I saw an ad for a seminar (my poor brain can't remember which) where one
of the topics is: "are you working harder than the mother".  Yes, we
want to save all the poor babies that don't get breastmilk. BUT - if we
are going crazy, don't take care of our own families, etc. what will our
OWN families think of us?  I am going to leave this profession in a few
years and when I do, it will be my family that will (maybe) take care of
me.  I think one of the biggest mistakes I see in helping professions is
that they don't put their families first - think doctors, nurses,
teachers, ministers, etc.  What happens to those families?  So -- money
is just an exchange for part of your life that is ticking away that you
exchange for other things you need to keep your life ticking - like
food, shelter, etc.  It has to all balance.  In reference to other posts
on related subject - I NEVER, call patients.  They have to make the
investment to call.  Half of the consults scheduled with me by the
pediatricians turn out to be no-shows!  And I find that to be true in
other fields as well.  That's why a lot of MD's are charging no-show
fees!  Anyhow, I have found mothers who say they can't afford something,
find a way if it's important enough or they want it enough - whether
it's nails, hairdo, cable TV, cell phone, etc.  It's a matter of
priorities and value. I totally support everything ILCA and IBLCE are
doing to increase the value of the lactation consultant but I also think
we need lay support and educators.  It's all important and each role
should be complementary. BRU and Medela are product-oriented businesses.
They are just trying to increase their profit margin when costs are
going up.  Just like managed care and hospitals.  Every business has to
maintain black ink or they go OUT of business.   Wise people and wise
legislation is what is necessary to keep things in balance - because
corporations are not real people and they don't have religious
convictions to hold them back from making unethical decisions.  It takes
a big brother to do that!  Just my 0.2!

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mary Jozwiak BS,
IBCLC, RLC
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 3:36 PM
Subject: Re: Compensation for LCs..and BRU again

Thank you, Jeanne! Of course, we do what we do because we love to help
women breastfeed, and most of us also do Pro Bono work, volunteer with
LLL or other groups, as well as donate our time, rent "Grant Pumps" to
less fortunate mothers ect. But, as in all PROFESSIONS we do deserve to
be paid for what we do. 

Years ago, when I was new to Lactnet, I expressed frustration at not
being able to afford membership in ILCA. I was, as I am now, doing a lot
of Pro Bono work. A few people "read me the riot act" about my
"responsibility" to other LCs who had to support their families through
this work, and how "too  much" 
Pro Bono work wasn't good for any of our Profession. (And, yes, I was,
too, just not making enough to join ILCA, and, today, I still can't
afford to join ILCA and all requests for scholarship or grant
memberships have gone unanswered, (Who is doing Pro Bono work?)  A kind
doctor did, however, do me a favor for a year of JHL, however. I thank
him always.) 

In this rather heated discussion, one person said that to some
"Lactation is more than just an expensive hobby." Which, at the time, I
found a little insulting. But, to be honest, with 2 children in college,
and our family receiving no financial aid , I now kind of agree with.
Although, I do not agree that doing Pro Bono work hurt anyone, but that
doesn't mean that those who certainly can afford our service should be
treated to our time, effort and expertise at no cost to them whatsoever.


No other profession provides professional services in this way. 

I, too, was and am, a LLL leader, I believe in "Giving back." But, I
also need to help support my family. Although I do not make much, it
helps, and I can do what I love, and still be there, more than a 9 to 5
job, with my youngest child, or for my college kids, when they need me.
But, the implication that I should be ashamed of earning a fair wage for
my knowledge, my expertise, my experience, and my hard work, irks me as
well. 

In a perfect world, "the government" would just hand us all we need.
(including paying LCs? Or making sure we have a roof, clothes, a home
and kids can attend college? While we skip through the flowers throwing
Lactation Consults to anyone who lies there?) But, in many cases, we can
all see the problems with that. (like, where is that money going to COME
from? And, who is going to plant all those flowers for us to skip
through? Are there Pro Bono Gardeners? I'm getting silly, and working on
a dang migraine.)  

I would love to see National Health or Universal Healthcare in the USA,
(I think it is imperative) but if it "works" then why is they way the UK
provides it "disintegrating?" (As one UK living poster has said.)
Perhaps there is a better way, but I am a Lactation Consultant, not an
Economist. I have no answers. 

