I wanted to share my own good news as a hospital based IBCLC. My position
has been 'on trial' for two years as a Lactation Consultant for a hospital
that averages 300 births per month (I am actually employed as a midwife
there). I have had 3 big wins after two years of wondering if my role is
making any difference. I have been told that my role is now to become a
designated Lactation Consultant Clinical Nurse Role, I will not be able to
be seconded to any other clinical role while at work as the Lactation
Consultant (no more 'can you just help out because they are really busy
and breastfeeding isn't quite as important as other clinical work').

Secondly, the Director of Obstetrics saw a lady in a surgical ward who
mentioned as an aside (not the reason she was admitted) that whe was
having some breastfeeding issues, he instructed the Surgical Medical
officers that they could not discharge her until she had been seen by a
Lactation Consultant and that I concurred that she was fit for discharge.

Thirdly at our Health District's International Nurses Day awards, I won
the Nursing Excellence Award for my work in raising breastfeeding
initiation and duration rates in our area - a great way of getting our
message out there.

Big Sigh - some days it IS all worth it!! Good luck to all those who are
also slogging it out in hospital based practice, and keep your chin up,
people do notice the work you do even if you don't realise it!
Margaret Wendt RN RM IBCLC Queensland Australia

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