Hi all,
  I haven't been on Lactnet in a blue moon, so most of you
don't know me.  Sooooo, I'll introduce myself...
  I started as a LLL leader 6 years ago, got certified with
ICEA 5 years ago, and took the IBLCE exam 2 1/2 years ago.
I have 3 adorable children (and I am a little biased), ages
7, 4 1/2, and my baby will be 2 on April 4.  Oh, and I am
now working on my DONA certification to be a doula.
  My big questions to all of you, especially those of you
with thriving practices, is this:  HOW do you get a thriving
practice?  When I lived in Hawaii, I just told a few people,
and before I knew it, I had more than enough business to
keep me quite busy.  Now I'm in a suburb about an hour from
Chicago...very conservative.  I've had a lot more luck with
OB's than with ped's, but I'll give you a taste of what I'm
up against..."you're a what?"  "Haven't you called here
before? (yes) Well, we don't give referrals like that." "A
lot of women breastfeed because they can't afford formula,
so they won't pay to have somebody tell them how to
breastfeed."  "I don't feel like I should give people your
number, because I know you're going to charge them."
   Get the idea?  Of course I have wonderful, polite, and
intelligent responses to their ignorant comments; however,
does anybody have any ideas?  I am always looking for ideas
that DON'T make me feel like I'm beating my head against a
brick wall.
   The local diaper service gives out my brochures. I'm
trying to convince the Park District that we could
co-sponsor a baby fair.  I don't know where I stand with the
hospitals in town.  A few months ago, I thought I was cool
with one, but taboo with the other...then it seemed to
switch, but I just don't know.  They seem to throw me a few
dead fish occassionally...you know, the mom who says, "I
must have called the hospital ten times because my nipples
are so sore, and finally they gave me your number."  I am
sure that there are countless mothers who just quit, because
they didn't call enough and make a big enough fuss.
  A year ago I had an article in the local paper which
generated a lot of business for a couple of months...any
ideas out there for free publicity?  I do have big plans for
World Breastfeeding Week, but I'd like to get some more
business before August.
  I can't afford to go to Arizona this summer, but my heart
will be there.  If I were to go, I could show everyone the
archaic nipple shield that a mom gave me.  It's longer than
a bottle nipple, and it has ridges inside of it.  The rubber
is also thicker than a bottle teat.  When she got mastitis,
her doc told her that the best thing for mastitis is to wrap
yourself with Ace bandages, let your milk dry up, and be
done with it.
  On Friday, another mom called her doc to get med for
Thrush, and his Nurse-Practitioner said that in the 10 years
she's been working for him, he has never prescribed med for
thrush, because "yeast can't live on your nipples.  Just
wash them really well with soap and water."
  Sorry to ramble on so long...any suggestions?
                                            Thanks,  Debby
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       *       Debby Boehle, ICCE, IBCLC      #
       #              Joliet, IL              *
       *              circa 1950              #
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