Having been barraged with quite a few calls lately, here's a comment.
Just having one IBCLC, especially a part-time one is *not* enough. There
should be one available at all times. I've had moms tell me the LC was
on vacation, wasn't there on the weekend they gave birth, wasn't
available to return calls, etc.  Not that it's the LC's fault.  If a
hospital is going to hold out that they have IBCLC services, then it
should be 24 hours a day (JMHO). Also, I would love to see more
availability of post-discharge consults esp. for babies that left the
hospital with problems.  I guess I'm upset because these mothers are
calling with babies that never latched on correctly in the hospital, etc.
and are sent home with no resolution of the problem or a plan of action
(just given a list of phone numbers--LLL to call.)   Before those of you
in private practice get upset--there are *no* private IBCLCs in my county
that I know of (Pat Young can correct me if I'm wrong--they live here,
but they don't have practices to which I can refer moms.)
Oh, and to switch hats to the legal one, I would be pretty upset if I was
led to believe there would be an IBCLC available and then I didn't get to
see her in the hospital.

Melissa Kirsch, JD, LLLL in Southern New Jersey

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