Hi All,

In response to Melinda's question, I quite believe there cannot be a 
"standard" number, because lactation programs vary in scope of services 
provided. I've heard 1:1000 tossed about, and I firmly believe in order to 
do a qualtiy job that is not enough hours given the number of non-latching 
babies and the ever increasing c/d rate which increases the average daily 
census we are responsible for. We are extremely fortunate to have 3.7 FTE's 
for 3000 births, including one full time NICU LC for our level 3 NICU.

Questions you need to answer are:

Level of NICU services and breastfeeding initiation rate among those moms
Postpartum initiation rate
Average length of stay
Do you see all moms or just those with problems or by physician order
Do you provide phone followups
Do you provide outpatient services within the hosptal setting
Are you open 7 days per week and for what number of hours

I can honestly say, that one LC can manage about 10-12 inpatients per day 
without significant problems and about 2 outpatients plus 8 - 10  phone 
calls. . If you also need to be going to "meetings", faxing info, doing 
research, and retail sales, or other committee work then the above numbers 
will not work.

You also need to consider the amount of vacation/sick hours/conference time 
you'll need to cover.
and work that into the numbers. It really adds up to more than you realize 
in order to give quality service every day. Needless to say, not everyone 
recognizes this and tries to do more for less, and effects the overall 
outcomes that we see.

LuAnn Smith RN, IBCLC
While I'm enjoying a cup of tea
On a foggy, dreary day in Pennsylvania

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