I don't think fast enough on my feet at times, meaning if I don't have a
"script", I bumble the tough ones. Today I was called to the front desk
for a new mother who came in to register her baby for WIC. The clerk had
dutifully summoned me per the rules, because the woman mentioned she had
breastfed for one day. She was too uncomfortable to sit down, and I could
tell she was in a hurry to pick up her car seat (ugh) with her little one
in it, and get home and get off her feet.
When I asked her if she was breastfeeding, she got straight to the part
about "I only breastfed one day". I asked her what problem had come up.
She said, in a very defensive tone,"Nothing. I just made a choice." I
tried the "the birth happens, then the placenta comes out and then the
milk comes in anyway, so you might as well use it." To this she replied
"I know all about breastfeeding. I breastfed my son for two years." (I
thought to myself, maybe that's true, and maybe her domestic situation or
her health situation has changed or something, but she sure doesn't want
to discuss it.)
Now it's like I'm in a tennis match, with well aimed volleys coming at
me. I felt mentally "knocked off balance" and said "And you didn't enjoy
that experience?" "Yes, I did enjoy it, but I have chosen to formula feed
this baby." (Period, she might just as well have said.)
So, I said "You have the experience to know what breastfeeding is like.
You're the mom, and you're the one who has to manage your 24-hour day."
Then I succumbed, looked at the clerk, and said "Let's just put her down
on the records as formula feeding, as she asks."
To the mother, I did say, "Are you having any breast discomfort?" She
denied any. "Remember, you can always change your mind, and we do have
lots of mothers who do. Call us if there is any way we can help."
Why couldn't I have said "I'm glad your baby got even that one day of
colostrum." Or "Our job is first of all to provide you with accurate
information, since feeding choices have an effect on the future health of
mothers as well as babies."
Oh, well, maybe I'll be better prepared next time for having thought this
one out in retrospect. Anyone else with better suggestions for handling
the next situation like this???
Jean
************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA
***********************************************
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
