I don't quite understand the question. "Why doesn't Medela "JUST" train them
on.....they should be saying.....talk to an expert." THAT is what I was told
they WERE doing. As you said there is more to this than a "why don't
they "just." (For that matter why don't they JUST only allow pumps to be
handled by IBCLCs?)
Talk a walk into a BRU store, talk to the person (or call on the phone) and see
what they know and IF they know how or when to refer to a professional.
We've been working with some of the Medical Establishment for DECADES to
please have more of them either educate themselves or know when to refer to
someone who actually knows about lactation. Physicians are well educated
people with relatively good incomes. Most have passion, and their jobs are
careers, not just "jobs." Many of them DO know when to refer, Thank
Heavens, or learn on their own about lactation, but some still do not.
NOW, look at the average Babies R Us worker, minimum wage, short term,
most likely part time, it's a JOB, not a career. I am assuming they are there to
make ends meet, or make some pizza and beer money, not to advocate
Lactation and breastfeeding. Most of us with IBCLCs study for years before we
even sit for the Boards. La Leche League leaders have to have been nursing at
least 9 to 12 months, and attending regular meetings and KNOW what they are
doing to even lead a meeting. Can we really EXPECT that a minimum wage,
part time, never had kids, or didn't breastfeed worker, who will probably quit
the job at BRU in a matter of months to actually CARE enough to learn all the
intricacies of how to use a breast pump, how to clean it, learn the TEACHING
strategies that IBCLCs and LLL leaders learn to teach women how to
breastfeed? To understand not only how to handle Human Milk (Which if the
phone calls many of us have made to BRU who carry pumps is the reference
point to which most of these underpaid BRU workers COMPARE human milk is
FORMULA) but the IMPORTANCE OF IT?
Of course not. As my husband said, shortly before we decided to stop
patronizing a popular "discount store" years ago, after not being able to get
anyone to properly answer questions about a new DVD player, "They don't pay
those people ENOUGH to care." Either does BRU. But, breastfeeding is more
important in the long run than my family being able to watch and get a good
price on a DVD player.
You can't "teach" people something that they have NO interest in learning. If
the "pump expert" at your local Babies R Us didn't nurse her own kids because
she believes she "didn't have any milk" or if that "expert" is a young, unmarried
childless man, or a young childless woman, who really has NO interest in
lactation, you could talk until you are blue in the face and not get through to
them. They don't get paid to care, nor do they have the passion to help those
they are simply "selling" to. Even if you did, by some miracle, get an employee
who was willing to do the job, chances are they would be gone in a year or
less, and then what?
Really, IMO, the solution is to continue the work to have Breast Pump declared
Medical Equipment. You can't walk into a store and buy a Bili Bed, without
a "prescription." you can't buy drugs, of certain types unless a Registered
Pharmacist is on Duty. You can't just ask for an IV set up, or a hypodermic
syringe, without the proper trained professional referring you, and dispensing
the product. We need to work to make Breast Pumps, nipple shields, etc
treated as important and as valuable as at least a Bili light, or a bottle of Cefzil
or an IV set up.
"Just" telling someone, who really doesn't care about the product or the client
(and at BRU, they are "Customers" not Clients or Patients) isn't enough. As
well "Just" trying to practice lactation in many areas, without access by LCs to
readily available pumps, scales etc isn't really workable for many of us, either.
My "massive" four figure income last year wasn't much, but I wouldn't even
have had that, if I didn't have products to back up my techniques at least half
the time. I can't ask a 3 day postpartum Mom, recovering from a C Section or
a 3rd Degree tear, or just a rough labor, or who just wants the pain in her
nipples to stop, so she can sleep the hour or so her baby sleeps at a time, or
needs my help to encourage and teach her to pump for her baby in the NICU,
to go cruising all over town looking for someone ELSE to rent her a pump or
weigh her baby, when she has already hired me for FULL SERVICES. I simply
can't. My responsibility as a professional is to serve her Lactation Needs fully.
IMO that would be like a doctor, attempting to practice medicine without a
DEA license. "Oh, well, you need this drug, but I can't prescribe it, I can give
you a list of people who maybe can see you can give you the prescription,
though." Not a doctor I would like to see when I am sick.
The View From Here, again.
I appreciate all who are helping, I think we can actually get somewhere, but
one can't do it alone. Thanks to all who understand. Keep calling your local
Babies R Us, see what they know. (Be discreet, if you are going to do this. ;) )
Ask Medela, if you have an account with them (or even if you don't) why
these BRU employees are not trained, and why pumps are in stores in areas
that are obviously NOT "underserved." Never stop questioning. Medela said it
was a "Pilot Program" maybe if enough of us voice our concerns, things will
change. I believe in change. Think of Edwinna, Mary White, Marianne, Marion,
Viola etc who DID also believe in change, in a rougher world for Breastfeeding
than we are living in now. I'm going to stay optimistic.
Mary
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