Good morning, In '93 I trained to be a breastfeeding counselor for the WIC program when my daughter Fiona was 15 months old. Like many women my age, I worked in my 20's for great pay under the table (no benefits). When I became pregnant, my choices, like many women, were limited by my knowledge of the healthcare system, but not by my desire to deliver naturally and breastfeed. After many clinic visits, (and too many soap operas), it became evident that there was something of a healthcare conspiracy to undermine my choices. Hospital childbirth classes were dated and not supportive of breastfeeding. My daughter was delivered late with the aid of prostiglandin gel, much pitocin, demerol, vacuum extraction, forceps, and episiotomy. I was left feeling like a cash cow because as much as I wanted to get up and walk it was not an option. Eight hours after delivery my daughter was brought to me but not before I cried, threatened and walked up to the nursery several times. For breastfeeding information, a nurse was brought up from another floor. She stood at the door, told me to wash my hands and breasts well and to put the baby to my breast, then she left. As a black woman, to have been treated so shabbily in a major metropolitan hospital was naively unthinkable. Only one nurse, Carrie, put things back into perspective. I forgot who I was, I thought race in the face of birth might be secondary. Now I know that many white woman go through this experience and that is not the point of my post. The point is that I did not give up, even without help. For almost 3 years I've been a certified childbirth educator, teaching in a clinic setting to woman of color, I hope to make things better. I continue to see woman of color delivering babies into the hands of white men that are totally indifferent to this most passionate experience. I birthed a beautiful son around Christmas '93 with the assistance of a midwife, an experience that went beyond empowering. It gave me the strength to leave an abusive marriage and to remember who 'I am'. I labored peacefully for 24 hours and birthed within 2 hours upon arriving at hospital. Luc went to breast, we went home. But not before the ped. advised me that boys were 'slow and stupid'. The barriers are everywhere! Ross markets the majority of its product to minority women. Ross states that it is the educated woman that breastfeeds. Through continued practices of undermining and misinforming many babies experience the ordeal of routine separation and supplementation. I'm certain this goes on in the 'white' population, but for now I'm directing my energies here. The issue of peer counselors has become an issue of marketing to some few practicing lip service in the name of public health. From what I observe daily, I fear the philosophy of peer counseling may become redundant... The idea of having a doula is interesting, especially if all-inclusive in terms of skills, not just someone paid to clean your house and take care of meals, (while their own children are waiting) but someone prepared to accompany the birth, assist with breastfeeding and help a new mother get settled in. Getting it paid for by an HMO is another issue. I work for a non-profit that manages WIC, it's been a long maze getting insurers to understand pump rental for mothers with babies detained in hospital. Last week we finally obtained a provider number for 1 HMO. 1 down, many to go. It happened by much communication, pulling in key people from different fields and the continued support of one extremely energetic and enlightened BF pump rep!(Thanks PK) It's been a long road, but the light's coming up close. Soapbox down, Regina Lockyer I will sit for the exam in July '96, more importantly, I will remain a patient advocate for ALL pregnant women.