To Barbara Wilson-Clay and Patti Carroll,

I'm posting this to the list because I think this is a legitimate issue that
confronts LCs in private practice.  I "gave up" several years ago when I saw
that pump rentals and parts (a major part of it) just wasn't worth it.  I
once got the dumbest call after bedtime from a woman (whom I thought was
breastfeeding since she had a pump) who wanted to know if it was OK to use
the water she had boiled the pacifiers in for mixing the formula. I am not
making this up.  We were not having a water shortage. Go figure.  Anyway,
there were too many drugstores renting pumps and too many cheap pumps in
discount stores to compete. And most of the time, when I actually got a
client, they didn't really need a pump, so I wouldn't try to rent it! Now I
give out free advice once in a while and refer pump rentals to a  hospital
where good IBCLCs can advise them.

It boils down to this: if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.  And if the
lactation consulting business is not making you happy, get out.  Your family
comes first.  Now, I spend my time at home, concentrating on helping moms
with my books. Although I only have a 17 year old left at home, he still
wants me here when he gets home from school.

Have a happy holiday season, everyone.

Pam Wiggins, IBCLC
Breastfeeding: A Mother's Gift and Why Should I Nurse My Baby?
http://www.bookzone.com/breastfeeding