In our hospital the LC's are NOT to be called for basic breastfeeding help.
ALL staff should have taken a basic course with us and should know how to
position, latch and educate as to the importance of breastfeeding or
supplying breastmilk to their babies.  Now...having said this, does it
happen?  Not all of the time.  I find nurses giving bottles, their defense?
The mom insists she doesn't have milk and said to give the baby some formula.
 The baby isn't satisfied.  The baby won't sleep in the bassinet.  When I ask
if they first educated the parents regarding what the effects of
supplementing will do (along with HELLLOOOO normal newborn behavior) to her
supply and the possible preference now that the baby may make in how food is
delivered to him or her, the response is always the same.  A blank look or I
don't have the time, she doesn't really want to breastfeed....blah, blah,
blah.   (Which we have ALL been trained in order to be high in Press-Ganey
percentages so we are always to say "I HAVE the time.....")

We have some FANTASTIC nurses who do a job so well that we KNOW if they call
us it is a BIG problem.  Then we have others stuffing formula everywhere they
can.  But it is their job to do and know the basics and our manager and
director have informed them of this.  But we still spend a lot of time doing
things we shouldn't have to.  Maybe we would have time for follow up phone
calls initiated by us instead of by the parents.  I know we could save A LOT
of nursing relationships if we could do this.  But doubtful that our director
would feel the same.  Money is tight and she doesn't like to see us SITTING!
At all.

I just taught a basic 4 hour breastfeeding class to new staff.  They also
have to follow us for 4 hours out on the floors.  I was so amazed at how
little knowledge these women had.  And a bit frightened that one nurse
admitted she didn't even know what Depo-Provera was but yet she has given it
to moms before they go home.  AAARRRGGHHH!!!!!!  My mouth fell to the floor
and I couldn't control myself.  I said, "you are a nurse?? And you are giving
a medication that you don't even know what it is??  Let alone the potential
side effects??"  I didn't think I needed to teach BASIC licensed nursing
skills during my class.  Very scarey.

Pam Hendrix, RN, IBCLC, ICCE
S. Florida Hospital Based

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