Kathleen and Lactnetters,

>>>Also, does anyone have any recommendations for scales that they use in
their
LC practice.? I have no scale at present, and send kids off to the MD to
be
weighed, but I'd like one.<<<

After sending all my clients to MDs to be weighed and having numerous
problems with scale accuracy and spending lots of time on the phone and
also wishing for a way to know what some questionable babies were doing,
I decided to spend for the Medela Baby-weigh 3 years ago.  If you are a
Medela rental station (or have a colleague friend who is),  you have the
option of renting one first to see how you like it before spending the
dollars for purchase.

I absolutely love the way the scale has helped me with problem solving
cases.  It doesn't replace observation, but it does add another important
piece of a puzzle when solving a breastfeeding problem.  It was worth the
dollars I spent to buy it!

An unexpected benefit of the scale is that I get to see my mothers more
for follow-ups than I did before.  This has helped reduce my time spent
on the phone wondering what to do because I'm missing data that I only
get when I see the mom and baby.  Mothers *will* come for a wt. ck
follow-up.  Then you can see them in person, often noting important
pieces that may not be seen otherwise.  Even mothers with colicky babies
can check in to reassure themselves it isn't intake problems--something
harder to do if it means going to the Dr. office.  Mothers with long-term
problems using the SNS (reduction surgery, sucking problems, etc) have
come for repeated appointments "just to check baby's weight"---but their
real reason once they come is for the psychological boost of talking with
the LC again and check-in for support and additional help in the process.
 (Mom's still need to see their MDs if a weight problem existed, but
often I like to see them more frequently than what the Dr. often does.)

Many of these moms wouldn't come and pay for a visit (at least I didn't
see it as much before I got the scale--but I spent way too much time on
the phone) If there wasn't a tangible reason for the visit it seemed they
didn't come in --even though they had some valid need to have a check-in
on how they were doing in managing their problem.  Thus, my current
practice is to offer  a mom the first 15 minutes of a follow-up free.
This is enough time to get a quick wt. check if they can't afford to pay
for the monitoring that *I* may really want to see due to the level of
the problem.  However, if there is a need to stay longer to discuss or
evaluate anything --or mom wants to nurse and see how much baby is
getting (another excuse to stay and talk out her grieving or current
concerns), she pays my FU fee in 15 minute increments.  So far I've
really liked this plan and moms seem happy with it too.

My strong opinion for a professional lactation consultant is:  Don't get
a regular scale.  Get one with the accuracy of 1/10 of an ounce so that
you can do test weights of baby's milk intake.  I really think it sets
off your professional expertise as well as helps your practice.  I've
convinced several colleagues and they too have really learned to
appreciate its role in evaluating a breastfeeding problem.

Natalie Shenk, BS, IBCLC
private practice in NW Ohio, USA