At the risk of being flamed off the list, or sumarily unsubscribed, I feel the need to respond to some recent threads - particularly those on what it takes to be a good LC/breastfeeding professional and the supermarket theatrics. First I will introduce myself. I am a 28 year old mother of a 4 1/2 month old boy, completely breastfed. I am not a breastfeeding professional. Yes, I know I am not supposed to be here, but I find the list very interesting for information beyond my own breastfeeding issues. I have been considering trying to volunteer some time at my hospital to encourage more mothers to breastfeed, strictly on a peer basis. I love nursing my son, and I wish every mother could feel this good about the experience. And I would rather get information here than call my local LC! It seems everytime I hear something good about an LC, I hear at least one or two bad things. And this is not limited to one geographic area. I am on a private internet mailing list for new moms (out babies were born over about a 6 week spread), on which I have seen nummerous vents about LCs from all over the country (USA). The issues range from an LC berating a new mother for "doing it wrong" while still in the hospital (baby now completely formula fed), to an LC making judgemental comments about the morality of a client with children outside of marriage to a LLL meeting, to a group of LCs who never followed through with a client (said they were going to contact LACTNET for help, the mother never heard from them again, baby now completely formula fed). I know a good number of women who have given up breastfeeding in the last few months - they had mixed feelings about weaning, but were thrilled to be rid of the LC. I have many more stories. And, as I mentioned above, I'd rather get information here than call the local LC. So, my point is this....as you discuss the best ways to disseminate information, consider the appearance. Yes, it is awful that it must be considered, that breastfeeding is something for which to lobby and not the norm, etc., but that is a reality of the day. Constant, considered work will continue to make inroads into the psyche of the public. When working with new mothers in particular, encourage, don't condemn; support, don't berate. Point your legitimate anger and activism elsewhere, not at the new mother who hasn't slept in days. Although some may view new moms as "victims" of marketing, DON'T treat us that way. Condesending attitudes DO NOT help! You WILL catch more with honey than with vinegar!!! I mean this post to help the cause overall. _I_ want breastfeeding to be the norm and abm to be the exception!! Flame me if you will, but as a new mother, I wish my local LC had seen this post before I went to her. Maybe she'd still have a client. Jennifer Klein Aaron's mom (4-1-96) [log in to unmask] http://noodle.med.yale.edu/~akklein/aaron.html PS Saw a segment on the news this morning about breastfeeding. A good plug for LCs.