Morgan asks "Is there anywhere to get hands-on training for something like
this?"

At the risk of being flamed, I am going to step up to the soap box here.

Part of the problem (in the US anyway) has to do with price shopping.  I
cannot count the number of people that call looking for the cheapest price
on a pump purchase or rental.  I am associated with a full service lactation
center where we fit the mom to the pump.  We evaluate her needs and attempt
to provide a pump that best fits those needs.  (We also offer breastfeeding
help with a staff of 4 IBCLCs if that is appropriate.)  Currently we compete
with a couple of other places with "the lowest prices" that do not offer the
service or caring that we do.  Two of these places are baby boutiques with
no IBCLCs on staff and a couple are hospital gift shops.  We often end up
explaining to the mom that the pump they purchased/rented was not
appropriate to their needs or was used inappropriately.  When moms find out
they are angry.  Frequently it is so far down the road that even an
appropriate pump is not enough to turn things around. Then moms feel they
cannot spend anymore and they switch to formula.

If LCs would discourage price shopping and encourage "service shopping" it
would help.  Please explain to the moms that part of a higher price is the
service that comes with it.  You can get a cheaper price but it typically
comes from someone who does not have a clue what they are doing.  We have
been forced to price match lately to avoid loosing sales.  Eventually we may
need to provide pumps with no service because at the prices we have to match
we cannot pay enough staff a living wage and make enough to keep the doors
open.  In our city we have several LCs that will tell people "don't go to
'XYZ' because they charge too much."  We do charge more.  We give service
that is commensurate with the prices charged.  We can charge less.  We just
cannot offer the same service and charge less.

The internet is a particularly bad competitor.  When we started our website
we added a caveat:
"Although we are happy to accept any orders, we encourage you to seek a
Breastfeeding Support Center owned by your local IBCLC. Go to
http://www.iblce.org/us_regional_registry.htm for a list of International
Board Certified Lactation Consultants in your state."
For the people who have no access to something local, we want them to have
the ability to get something.  We do not want to put other LCs who can
provide service out of business.

I am having a very difficult time making a moral decision to not offer the
service and just go for the cheapest price in town.  One of the major pump
companies just raised their prices again this year leaving  those in the
middle trying to do right by the moms and offer a living wage to staff
getting stuck again.

Sorry for the length of the rant but, I admit, you hit a hot button.
Sometimes it is even less expensive in the long run to pay a bit more and
get the right equipment with training on correct use than get a cheaper
price.

Morgan, if you have a full-service lactation clinic in town, encourage your
clients to get pumps there and do not refer to the discount places.  Believe
me, the full service places would be happy to have you be a second set of
eyes and ears to make sure the equipment works properly and, in general,
would be happy to teach you how to evaluate the equipment as well.

Linda Pohl, IBCLC
www.eBESTFed.com
hesitantly hitting send from Phoenix AZ

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