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Subject:
From:
"Vicky M. York, Ibclc, Cpd" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 6 Apr 2000 23:49:13 EDT
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In response to Maurennes role of the LC:
there's only so much a hospital based LC can do. Even if mom's got
instruction in the hospital they can only take in and remember so much that
first couple of days. First time moms are usually clueless re: breastfeeding;
I never met one yet who didn't need some kind of help. This is on-the-job
training. That's why I saw such a big need for postpartum doulas years ago,
though, surprisingly, I was only one of about 3 in a city of 800,000. I
usually have to undo problems resulting from poor or no help with
breastfeeding in hospitals. The hospital LC's tell me there is no time to
hold inservices to teach L&D nurses basics about breastfeeding, hospitals
hiring all too few of them. Prenatal classes and books are better than
nothing but it's all abstract to the moms until they go home with a hungry
baby in the arms. So far I haven't seen anything as helpful as a postpartum
doula for those few weeks after birth. I volunteer to do the referral line
for the National Association of Postpartum Care Services and I see that there
are way too few doulas out there but this is a growing professional field. If
any LC's want to get out of the hospital and are willing to take less pay to
go where they can really do the most good for moms, or perhaps want to work
their own hours, they can think about being postpartum doulas. We get paid
$15 - $25 per hour and don't have the hospital politics to deal with. At
least refer moms to doulas in your area. I am surprised as many moms succeed
as do, considering even many grandmas and husbands would rather see their
daughters and wives give the baby a bottle than see them struggle with the
learning process in the beginning. You can e-mail me privately re: getting
trained and certified to be a postpartum doula.
Vicky York, IBCLC, CPD

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