I try to maintain a balance between freindly and casual-professional. I 
usually wear a cotton skirt, mid calf or slightly higher (any longer and I 
could risk tripping) a sleevless shirt in the summer, under short sleeve 
scrubs.  

I wear my IBCLC badge on a badge clip, on one of the scrub pockets, for ID 
at the door, and my IBCLC pins (although the magnet pins for years of 
service always fall off and end up in my pockets :( ) and a gold pin of a 
mother and baby nursing. 

I rarely wear hosery, instead opting for cotton socks. In winter, I 
usually wear tights. I only wear Birkenstocks, everywhere and anywhere, so 
they are on my feet. If I see shoes at the front door, I remove mine also. 
In winter, (I live in the Chicago area) I wear boots, and bring ballet 
style slippers to wear in the client's home. 

I don't care for suits, nor do I even own one. I also only own three or 
four pairs of shoes, and the rubber garden clogs are not appropro for a 
consultation, so the Birkies are always worn. When a client comes to my 
house for a rental or weight check, I wear about the same, although 
sometimes in ballet type slippers. I don't own high heels. The last thing 
I would want to do would be to intimidate my clients. :) But, a little 
lipstick helps to look nice, and my long hair is always pulled back and 
secured. If the room is warm (like they have been these last few weeks or 
so) I ask the client if she minds if I remove my scrub top (with the 
discreet, yet sleevless top underneath) making a joke about my peri-
menopause "flashing." (I cannot work if I am too hot.) When my children 
were still on the breast themselves, I did have to wear nursing pads, as I 
would invariably leak or/and let down when I picked up the client's baby. 
That isn't a problem now, with Hannah weaned two years now. (She's 6.5.) 

As for the client's house, unless she is obviously wealthy enough to 
employ a staff,  a spotless house, (with a newborn) and flawlessly applied 
make up and hair do on the mother reminds me to note on her report she may 
be a candidate to watch for PPD. And this note nearly always proves itself 
true. 

Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC
Private Practice

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