Hi to you all,

I signed up for Lactnet a few days ago after returning from Chicago
(Physician's seminar as well as LLLI conference).  How nice; after 5
days of intense stimulation about BFing management, advocacy, etc.; to
be able to return to this discussion group!  It is usually such a let
down (no pun intended) to come home after such an intense time.  I met
a few of you there in the front lobby that one night, attended
K.Detwiller's wonderful session on weaning ages for primates and in
general enjoyed myself.

A bit about myself, I'm an RN/IBCLC who certified in 1990.  I work in a
variety of settings; private practice (I do home visits), in hospital
consulting (as a contractor for the hospital) for problem dyads (NICU,
on maternity floor and in a clinic for outpatients), teaching prenatal
breastfeeding classes and then the occasional shift as a nurse (not LC)
in the NICU.  I'm not as busy as that would make it seem, they are all
part time endevors but I probably spend 16 hours a week in one setting
or another.

I'm mom to 3 older kids (ages 14, 12, 8), who weaned at 22 months, 20
months and 47 months.  I have personally experienced a hospitalized
infant, blood blisters and mastitis but in general had wonderful BFing
experiences.

I credit LLLI, not nursing school or hospital work, with my interest in
and knowledge of breastfeeding in the early days.  I have pursued a
variety of educational "events" over the years.   I attended UCLA's
Lactation Educator course with Kitty Franz and the "Suck Intensive" at
The Lactation Institute with Chele Marmet/Ellen Shell.  I shadowed as
many LCs as I could find in my local area.   Area conferences for LLLI,
local ILCA groups, the annual traveling workshop from LLLI and also Kay
Hoover's annual private practice and hospital practice seminar/sharing
sessions in Pennsylvania are my way of keeping up.  I'm also fortunate
to have access to 2 hospital libraries for keeping up with the
literature, plus I have a great partner in my private practice to
bounce ideas off.

Cyberspace has provided me an outlet for lactation discussion before.
Kathy Bruce and I participated in a small email group on an online
service a few years back, but nothing like this.  THIS IS WONDERFUL!!!

Thank you all for your sharing, most especially Kathy and Kathy for
getting this list up and running!  I'll be jumping in soon with my
concerns of the day and suggestions for yours.

Oh, and the email address reflects the fact that my husband signed us
up on this service first and never thought to make it less, uh, one
sided.  I don't feel like paying for a second account and we have used
the email address for some time now, so...., I'll continue to be
"Carla, using Larry's account" for now.

Carla D'Anna (email at [log in to unmask])