Jeanne asks:

But sometimes, when I read Lactnet posts, it sounds like those of
you who are in the health care system are constantly battling
outdated information and attitudes.

Or is it just that I'm hearing the vents?

I think you can get a distorted view by just reading the LN posts.
This is the one place where we can vent to people who will be
supportive.  We can't vent to those who are making us frustrated and
people who do feel we are doing important work frequently just don't
get it.  "What's the big deal?  Formula babies are healthy too."  or
"I wasn't breastfed and I turned out OK?" are common comments we
know we won't get on LN.  No, it's not a bed of roses.  There are
frustrations.  However, I do feel that the rewards are well worth
the battles.  And you can choose which battles to pursue.  The joy
you see in a mom's face when baby finally latches and nurses
effectively; the doc who thanks you for helping one of "his" babies;
the staff member who says "I've learned so much from you"; the mom
who says, "I remember you from my first baby.  You were so much
help."  All these make the frustrations well worth dealing with.  We
don't tend to share the day-to-day joys on LN.  We do share the
special ones or the "aha" situations.

Some people deal best with only the highly motivated moms such as
most that come to LLL.  With LLL Leadership, you don't have to deal
directly with negative attitudes as much as you do in a health care
setting.  Others thrive on challenges and prefer working on the
frontline of change more than the frontline of day-to-day support.
There are days when I look back the my group leading days and wish
my hospital work was more like that and other days that I love
working with brand-new moms and health care providers more.

I am, of course, speaking from the view of a hospital-based LC.
Those in private practice may have different insight.  Don't know
where you are in WI, but you might see if you can shadow an LC in a
hospital and/or one in private practice to get a feel of what it's
really about on a day-to-day basis.  There may be a nominal charge,
especially in a health care setting, but it might help you in your
decision making.  With the new HIPPA rules, you might have to have a
mini-course of a couple hours on privacy rules first.

Good luck to you.

Winnie

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