Greetings.... In response to Kathleen's request for information.... I am
a lone LC in a community hospital.  We average 1400 deliveries/yr. and
have a Level II regional NICU.  I have been employed there for nearly 3
years and have gradually seen my duties shift.  I try to visit with all
inpatient breastfeeding Moms on a daily basis (M-Fri.) with special
emphasis on those havng problems.  I also try to see Moms whose babies
are in NICU... usually not possible daily, as they don't all stay in our
courtesy rooms.

The change I've observed in the past year is that I'm being called on to
see more  out-patients and Moms hospitalized in other areas of the
hospital (or with baby in Peds).  I am responsible for the pre-natal
breastfeeding class, and staff training, too.

I predict that I will be spending less time with the normal course of
early lactation and more time dealing with the challenges! (inpatient
and outpatient)


Susan Wirtjes RN IBCLC
hospital based LC in Waterloo, IA  who is getting ready for World
Breastfeeding Week  (August 1-7) and who enjoyed seeing thousands of
bicyclists participating in RAGBRAI  as they visited our area yesterday!

from Susan in Iowa (is this heaven?)

"What you permit, you promote"