kind of help. This is on-the-job training. That's why I saw such a big need for postpartum doulas years ago, though, surprisingly, I was only one of about 3 in a city of 800,000. I usually have to undo problems resulting from poor or no help with breastfeeding in hospitals. The hospital LC's tell me there is no time to hold inservices to teach L&D nurses basics about breastfeeding, hospitals hiring all too few of them. Prenatal classes and books are better than nothing but it's all abstract to the moms until they go home with a hungry baby in the arms. So far I haven't seen anything as helpful as a postpartum doula for those few weeks after birth. I volunteer to do the referral line for the National Association of Postpartum Care Services and I see that there are way too few doulas out there but this is a growing professional field. If any LC's want to get out of the hospital and are willing to take less pay to go where they can really do the most good for moms, or perhaps want to work their own hours, they can think about being postpartum doulas. We get paid $15 - $25 per hour and don't have the hospital politics to deal with. At least refer moms to doulas in your area. I am surprised as many moms succeed as do, considering even many grandmas and husbands would rather see their daughters and wives give the baby a bottle than see them struggle with the learning process in the beginning. You can e-mail me privately re: getting trained and certified to be a postpartum doula. Vicky York, IBCLC, CPD *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html