Here I am - 2,000 miles away - and still following-up on my co-Leader's
comments (Hi, Debbi!)

I work with student nurses that come to our support group - but also that
come to our Public Health Nursing rotation in our county Health Department.

An additional question I would encourage each student nurse to have in mind
is "what FEELINGS was the mother reflecting when she came to the meeting?"

Too often, as nurses or LC's, we focus so much on the "problem at hand" and
the need to "fix the problem" (read: be "brilliant") that we forget the
emotional stress the mom is under, the need to address these feelings and
respond to them as the FIRST step in counseling.  

La Leche League Leaders are usually pretty adept at reflecting feelings -
but if the students aren't made aware to pay attention to this, they may
assume the Leader is being evasive or even worse - not answering because she
doesn't know the "right answer".  Our job is NOT to "be brilliant" but
rather to encourage, support and assist the mom in finding HER
solutions/choices/plans - hopefully by hearing various suggestions and
information from the other mothers there.  As Leaders we often work hard (I
know I believe I've had a "bad" meeting if I have a sore throat - that means
I've been talking too much!) to make this a PEER SUPPORT GROUP meeting.  

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA

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