All I can do now, is to take care of the women who call for help,
attempt to determine who "requires" Pro Bono work (one woman who said "I
just can't pay you much. I haven't worked since I had the baby. Money is
really tight." (baby a few days old) and to whom I gave a significant
discount, had a car newer than mine, (several of them) a Nanny, already
in residence, and when, after the Consultation, I told I would need to
reweigh the baby in 48 hours, she said, "No, Tuesday won't work." I
wondered why, with a newborn at home. "The House Keeper comes on
Tuesdays and Saturdays." LOL! Wow. I gave a near Pro Bono fee discount
to a lady with a Nanny, a Housekeeper, and
2 brand new imported cars. (NONE of which I have.....) But, that's the
way it goes, I guess.) and hope I am doing the right thing, by my
clients by my Professional standards, and not least of all, by my
family. 

Thank you, Jeanne. For those of us who KNOW this is a Profession. And
one which is worth Professional Effort, Professional Work, Professional
Thoroughness, and Professional Remuneration, at least when our clients
can afford to do so. Or until an other Sustainable, workable system is
invented. 

Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC, LLL
Private Practice 

PS, just called the 800 number that Robin provided for Babies R Us. Got
absolutely NO answers, the person I spoke to referred me to a
"supervisor" 
who started her conversation with "I was a nursing mother." ("Good for
you." 
or perhaps, "How do you define Nursing Mother?" I wanted to say, in a
snotty manner, but I didn't.) and then went on to tell me that "The
Customer" had the responsibility to "seek out" the help she needed to
use the pumps, while not realizing that she ADMITTED that Medela NEVER
trained any of the people who rented the pumps in the stores she
supervised. THAT was "up to the customer." 

When I asked her how these people handled questions, and told that many
questions posed to BRUs employees were improperly answered, she said I
should write a letter to the EXACT ADDRESS that refused to answer Robin.
I then replied that people had done that, and been given HER number, she
said there was "nothing more" she could do for me. (this then went on,
me asking, begging for answers and her dodging them) I, as a parting
shot asked her if she really cared about the people who would rent these
pumps, assuming that the Mothers who rented them at BRU might not get
the proper help, and maybe lost their milk supply, and had BRU
considered putting the names and phone numbers on the pumps or where the
"experts" could refer people to them. She said, "There is no plan to do
that." NO PLAN! Then, she reiterated, "There is nothing more I can do
for you, please call the provider
(Medela?) or write a letter." I finally said I hoped she could sleep,
knowing that most of the women who rented pumps and were not given
proper information would make BRU MORE money once they "failed" to
breastfeed, and they were now buying thousands of dollars in formula
from BRU, she again.... and I asked again. "DO YOU CARE about the women
who rent these pumps from BRU?" and she hung up on me. 

Ah, me. More grist for the mill..(I must stop posting while I am having
my Moon
Time.) 

On Sat, 5 Jul 2008 21:00:54 -0500, Jeanne Cygnus
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>
>This is not meant to be criticism of Ilene or the posting in any way- 
>and really has nothing to do with BRUS renting pumps... but as a 
>professional LC and a lactation clinic owner, I get very frustrated
when the general public
>has this view.   YES, I do what I do because I dearly love moms and
>babies... and I will do whatever I can to help ensure that these dyads 
>have a wonderful breastfeeding relationship!  I would not work as hard 
>as I do every single day if this were not the case!  However, as a 
>professional and a business owner, I do need to make a living, cover 
>the cost of my facility (which in turn provides convenience and ease to

>the moms I help) and I also deserve to be reimbursed for my time and
energy away from MY family etc.
>This does not negate my passion for what I do, but reflects what I feel

>is reasonable compensation for the education and professional
experience I
>bring to the table.    Do we expect top-notch surgeons to perform
surgery
>for little or no compensation "for the love of healing"?  What about
>doctors?  Physical Therapists?  Chiropractors?  Herbalists?    All of
these
>are professions that have required lots of specialized education... and

>I expect to pay for this experience when I consult with any of them.  
>The fact that they expect compensation in NO WAY belittles their caring

>or their passion for what they do!
>There are many wonderful and knowledgeable volunteers out there, but we

>cannot expect our profession to be a volunteer workforce.  I want our 
>profession to be recognized as worth the value we provide!
>
>Again... this was not intended to be a flame.. so I apologize deeply in

>advance if I've stepped on any toes...
>
>Best wishes,
>Jeanne Cygnus, IBCLC
>
>Cygnus Lactation Services
>Mundelein, IL, USA
>www.CygnusLactation.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>            

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