My very respected Barbara Wilson Clay said:

The population that consults LCs after discharge is by definition a high
risk population.  Why would they need us otherwise?
_______

I have to respectfully disagree!  I believe that ALL moms in our current
culture need to see an LC!  We have so much to offer and most parents are
feeling so frustrated that a visit with an LC can reduce so many concerns!
 After describing what we do in a meeting, one new father wanted to know
why HIS wife couldn't get these services through their insurance!

Recently I visited a mom whose baby breastfed beautifully in the hospital -
but on day 3, nothing!  I was there on day 4 (thanks to a friend who called
me for help), and they were amazed at how much I could tell them.

I was IN their home - so we could discuss where the baby was safe sleeping
(and I could remove all the clothing and pillows in the bassinette by the
bed), how to put the baby skin to skin (for both mom and dad - especially
giving him some kudos for willingness to help get baby settled after
feedings and when mom had to go to shower, etc), how to work on
breastfeeding (they said "they kept telling us to keep trying ... but we
had already tried everything - of course I had more "tricks up my sleeve"
that they had never thought of), how to make sure baby was fed well, how to
read their infant's cues (again SHOWING that their baby is doing xxx or YY
Y is so much more effective than telling them "babies suck their hands"),
etc.

Some LCs will be the specialists who see babies for extraordinary
situations - but many of us need to push and communicate the importance of
that day 3 evaluation/education/intervention that has been reported very
necessary by the study done in UC Davis.

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
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