Well, count me as one of many who have psychic powers.  I also know who will
continue - who will quit.  When they call me during pregnancy and ask all
their questions, I know who will 'get it' and get educated and who won't.  I
know which babies will get it and which won't and why.and I am usually right
on target with dates, times and how long it will take for a situation to
resolve itself.  I even know when a particular medication or routine won't
work for a mom.that is really fun.  Tell a mom who wants to wean that she
can't take pseudoephedrine because she is allergic to it and have her ask
"How did you know??"  That was a good one!  Many of us in this field have
very good "Gut Feelings" - many of us are empathic, and can read people and
babies quite well.  Call it psychic, lots of experience or just
smart.whatever you call it - many of us have it!

 

The counseling aspect when the mom 'gets' why her situation ended so badly
is a whole 'nother ballgame.  This is one of my specialties.  How do I
counsel a woman who is now grieving?  I don't push.  I listen.  I validate.
I honor and respect her feelings.  I answer questions when asked with the
best information I have - sometimes that answer will be "I don't know."  I
make myself available to her 7 days a week as needed.  Many moms take me up
on that - many don't.  Some moms can handle the reality of the situation and
some can't.  Sometimes just being the 'ear' or the 'shoulder' is all they
need.  Sometimes explaining what happened with my experience and the
feelings I had helps a mom to know she isn't alone, and that her feelings of
anger at the baby, or the family, or the HCP's or even me, are 100% NORMAL
and VALID.  

 

So, I listen - I validate - I answer questions when asked.  That is the best
I can do.  If I have no answers, I say so.  If I have no words - I say so.
It is very, very hard to counsel these moms at times.but we do the best we
can and then we call on our LC friends to vent and let them counsel us.

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

Breastfeeding Network

Sacramento, CA

www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

 


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