> Where I work we have a Male LPN who is excellent with breastfeeding
> education.  He has never had ANY complaints (2 yrs) and only gets rave
> evaluations from patients.  At bedside he sits down in a chair and
> talks with the mom over basic stuff.  He uses a special doll for
> demonstration on himself.  When its time for mom to feed he puts on
> some non sterile gloves and assists the mom to latch with words.

In the group I volunteer for, Allaitement Québec, we have one father who
does volunteer duty.  He goes to our monthly meetings (which are
information sessions much like LLL meetings) and has led some of them
himself.  Of course he hasn't (to my knowledge) helped any moms with
latching yet (apart perhaps from his wife) but he is a WONDERFUL speaker
and led the meetings very well.  Usually new moms (ones who haven't been
going to that meeting location regularily) ask if they're in the right
place, but he puts them at ease really well.  Ironically, his wife is
NOT one of our qualified ressource persons, while he is.  :-)  He also
takes advantage of his floor-time to promote more attachment
issues...holding the baby lots, wearing the baby, bathing the baby...all
things that dads *can* do instead of giving a bottle.

His number is given out at meetings any time we have a mom who mentions
a father who is reluctant about bf, or whatever.  He has the knack for
putting them at ease from a "man's perspective".

He has also mentioned before that he *has* tried to nurse his children
(i.e. when his wife was in the shower briefly or whatever), but they
never wanted to try to latch on.  ;-)  LOL...

Fio
ressource person with Allaitement Québec
Mama to Sandrine, 2yo! and #2, 11/2002

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