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Subject:
From:
"Jaye Simpson, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:57:26 -0700
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Wow.  Lee, Wow.

OK - so no flames, but I have to say I am most disheartened by your opinion
of those of us who 'lug around these heavy scales'.   Your comments come
across glaringly as a slap in the face and with heavy disdain and disrespect
for those of us who choose to practice differently than those who do not
'lug around these heavy scales'.

So here is my take on it:  

First and foremost, IBCLC's are NOT JUST counselors - we are far, far more
than that.  We are in fact Health Care Providers and it behooves us to act
as such or we will never be treated with the respect we deserve as part of
the Allied Health Care Team.

Second, many of us are in communities where the Drs just plain don't care or
don't know what is acceptable or not when it comes to breastfed babies.  Far
too many times the only person, HCP, who can give mom the proper care is the
IBCLC - and in many cases a scale is indeed needed to be able to monitor
baby closely and properly.  Moms do not always have the luxury of working
with an HCP who can get her in at the same time, on the same scale, nor one
who is interested in working with her breastfeeding issues.  Their answer is
far more often to just feed formula if there is an issue.  My scale use has
saved/helped far more babies than even I care to recognize simply because I
was the one with my heavy scale who was able to see that there was a problem
- one I would not have seen as quickly without it.  And I for one prefer NOT
to take days or weeks to figure out what is wrong.  My scale often assists
me to accurately and quickly determine what the problem is.  It is not
always a necessity - but it always comes with me.

Third - many of us are on the front lines - catching issues that the Dr does
not.  How many of us have had those babies who have the wets, borderline
poops, sound like they are swallowing - do the pre-post weight and guess
what?  MINIMAL intake.  How many of us have walked into a consult and found
a baby at 2 wks who is scrawny and yet the Dr gave him a clean bill of
health even tho he is well under birth-weight and does not look good??  How
do we track his weight gain if the DR doesn't even recognize there is a
problem?  What does mom do if the ONLY person (HCP) who is validating HER
concern is us?

Fourth - Scale use has been discussed ad nauseum on Lactnet.  The simple
fact is:  Some of us use them and some do not.  Some of use them correctly,
some do not.  Scales are an incredibly helpful TOOL (as are nipple shields,
bottles, syringes, formula...) that when used properly can be a tremendous
benefit to a mother to know exactly what is going on with her baby.  They
have NOT been found to freak moms out at all.  I have found my scale to be
far more a benefit than a pain to carry.  I use it with every consult -
regardless of the situation.  It gives ME a baseline of where the baby is at
time of consult and then moms come back to ME as their HCP (while continuing
to work with their Dr) so that proper follow up is done regularly with
someone who is intimately aware of the nuances of their situation because I
guarantee you their Dr's do NOT have the time.  The moms are MORE than
grateful for at least on HCP (ME) who cares enough to look at ALL aspects of
their situation and to monitor closely as needed.

Lastly, many of us are IT in our communities.  We don't have other LC's with
more experience to refer out to.  In my community, as far as I know, I am
the LAST remaining full time private practice LC.  Everyone else works full
time for WIC or a hospital.  I don't have anyone to refer out to - and my
level of experience now leaves me without need for the most part.  However -
a big part of that skill level includes my trusty scale...that I bought from
another former IBCLC.

So - Please consider that many of us who routinely use scales do so not to
give the scale companies money but to help moms and babies to the best of
our ability.   Please consider your word choice, as, while I am not mad and
am not flaming you, I am hurt and I feel badly that you would see US in such
a negative and insulting way.  It would have been enough to say you don't
use a scale in your practice and that works for you without blasting the
hell out of those of us who do.  

Just because we practice differently does not make us anything less than or
better than anyone else...it simply makes us different.  You do what you do
and I will do what I will do - and as long as we are both comfortable with
how we practice, there should be absolutely nothing but acceptance and
respect.  Judgment has no place here.

Respectfully,
Jaye

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM
Breastfeeding Network
Sacramento, CA
www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

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