I agree with you all about the power of birth stories. The two *most* empowering experiences of my life were relactating and overcoming multiple other problems while beginning to BF my first child, and the unmedicated, midwife and sister supported birth of my second child at a freestanding birth center. My first birth experience was probably "normal" for a first-time mom--in-hospital, induced, forceps, vacuum, epidural, no useful support from anyone, flat in bed for the sake of the EFM, blah, blah,blah. The poor dear came out MAD and screaming and I feel sorry for her and me even 5 years later. I'm awash in sadness as I write this. The common set-up for the-baby-wont-latch-on-panic-anxiety-etc. Breastfeeding was truly like climbing Mt. Everest. That experience radicalized me in an amazing way (along with The Politics of Breastfeeding...). My second birth was wonderful, empowering, resolving, and healing. Both experiences are there embedded in my mental, emotional, and body memory forever. I 'm just glad to be one of the lucky ones who gets to have a wonderful birth experience. LCs and LLL groups can and do change peoples lives! Birth and breastfeeding experiences have a profound effect on the mom's identity as a woman and a mother. With passion, Debbie Campbell, RN, MSN, LLLL -- Registered ICC User check out http://www.usefulware.com/~jfoltz