Maureen, here is my stock answer for folks who ask me bf questions via the
net. It is not perfect, but I think it is suitable, and covers most bases.
Comments welcome. *sometimes* I add a personal statement as a first
sentence...but not usually. I also do not sign my note with my normal
signature....as it contains the Lactnet archive address. While perfectly
public, I do not encourage folks to go poking through.
Kathleen
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Hello.... Thanks for the note regarding your breastfeeding question. I am
sorry I cannot answer your question at this time. I cannot provide
lactation consultation via e-mail due to ethical considerations. You can
receive optimal care if you make contact with someone on a more personal
level. My best suggestion is for you to contact a local LLL Leader
(that's La Leche League), (or if you are in Australia, a NMAA (Nursing
Mothers Assoc. of Australia) member,) **and** an IBCLC that is Board
Certified Lactation Consultant. There are several in your area, chances are.
An IBCLC can give you private one-on-one help locally, in person, and this
can be a lifesaver for many women. There is a charge for visits with an
IBCLC, as with any other health care professional. IBCLCs have access to
extensive information with regard to lactation and medications.. ....you can
hire the IBCLC to come to your home and help with breastfeeding. LLL
Leaders are experienced breastfeeding mothers who are available as
volunteers on the telephone for mother to mother helping, or at free monthly
meetings. When having breastfeeding difficulties and/or concerns, it is
best to keep in close contact with your physician and pediatrician...to make
sure things are going ok with your baby's weight gain and health, etc.
If you would like to find an IBCLC (Board Certified Lactation Consultant)
in your area to assist you...you may contact the ILCA (International
Lactation Consultant Association) office and you will be referred to three
IBCLC's in your area. You can reach ILCA at 200 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 300,
Chicago IL 60601; phone 312-541-1710 or fax 312-541-1271. ILCA can be
reached at [log in to unmask]
Another wonderful source of breastfeeding assistance is LLLI, La Leche
League International. (Web page http://www.lalecheleague.org/)...and phone
number (847) 519-7730. La Leche League's Breastfeeding HelpLine is now
available 24 hours a day. To reach it, dial (1-900) 448-7475, extension 55.
Numerous topics are listed and can be heard if dialing from a touch tone
phone. Simply listen to the options and press your preference. This phone
costs $1.99/minute and can be used by anyone in the USA. Most messages can
be heard in less than 5 minutes. Availability of this HelpLine in Canada
will occur sometime in the near future. There is also an LLLI Web page on
which there is a form to submit a breastfeeding question to an
accreditedLLL Leader at:
http://www.prairienet.org/llli/helpform.html
LLLI volunteers provide free volunteer bf telephone counseling, from
experienced bf mothers. You can contact your local LLL Leader by calling
the postpartum unit at your local hospital..or LLL can be contacted on the
WWW at http://www.prairienet.org/llli/. There is an 800 number also, but
this may be difficult to reach. That number is (1-800) 525-3243 and can be
reached 9AM-5PM
Monday through Friday.
If you prefer on-line chat/email discussions, Parent-L is a good source of
parent to parent information. PARENT-L is an alternate listserv list where
many families find breastfeeding information and support. Parent-L is a
list for mother to mother (and father, grandfather, sister, interested
bystander, support for breastfeeding and parenting issues.) Parent-L
contains all sorts of parenting/breastfeeding issue discussions , For
info on joining PARENT-L, contact [log in to unmask]
Best wishes in your mothering. Hope these resources are helpful...
Kathleen Bruce BSN, IBCLC
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and as Porky Pig says,...thaaaaaaaaaaaaat's all folks.
KB
Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet,Corgi-L,TLC, Indep. Consultant
http://together.net/~kbruce/kbbhome.html
LACTNET Archives http://library.ummed.edu/lsv/archives/lactnet.html
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