Hello,
I'm another hospital based LC.  We wear lab coats (white or denim) over our
regular clothes.  We try to see every breastfeeding mom while they are in
the hospital, and are available for return consultations or phone calls
after the moms take their babies home.  I also find breast pumps a very
helpful tool for the mom with a baby in the NICU or the baby that is sleepy
and/or unable to latch on for whatever reason.  I also have worked with many
moms who state that having their own personal breast pump has helped them to
continue to breastfeed longer than they would have without it.  These moms
find that the pump lets them continue the nursing relationship even though
they must (or choose to) spend some time away from their baby.
We do some staff education, but so far are so busy with the individual moms
needs that we haven't done as much as we would like.  Anyone with ideas on
how to "make" the time for staff education, let me know.  We have many staff
members that are very supportive of and helpful with breastfeeding, and
others that have a ways to go.  I have heard this called "micromanagement"
-- where the time is spent on each individual problem rather than getting to
the root or cause of the problem (such as breastfeeding difficulties caused
when babies are "sent to the nursery so mom can rest" or held off from
feeding because "it's not time yet".
Bravo to those of you who have done such an excellent job both giving moms
the help they need and getting the L & D and Mother-Baby staff up to speed!
Lori in Washington state

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