I am a lactation consultant in private practice .... who holds the contract to provide lactation consultation services to my local hospital. I see moms on the floor, follow up with them (briefly) by phone after discharge, and send their names on to the local nursing mothers' support group. I think this is a win-win situation for several reasons: the hospital isn't entangling itself with a new employee, and the LC isn't caught up in hopsital staffing dramas, because she is an independent contractor -- coming and going as the job is done (just like the babyphotographer). (I, in turn, have subcontracts with several other IBCLCs to help me fulfill my contractual duties.) I suggest you start out offering to work every other day, whether it is a weekend or not. That is how my contract was originally arranged (altho the hospital upped it to 6-day-a-week coverage a year or so later). Most Moms are in the hospital for two nights ... so if you get there at the same time (probably the morning hours), you should see every Mom at least once before her discharge. If you have that rare Mom who delivers after you leave one day, and who plans to go home before your next scheduled day, you could have the staff call you to come in. (Kudos to Debi Page Ferrarello IBCLC for taking me on as a subcontractor many years ago; when she retired from lactation consulting, I was able to take over the hospital contract I am referring to.) Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC Wyndmoor, PA, USA *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html