Susan,
I think most of these women have emotional issues going on, and see us
as their one anchor in a stormy sea.  The client you wrote about seems
to be a set-up for PPD- no family, no friends, and in a place she does
not want to be.  Moms with PPD can be very obsessive about pump
cleanliness.  I had one who made me call the nurses at the hospital she
delivered at so they could assure her that her baby could not get AIDS
from a rental pump.  She would not accept my demonstration of the pump
kit as a closed system (I rent Ameda Egnells and use only Hygeinikits).
        Have you tried not answering your phone?  I have a seperate office
phone which I do not answer outside of business hours, unless I can hear
from the machine message that it is an absolute emergency.  It saves my
sanity and my marriage, though I feel very mean sometimes.  If you don't
have a seperate line or an answering machine that will allow you to
screen calls, you could teach your family and friends a code, such as
ring twice, hang up, call again....
        Good luck, sometimes people with no boundaries or consideration can
make you crazy,
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC  mailto:[log in to unmask]