In a message dated 12/7/00 6:32:54 AM Pacific Standard Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:

<< After working for 2 years as a hospital LC in a large hospital with 10k
 deliveries/year, I would suggest that seeing 10-12 Moms in a 2-3hr. period is
 way too many! If I saw 10 in an 8hr period, this was a very difficult day.
 Granted these Moms were having difficulty, we only saw them if they were,
 otherwise the nusing staff handled "normal" breastfeeding management.
 Although this approach had it's drawbacks, I would suggest it to you at this
 point. If you are repeating the same old stuff as you described, you are
 taking up time that could be better used elsewhere ie. assisting in the
 problem situations or educating staff. >>
Lynn,
Your suggestions are very much appreciated.  It isn't like I get to vote on
this too much.  I'm quite aware that 10+ pts in 2 - 3 hours is too many.  The
problem is that there aren't too many nurses on staff that will work
effectively with the moms.  They have been wonderful for the most part and
are willing to learn. (It's so neat to hear one's own words echoed by a nurse
who got an "Aha!" to a patient.  Alot of the problems if caught early -
positioning, L/O incorrect CAN be handled fairly expeditiously before they
become habits or before too much damage has been inflicted.  I refer all
bfing moms to local LLL which is fantastic in our area and the "problems" I
send to the free Breastfeeding Clinic I work at 1/2 day per week for follow
up etc.  I'd like the situation to be vastly different from what it is, but
prior to me coming in there  were no lactation services at all.  Baby steps.
I do inservices, but that's primarily preaching to the choir.  The ones who
really need to attend never seem to make it.  We're working on competencies
which should be an effective strategy to create an impetus for learning (for
those wishing to keep their jobs anyway!)  At this point my very pro-bfing
supervisor is happy to most babies L/O correctly and tummy-to-tummy when she
makes rounds.
Gotta work with the clay they give you til some more is given, I guess!
Plugging away, one mom and baby at a time!

Gretchen Andrews, BA, IBCLC
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