I use to run 4 groups per month but due to budget cuts they only want me to
do 2 now.  The 2nd and 4th Monday of each month 12:30-2:00 (use to be
10:30-12:00 but the hospital has NO room for anything anymore so we have to use the gym
at the Fitness Center on the hospital grounds.  That is the only time it is
available).  The groups are always lively.  Not as full as they were when we
meet earlier in the day.  But we always have a nice crowd of really devoted moms
who help influence new moms coming into the groups.  I do not have a
structured topic.  I tried that in the beginning but when we got so large we just
ended up discussing the topics the moms were having issues with.  Sometimes I have
to quiet the group to have them "hear" what a Mom is saying.  I like for them
to answer the questions before I just jump in unless it is something out of
the ordinary.  I find the moms really listen to other mother's who have just
recently been where they are right now.  Of course sleep issues are ALWAYS a
topic!  I find I spend a lot of time on just parenting/mothering and newborn
behavior issues and separating them from "blaming" breastfeeding for everything.
In my groups I have LLL moms, moms who want to succeed but felt LLL might be
too much for them (some of these moms end up at LLL once they start to
understand breastfeeding and the mothering process) and moms who have been feeding
formula and are learning that is why they are losing their supply.  I have had
several turn things around and are so thrilled that if a new Mom comes into the
group and mentions formula they are the first to say "Get Help. Stop the
formula!"  I have moms who have NO interest in nursing past a year despite what
they hear in group.  These are moms that may not have made it to a year if it
hadn't been for the group.  I also have MANY more moms who nurse well past a year
even though they didn't think they would want to.  Because of the group women
get so much support and education.  So good luck with your new groups!  It
may take a while for them to build.  I remember 2-3 people coming, then none,
then 1-2 and then all of a sudden the room was full, as time went on!

Pam Hendrix, RN, IBCLC
Hospital Based in S. Florida
Where today my neighbor called me (she nursed her first daughter 21 months)
to say the Pediatrician told her the baby's stools (she is 7 weeks) looked too
runny.  His advice?  To feed the baby COKE!!  OR Infamil DF!? Thank goodness
she has me.  The stools are fine!  He said he would test the stools at the next
visit!  EEEEKKKK...I told her about the WBC story on Lactnet so mom is
prepared!  But she loves this Ped otherwise.

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