Joy brings up a very important point when she writes:

>I agree with some others who have posted about the 'train wreck' situations
>that we LCs in private practice seem to see so often. This is one of the
>reasons I have remained in NMAA in an active role, as without the
>moderating influence of seeing 'normal' breastfeeding (through local Group
>involvement) and mild problems (through telephone counselling) on a regular
>basis, I would start to wonder myself if persevering with breastfeeding is
>really worth the effort required by some clients. If I lose faith, what
>hope is there for the mums to believe that it is worthwhile??

I remember talking with an LC friend who had finally realized her dream of a
breastfeeding clinic in the hospital where she had worked for years as a
nurse, but also as the informal LC. While she was thrilled with having the
clinic, she mentioned that she had to be careful because after seeing
breastfeeding problems all day, she tended to "see pathology everywhere."
She made sure she went to an LLL meeting once in awhile to renew her faith
in the normal process of breastfeeding and to confirm just why it was
important to hang in there through problems at the start. I, too, find
I need a constant dose of LLL meetings to help me remember just why I'm
doing this work and to see lots of women who breastfeed nicely without the
help of an LC. Helps me keep perspective.

Leslie Ayre-Jaschke, BEd, IBCLC
Peace River, Alberta, Canada
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