Many thanks to all of you who have written me privately (or on LACTNET)
about comments pertaining to business competition, decline in business,
ways to advertise, etc.  I have printed off nearly all and am completely
rethinking all elements of my business.

Two recent clients "made" my day, though in different ways.

#1: Beautiful African-American 19 year old colelge student living at home
with her parents and her 8 day old baby. She came over to pick up some
extra white membranes when hers got lost and she could not hand-pump
without it. As she waswalking out the door, she happened to mention that
her baby had never latched.  I suggested an LC visit and urged her to think
it over and call me back for an appointment. She did, I saw her the next
day and found a gorgeous baby who had already gained 1 lbs over birthweight
(she was pumping 5 oz into him by bottle everytime he squeaked).

Within 3 mintues, baby was latched on and nursing beautifully, mother
smiled and relaxed and left happy. (Her only complaint to date, somewhat
tender nipples--which we are dealing with).

#2: mother who called, desperate to see me on Sunday, when I really do try
to reserve my time for self (I do need a life!).  I raise my price to 1.5
times the usual in order to avoid saying "no" (a trick a marketing
consultant once shared with me), but she insisted. She was here for 2.5
hours. We got the baby latched in three of the four positions I suggested
she try. Her baby was 10 days old and had latched well for 7 days, then was
held off when wanting to feed more than every three hours (guess what she
went through!) and mother was stiff as a board.  Baby was giving her poops
after every feed, nice normal yellow milk stools.  Today mother is
bottle-feeding her milk.  I wondered about my sense of unease with her the
entire time she was here, "yes but"ting virtually every suggestion.

I guess it just goes to show that money is not the issue in all cases. What
really counts is that we offer the help we know has worked for others, but
we MUST allow mothers to own their own experiences. Clearly those two moms
above took very different views of breastfeeding both to my office and back
home with them.

I will continue to plug away for those of you wondering.  And thanks again
for all your suggestions and comments.




Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Homewood, IL)- [log in to unmask]