Dearest friends,
When I came into this field about 11 years ago.  A woman from those early
days,  walked into my office and commented with amazement: "Gee, this is a
REAL business. From the way my doctor talked I thought you had long ratty
hair and sat crossed-legged and bare chested on the floor breastfeeding
babies all day!"  She was one of my earliest "failures," and is now one of my
dearest friends.  Her premature twins were a handful. Today, she tells me
that she believes it was the attention the NICU nurses placed on the babies
increasing intake as a sign of well being that was her undoing. She didn't
feel comfortable not knowing how much they were taking. Those two boys turned
11 years old on my birthday.
Armed with my new breastfeeding knowledge, I thought I could set the world on
fire. Surely, intellegent people would see the logic of it all.  I began
adding my knowledge to the childbirth classes I was teaching for the local
hospital  I was quickly knocked down on my preverbal backside. I was fired
within a month. (It was a really good income too. About $3000 per month).
  One of the peds involved in the  meeting the decided my fate, felt guilty
about they way I was treated. She asked me out to lunch and told me what
really happened.   The pediatricians got together and demanded that I be "let
go" because I wan changing their practice.  Then offered me office space. I
worked for Dr. Vicki for 18 months struggling all the way. At the same time I
ran a construction company for one of my husband's friends--because lactation
wasn't paying the bills.  When a new HMO hospital opened up, they sought me
out and I've been there 7 years.
Like all LC's my job has its ups and downs. Days when I get sick of the
stupidity and hard-headed attitudes. Then I remind myself what I said when I
was fired so many years ago: "I want to change the world--one baby at a
time."  You see I know that if I can bring one child at a time closer to his
mom, help her give him the best start in life, things will change.
Well, since the day I was fired things have changed. That same hospital now
has 3 LE's on staff and the docs have changed their opinions. Most of the
things I fought so hard for are now accepted practice. Why? Because of the
efforts of individual LC's. Their positive contacts with moms and babies
slowly changed attitudes and the mothers began demanding change.  Remember
how childbirth was in the 1970's? Dad's who handcuffed themselves to
mom--women demanding more humane treatment.  In most places the labor arena
has changed too. It's been a long *labor* but it ain't over yet!
When I work with LC students, I am amazed how many think, LC work will bring
them lots of money. They have no idea that a war is still being fought.  They
fail to realize that they have to roll up their sleeves and dig in. Or some,
like me, go in like a *bull in a china shop* and are rudely awakened by
reality.  Those are the ones who burn out quickly and leave the profession in
about 6 months or a year.
Sure there are plenty of days (weeks, sometimes) when I wonder why I keep on
going. I don't have to, I could retire on disability and leave it all behind.
 But I know I would miss it: even the failures. You know if I won a
lottery--I think I would volunteer my skills somewhere.  Even with all its
headaches and heartaches, I love what I do--one baby at a time.
Marie Davis
(in 111 degree) Moreno Valley, CA