Kathy: I have found similar success here in Mexico, too, by not only accepting the presence of the grandmothers, husband, etc. BUT ACTUALLY REQUESTING IT, when I give my 30-45 min. bedside orientation to the new mother. I have found that since we (us LC's) seem to represent some kind of "authority" before lay people, by including them in the on-the-spot breastfeeding class, with the baby as the real-life model to use in this real life demonstration on how-to technique - we avoid providing the mother-in-laws of the world with the chance to give opposing advice.....'cause she was present and heard what we told the mother. FUNNY STORY: Here in Mexico, the upper middle-class mothers often contract for a nurse (not a real one, but a lady who wears a white dress and has spent her life helping new mothers with their newborns) during the first couple of weeks. Once one of my very dedicated and successful nursing Moms (a japanese gal married to a yucatecan) called me and asked me to come and RE-give my orientation class WITH THE NURSE PRESENT, so that the nurse would understand the whole picture and stop undermining this wonderful new mother. In essence, I was paid a second time for my housecall, to do a 'theatre-show' for the nurse's benefit. When I finished, and the nurse left the room - both the mother and the father and I broke out in suppressed gales of laughter (if that is possible!) Cute, no? I figured whatever we can do to support a mom is valid. Even repeat performances for hired help. love to all you lovely ladies, Roberta