With respect Lee, I believe you when you say you did not mean to show
disdain or disrespect.  And I thank you for your further explanation.
However, when you write that you believe that I and the rest of us who
shared our situations could have done our jobs without the scale and
sometimes better, and that moms use them as a crutch, it just strikes me
that we are not being truly heard, and that the use of the scale carries
with it some sort of stigma in your eyes.  I felt like my skills were
totally negated simply because I used a scale – in other words, if I did not
use a scale I would be a better LC.  Not saying that is what you said – just
that is how it felt.

 

From my point of view, in order for me to be the best I can be I need to
utilize my tools as needed.  In my area we have a very high incidence of
situations that cause all sorts of problems.  I don’t work with basic latch
and positioning any more – perhaps once every 4-6 months if I am lucky.  The
moms I work with are SCARED or worse - TERRIFIED.  Their babies have lost
weight, sometimes significantly so while trying to breastfeed exclusively.
They have feeding issues, weight gain issues, etc.  The moms have lost trust
in themselves, their babies and their HCPs.  It is MY job to help them
rebuild that trust in any way possible.  And while I am a very good
educator, and can talk about, teach and show moms all the clues and cues and
information on the planet – sometimes they just NEED to see that the baby is
getting what they need.  The Drs want moms to provide ‘numbers’ for baby’s
intake and prove to them that mom is doing what she needs to ‘feed the
baby’.  The scale can do that.  

 

If the scale is a ‘crutch’ so be it!  And, frankly, I am more than happy to
provide that crutch – anytime they need, as often as they need.  I am not
HER.  I am not in the middle of her fear.  My job is to ease those fears in
the best possible way with the least interventions.  And I do that very well
– sometimes with my scale.  And as I work with each mom I educate and
support, and educate and support some more and help them gently wean off
NEEDing the scale for the information it provides.  And gradually they grow
to trust themselves, their observations and their babies.  THAT is my job –
and I do it very well.  I don’t always need to use my tools to assist me in
my joy of helping mothers regain their confidence – but when I do I am damn
glad I have them.  

 

I saw a mom this morning who is not my typical clientele.  Her baby was 4
days old, mom had sore nipples and some minor scabbing.  Baby weighs in at ½
ounce below birth weight.  Mom was more than pleasantly surprised.  Her
poops are yellow already and she is having plenty of wet diapers.  No t-t,
no tight muscles, no birth injuries.  We fine tuned the latch and
positioning, talked a lot about what things should look like.  Baby took one
ounce at first feed and went to sleep.  About an hour later baby nursed
again – mom had no interest in weighing her again.  She didn’t care.  Why?
Because she TRUSTED her baby and herself – and that is exactly what she told
me, “I trust us to do fine.”  This is NOT my typical client at all – it was
very refreshing.

 

So – long story short:  We all do what we do – and I hope we all do our jobs
well.  To tell me I could have done my job as well if not better without a
scale is to assume that one knows my clientele and knows what they need
without seeing them…I meet their needs in my way.  And others meet their
clients needs in their way.  It’s all good – as long as we can respectfully
refrain from assuming…

 

Respectfully,

Jaye

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

Breastfeeding Network

Sacramento, CA

www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

 

 

Jaye – Your below post has given me the opportunity to better explain what I
wrote about LCs weighing babies and misusing scales.  I never meant to show
disdain or disrespect for you or any of the IBCLCs/CLCs on LACTNET.  There
are some who misuse the scales; they do look more important/professional
because of it.  An analogy might be like the pictures of the formula
companies showing workers in white coats, standing near the large vats of
ABM (Artificial Baby Milk) and “studying” the dials.  It gives an impression
of being scientific and so careful.  In some ways some moms are affected
that way by the use of the scales.

 

Everything that you and other LACTNETTERS posted on this topic was carefully
read by me and I accepted everyone’s point of view.  In virtually every
case, I thought that you and the others could have done just as good a job
without the scales – sometimes even better.  In some cases, the scales were
like crutches for the moms (e.g., the moms who doubted their supply until
they saw the numbers on the scales).  When I do consultations, I do a lot of
explaining and teaching so that when I leave the moms, they are more
confidant and well-informed, but I do not use scales.  It is my way of doing
things and I respect yours.

 

I hope I have explained myself a little better and that all of us can feel
good about posting on LACTNET.

 

Warm regards,

Lee Galasso, MS, LLLL, IBCLC, RLC

Westchester County in NYS, USA


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