Thank you, Jeanne! Of course, we do what we do because we love to help 
women breastfeed, and most of us also do Pro Bono work, volunteer with LLL 
or other groups, as well as donate our time, rent "Grant Pumps" to less 
fortunate mothers ect. But, as in all PROFESSIONS we do deserve to be paid 
for what we do. 

Years ago, when I was new to Lactnet, I expressed frustration at not being 
able to afford membership in ILCA. I was, as I am now, doing a lot of Pro Bono 
work. A few people "read me the riot act" about my "responsibility" to other 
LCs who had to support their families through this work, and how "too  much" 
Pro Bono work wasn't good for any of our Profession. (And, yes, I was, too, 
just not making enough to join ILCA, and, today, I still can't afford to join ILCA 
and all requests for scholarship or grant memberships have gone unanswered, 
(Who is doing Pro Bono work?)  A kind doctor did, however, do me a favor for 
a year of JHL, however. I thank him always.) 

In this rather heated discussion, one person said that to some "Lactation is 
more than just an expensive hobby." Which, at the time, I found a little 
insulting. But, to be honest, with 2 children in college, and our family receiving 
no financial aid , I now kind of agree with. Although, I do not agree that doing 
Pro Bono work hurt anyone, but that doesn't mean that those who certainly 
can afford our service should be treated to our time, effort and expertise at no 
cost to them whatsoever. 

No other profession provides professional services in this way. 

I, too, was and am, a LLL leader, I believe in "Giving back." But, I also need to 
help support my family. Although I do not make much, it helps, and I can do 
what I love, and still be there, more than a 9 to 5 job, with my youngest child, 
or for my college kids, when they need me. But, the implication that I should 
be ashamed of earning a fair wage for my knowledge, my expertise, my 
experience, and my hard work, irks me as well. 

In a perfect world, "the government" would just hand us all we need. (including 
paying LCs? Or making sure we have a roof, clothes, a home and kids can 
attend college? While we skip through the flowers throwing Lactation Consults 
to anyone who lies there?) But, in many cases, we can all see the problems 
with that. (like, where is that money going to COME from? And, who is going 
to plant all those flowers for us to skip through? Are there Pro Bono 
Gardeners? I'm getting silly, and working on a dang migraine.)  

I would love to see National Health or Universal Healthcare in the USA,  (I 
think it is imperative) but if it "works" then why is they way the UK provides 
it "disintegrating?" (As one UK living poster has said.) Perhaps there is a better 
way, but I am a Lactation Consultant, not an Economist. I have no answers. 

All I can do now, is to take care of the women who call for help, attempt to 
determine who "requires" Pro Bono work (one woman who said "I just can't pay 
you much. I haven't worked since I had the baby. Money is really tight." (baby 
a few days old) and to whom I gave a significant discount, had a car newer 
than mine, (several of them) a Nanny, already in residence, and when, after 
the Consultation, I told I would need to reweigh the baby in 48 hours, she 
said, "No, Tuesday won't work." I wondered why, with a newborn at 
home. "The House Keeper comes on Tuesdays and Saturdays." LOL! Wow. I 
gave a near Pro Bono fee discount to a lady with a Nanny, a Housekeeper, and 
2 brand new imported cars. (NONE of which I have.....) But, that's the way it 
goes, I guess.) and hope I am doing the right thing, by my clients by my 
Professional standards, and not least of all, by my family. 

Thank you, Jeanne. For those of us who KNOW this is a Profession. And one 
which is worth Professional Effort, Professional Work, Professional 
Thoroughness, and Professional Remuneration, at least when our clients can 
afford to do so. Or until an other Sustainable, workable system is invented. 

Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC, LLL
Private Practice 

PS, just called the 800 number that Robin provided for Babies R Us. Got 
absolutely NO answers, the person I spoke to referred me to a "supervisor" 
who started her conversation with "I was a nursing mother." ("Good for you." 
or perhaps, "How do you define Nursing Mother?" I wanted to say, in a snotty 
manner, but I didn't.) and then went on to tell me that "The Customer" had 
the responsibility to "seek out" the help she needed to use the pumps, while 
not realizing that she ADMITTED that Medela NEVER trained any of the people 
who rented the pumps in the stores she supervised. THAT was "up to the 
customer." 

When I asked her how these people handled questions, and told that many 
questions posed to BRUs employees were improperly answered, she said I 
should write a letter to the EXACT ADDRESS that refused to answer Robin. I 
then replied that people had done that, and been given HER number, she said 
there was "nothing more" she could do for me. (this then went on, me asking, 
begging for answers and her dodging them) I, as a parting shot asked her if 
she really cared about the people who would rent these pumps, assuming that 
the Mothers who rented them at BRU might not get the proper help, and 
maybe lost their milk supply, and had BRU considered putting the names and 
phone numbers on the pumps or where the "experts" could refer people to 
them. She said, "There is no plan to do that." NO PLAN! Then, she 
reiterated, "There is nothing more I can do for you, please call the provider 
(Medela?) or write a letter." I finally said I hoped she could sleep, knowing that 
most of the women who rented pumps and were not given proper information 
would make BRU MORE money once they "failed" to breastfeed, and they were 
now buying thousands of dollars in formula from BRU, she again.... and I asked 
again. "DO YOU CARE about the women who rent these pumps from BRU?" and 
she hung up on me. 

Ah, me. More grist for the mill..(I must stop posting while I am having my Moon 
Time.) 

On Sat, 5 Jul 2008 21:00:54 -0500, Jeanne Cygnus 
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>
>This is not meant to be criticism of Ilene or the posting in any way- and
>really has nothing to do with BRUS renting pumps... but as a professional LC
>and a lactation clinic owner, I get very frustrated when the general public
>has this view.   YES, I do what I do because I dearly love moms and
>babies... and I will do whatever I can to help ensure that these dyads have
>a wonderful breastfeeding relationship!  I would not work as hard as I do
>every single day if this were not the case!  However, as a professional and
>a business owner, I do need to make a living, cover the cost of my facility
>(which in turn provides convenience and ease to the moms I help) and I also
>deserve to be reimbursed for my time and energy away from MY family etc.
>This does not negate my passion for what I do, but reflects what I feel is
>reasonable compensation for the education and professional experience I
>bring to the table.    Do we expect top-notch surgeons to perform surgery
>for little or no compensation "for the love of healing"?  What about
>doctors?  Physical Therapists?  Chiropractors?  Herbalists?    All of these
>are professions that have required lots of specialized education... and I
>expect to pay for this experience when I consult with any of them.  The fact
>that they expect compensation in NO WAY belittles their caring or their
>passion for what they do!
>There are many wonderful and knowledgeable volunteers out there, but we
>cannot expect our profession to be a volunteer workforce.  I want our
>profession to be recognized as worth the value we provide!
>
>Again... this was not intended to be a flame.. so I apologize deeply in
>advance if I've stepped on any toes...
>
>Best wishes,
>Jeanne Cygnus, IBCLC
>
>Cygnus Lactation Services
>Mundelein, IL, USA
>www.CygnusLactation.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>            

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