Funny that this was just being discussed - I was speaking to a co-worker
and describing what had happened when I had a breastfeeding clinic all by
myself - no other LC - connected with a hospital with a busy NICU.

Mondays were always hectic - lots of weekend deliveries AND phone calls of
moms wanted to see me after having survived the weekend by the skin of their
teeth (or nipple?).

So I finally developed an "open house" time from 1:00 to 2:30 when they
could walk in and have their babies weighed (usually the cause of the
anxiety was fear the baby was not gaining, not their nipples - no matter how
bad they were).  What EVOLVED was a group that met weekly and changed as
moms developed confidence and were able to wean themselves from this group
to the monthly La Leche League group. I'd go from one mom to the next,
weighing baby and answering general questions, as one mom asked a question,
I'd ask others who had been through a similar situation to share their
experiences.  At times I DID have some very difficult cases, and they would
follow me to the office and we'd either deal with them or at least get them
a breast pump to tide them over until I could see them.  Actually staff from
the NICU and postpartum would also come by and get some experience helping
moms, also!

Well, when I was describing this to my co-worker, we realized that this WAS
a support group for the MOMS - but they were willing to come for their
BABIES! It may be a "marketing" problem that we are having - or a semantics
one.  We need to "Weissingerize" this also!

In some local Kaiser Hospitals, they have the "Baby Klub" where they see
moms the day after discharge (our current US discharge is at 24 - 36 hours
postpartum). When it was instituted, we wondered how many moms would really
get in the car and take the trip back - but they have excellent rates!  Moms
WILL do it! (of course the ones that don't are usually the ones that need it
the most, and should probably be referred to a home visiting or public
health nurse, but that's another topic.)

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA

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