Elise
You have asked a loaded question. I have worked with some good LCs who felt
it was the LC's role to do the 'normal' bf stuff, the basics, because no one
else would do it right. With this attitude, the bf stuff gets dropped
entirely on the LC's lap, who can't possibly 'do it all' and therefore burns
out, and more to the point, the other staff don't ever learn what they need
to know and don't do what they need to do for bf dyads.

In my opinion, as I have stated before, the LC is a specialist and in a
hospital setting she should be dealing with lactation consults. Not going
about teaching every mom the basics of bf and assisting with regularly
getting babies positioned and latched. She should be doing specialized
things and also f/u calls, outpatient consults, weight checks, etc. Also
very important is staff education. The hospital *should* be baby friendly
and the whole hospital culture *should* be bf favorable. There is no need
for the LC to assist w/ position/latch/normal teaching, as the whole of the
maternity staff, even the housekeepers, will be knowledgeable and helpful.
This is not where most hospitals are, but this is where they should all be.
This is not how I currently practice in hospital, but it is how I would like
to practice.

Laurie Wheeler, IBCLC, MN, RN
New Orleans Louisiana, s.e. USA




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