Barbara, Well put!

I agree that it is far past time  that we stop feeling guilty for charging
for our services.  I am working hard to get past that myself.  I have decided
that when  mom comes over to my home to rent a pump and have a consult
(information only since I am NOT an LC) that I have every right to charge a
fee for my time and effort.  And we all have that right.  Even if a mom can't
afford to pay a lot, we should be allowed to feel OK asking her to pay a
minimal fee for our services.  If BF is that important to her, she will do
what she can.  Many is the time I have given out a grant pump to a mom who I
know can't afford to pay, but she has offered to try and pay something.
 Those are the moms who I "let off the hook" so to speak.  If they need the
pump longer than a month, I am happy to give them a lower rental price (If my
boss will let me!) so that they can continue to pump for their baby.  There
are those out there who want as much of a free ride as they can get, and if
they don't get it, will blame the "establishment" and quit trying to BF all
together.
Bottom line, since there are so many moms who are having probs BF (because of
meds during labor, and other reasons), we are in a fairly high demand.  Are
we always to be the "Saviors of BF who are free" ?  With all the time and
money we spend in order to become experts in this field, I don't think that
is fair to us, or the public.  I finally talked to a guy on the phone the
other night who, when hearing how much our LCs (who I work for) charge per
hour, (and they are not cheap) said "Wow, that's it?  Well, we'll certainly
be calling them!  That is certainly better than paying for formula and Dr
bills for a sick kid!"  Call him an enlightened father, or what ever, but it
was nice to have our field accepted and respected enough to be paid for!
So, folks, keep on charging for your time, and if you're not charging yet,
start!  Even if it is minimal!
My .02!  Off my box!

Jay