I need help.  Anyone who has had to work as a LC in the hospital setting,
please feel free to respond to my private email address.  I have an
assignment. I am supposed to write an open letter to the physicians of our
hospital (pediatricians and obstetricians) emphasizing our need to be
advocates for one another and the need to work as a team when it comes to our
breastfeeding mothers.  I inadvertantly upset two of our obstetricians when I
gave them research based information on breastfeeding that contraindicated
what their doctors had told them.  Now the docs see me as the "bad guy" and I
could lose my job if I let that happen again.  It has been suggested that I
come up with a top ten list of issues that breastfeeding women present to me
that come in conflict with what the doctors recommend.  For instance "Only
breastfeeding 10 minutes on each side.  A baby can get all the milk they need
in 10 minutes."  Or, "Don't feed a baby any closer than two hours, even if
they are crying until they are blue in the face, do not pick them up and feed
them".  One doctor told me not to tell his patients about fluconazole.  He
doesn't believe that thrush really exists.  So, how do I do this job well and
not alienate the doctors?  I am sure I can't be the only one this has
happened to.  How can I get the doctors image of me as the "nipple nazi" to
change?  This is quite serious as my job depends on it.  TIA.  Loni Denman,
RN, IBCLC

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