Reading recent posts, I would like to point out that the folks on lactnet may be more autonomous than many women around the world. One of the major benefits of BF for mothers is empowerment.This seems to be a multicultural issue. When a person becomes a health care provider to the public, it is a statement open to everyone, not only to people who think like the provider. Like it or not, the US is a very litigious place, so we try to rely as much on research as on experience in our practices.(protocols, policies) Every day we risk so much to provide a higher standard of care for families. Sometimes I think that I care about their BF more than some moms do. There are so many moms who don't educate themselves on anything before birth. They don't know the issues, and I only have a few minutes to fill them in. I'm not sure they read what I give to them. I don't know if they believe me.(requesting formula when I leave) Of course, there are the bright spots that keep you going.And we are helping to make the world a better place in all the same ways as a BFing mom.In a sense it is parenting the whole world, teen years and all(!). If you run into providers who are following routine, or trying to protect their home and families from litigation, take the educational route, teach them how things can be done a little differently without compromising the outcome. The world will be better for your time and patience. Judy *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] 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