Dear Becky, I too came back from the conference with new interest in the first few hours of life. I was over joyed that I got to shake M. Klauss's hand and you got to have lunch!! I was a nursery, NiCU nurse for 15 years before my job now as LC and I can tell you the time crunch is there at birth. You have so little time to do all the "stuff" which really is important, but, here is the crunch.... it can wait! As truely baby friendly nurses we must emphasize the magic hour. At every contact remark to nurses the wonderful things that go on in the first contact for this little one and that first contact should be the loving closeness of his mother not the quick, efficient, moves of a time crunced nurse. We must also emphasize that many of the exams can be done while baby is in moms arms. When I got home and back to work I had the opportunity to go to a delivery and I found myself observing more closely the babies behavior (I also made a point of remarking on the behavior I saw to mother, family and students that were with me) and yes, I did leave them alone for at least an hour skin to skin. It was amazing to watch, I have always tried to do this but I was so much more aware of all the communication and touching. That mom remarked over and over how different this birth was from her others and you know I don't think that baby ever did hit the nursery. Although many of us work in institutions that fall short of baby friendly standards, little steps can make an impact. We need to continue to educate ourselves and our co workers of the amazing things that happen at the beginning of life and although our institutions may have difficulty with the "wording" of baby friendly hospital goals we can become Baby Friendly in our hearts and pass on the essence of this concept where ever we are. Linda Rosetti RN IBCLC Clarkston Wa. PS. I've just recently been able to come out from all the mail I've let back up. I also found I deleted the addresses for sending policies to those who wanted to see them, I promise I'll try to fax them... at least after World Breastfeeding week.