I, too, was happy to hear good news about the progress other hospital LCs
are making.  It seems that often on Lactnet there is criticism of hospital
LCs and not enough reporting of the good things going on.  We have a
practice at our hospital that includes 6 IBCLCs, 7 day a week coverage
except for major holidays, a "warmline" that receives almost 300 calls a
month, a lactation center with outpatient appointments available every day,
and we call every breastfeeding mother at 5 days post-partum for follow-up.
We have a retail shop and a pump rental station. Our hospital has 4200+
births a year, though, and even the hours that we have still are not enough;
I especially would like more time for staff education.

 

Please, please, those of you who are in private practice and are following
up with mothers who received their first lactation help in the hospital,
pick up the phone and CALL the hospital LC to get her "side of the story" if
it seems that there has been some bad advice or help given. Remember,
hospital LCs deal with newly post-partum moms who have difficulty processing
information.  I can't tell you how many times I have been misinterpreted or
misunderstood by moms in the hospital.  One mom actually called our
department head and complained that the LC had not helped---that I had just
given her a pamphlet and left.  This mom had TOTALLY blocked out the fact
that I had gone back and spent time with her, and actually helped her latch
her baby to the breast with hands-on help.  She didn't remember even after I
called her and read her my notes about our contact!  I have learned to keep
meticulous notes about my contacts with clients.  I have had non-hospital
LCs call and tell me that certain mothers did not receive help, or didn't
realize that they had received a pump, or didn't know how to maintain a milk
supply and I have been able to read my notes and give those LCs the correct
info.  One mom swore that she had not been given a hand pump to deal with
her engorgement, and I had demonstrated and helped her with it two days in a
row!  

 

 Yes, I realize that there is some bad stuff going on in some places, but I
think most hospital LCs would appreciate contact with outpatient LCs about
how we can improve our hospital-based practices and also to have the
opportunity to set the record straight if there has been some
misunderstanding.

 

Melinda Lueck, RN, BSN, IBCLC, LCCE

Toledo, Ohio, USA

 


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