I was going to write privately to Patti, but wanted to share with the rest
of the List as well.  The same thing happened to me, partly because I was
always half-hearted about retail, and wouldn't/couldn't compete against the
people who opened up boutiques or depots and did counseling as a sort of
lure to get moms  to buy.  There were 6 other rental depots in my zip code
when I shut down my clinic, laid off my staff,  and moved my office back
into my home.  I too, am still getting calls for .80 parts, but no longer
feel obligated to stay a half hour late to supply them.  I also direct all
the people who call about how to operate the pumps and gadgets they bought
elsewhere back to where they bought them.  While I think it is impt. not to
medicalize bfg support, and am still a Leader and supportive of the work the
League does, there has been a huge increase in the number of other places
where free bfg. counseling occurs.  I flatter myself that I am good at what
I do, but the general public doesn;t always know that anyone can call
themselves an LC.  I am still getting ph. calls from local home health
agencies asking for pamphlets on how to train their RNs who are out there
doing lactation consulting on day 3.  I keep suggesting they might consider
really training them and REALLY delivering the service.

So that's the bad new.  The good news is that I am really enjoying being
closer to my family, not having the crushing burden of all the overhead, and
I am still seeing that the women who really need my clinical experience
still find their way to me.  I am loving doing home visits where I can
literally crawl into bed with women and their newborns and get everyone all
snuggled up in side-lying.  It is so compassionate for the mothers and
babies to be seen in their homes.  I have joyfully abandoned all sales of
anything not needed clinically.  So Patti, live one day at a time, and just
be open to the possibility that when the path gets too rocky, it may be a
sign to try another way.

Barbara

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Private Practice, Austin, Texas
Owner, Lactnews On-Line Conference Page
http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html