LACTNET Archives

Lactation Information and Discussion

LACTNET@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Celine Cormier <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 22 Jun 2007 22:11:14 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (63 lines)
Hello everyone!

hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!

I have a bit of a delema.  I keep facing it every week when I go to work and
it kills me.  I have been an RN working with breastfeeding moms for the past
9 years.  Helping breastfeeding moms has always been a passion for me.  I
wasn't any good at it at first but with the years, practice and the "tricks
of the trade", I managed to gain a lot of skills and have been able to help
a lot of moms.  Thing is, as an RN, I have always been thought to fix any
problems, no matter how, just fix it.  So if a baby wasn't feeding at the
breast or if a mom was having trouble getting that baby to latch, I did
everything and anything I could to get that baby on that breast.  Almost
every time, that meant me putting that baby to the breast.  I was always
proud and satisfied when I managed to get that baby on, especially when no
one else was able to.

Since becoming and LC last year, that all changed.  My focus is no longer
getting those babies on the breasts or getting those moms to breastfeed at
all cost.  It is now to TEACH those moms to get their babies on to the
breast.  I love teaching and talking with moms but when I try to help, that
is when it gets tricky.  Trouble is that I feel like I do a lot of talking
and coatching and when I see moms struggling with positioning or I see those
babies so eager to get on but moms having trouble latching them on, the RN
in me comes out.  I find myself wanting to take over because I feel like
they will never get it right or that by the time they do, the babies will
give up and fall asleep or tune out.  When I get my hands in there, I see
mom's confidence go down, I see her disappointment with not being able to
get her baby on the breast herself and I feel sooooooooooooo bad.  I give
lots of positive reinforcement, I do lots of teaching and give lots of
encouragement but when I can't "fix" a breastfeeding couple that is
struggling, I feel disappointed in myself and I feel like I let them down.

I feel like everyone at work expects me to be a miracle worker because I
have the IBCLC initials by my name.  I also feel like I am no more qualified
than anyone else if I can't fix a problem.  I no longer have that proud
feeling or that feeling of accomplishment I use to.

I mean there are days when I have coworkers asking for help and patients
appreciating my help and moms that do manage to get it right with my help
but it is the days I can't help that makes me feel so bad.  Do any of you
have those days?  How do you cope with them?  Do you guys have any tricks? 
I mean, I know we LC are not miracle workers and that we can't fix
everything.  That our role is not to fix every problem but to support,
inform, help and refer as needed.

Does it get better with time?  Am I just feeling this way because I am new
at this and not yet comfortable with my role?

Thanks for any insyte you guys can offer.  I really appreciate it!  Sorry
this is so long.

Celine Cormier, RN, BN, IBCLC

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask])
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]

ATOM RSS1 RSS2