Hi Lactnetters:

If some of you were on lactnet last fall, you probably read my downbeat
post. I was in a sad state of mind about the future of my profession
(certified lactation consultant). I was quite discouraged and saw no future
and no chance of ever working full time as a Lactation Consultant. As you
must all know, the health care system is not the same in Quebec as in some
other places. People do not pay for most health services, so they are rarely
willing to pay for a lactation consultant. And because I do not have a
degree in nursing, hospitals were not interested in hiring me (they didn't
know in what category they would put me in to pay me, insurance
concerns...etc.). As for government based programs, they didn't seem
interested in putting much money in breastfeeding.

Well, SURPRISE! One of the two pediatric hospitals (Ste-Justine Hospital) in
Montreal recently offered me a contract to put together a program to make
changes in their breastfeeding practices. It is a part-time job, and should
last only a few months (possibility of more if all goes well) but it is a
wonderful opportunity for me. I have to evaluate the situation, pinpoint the
changes needed and teach everyone involved how to maximize breastfeeding
support. It is a multitask mandate, but it is wonderful to finally get the
chance to work inside a hospital. I get to work directly with nurses and
patients on the different units. I will keep you all posted and will
certainly need your help.

Just a month after, I was informed of a part-time job offer for a Lactation
Coordinator in Quebec City. One of their criteria was for the candidate to
be a certified laction consultant. Even though it was a two hour drive and
would require that I spend one or two nights there (at my expense), I
applied for the job. And guess what? It must be my lucky year, I got the
job! So I am now the new Breastfeeding Coordinator for the Northshore of the
Quebec City area from Port-Neuf to Tadoussac. This is a government based
project and I have an office at the Public Health Center in Beauport,
Quebec. Wonderful, isn't it to finally get what I so longed for? I guess it
always pays to be patient and to always be there to help out...

If anyone has advice to give me, please go ahead! And if anyone needs
information on this project, please e-mail me. I read that many of you need
protocols and I should be able to get a few from the projects I am involved in.

Thanks to you all! I got lots of support from Lactnet. Just reading the post
was encouraging...
Dany Gauthier IBCLC
[log in to unmask]
Montreal, Canada
Tel: 514-923-3792
Fax:514-923-3802