Hi, Lactnetters.  I've been "lurking" on Lactnet for a few weeks and thought
it was time to dive in.  I'm a hospital based LC who also does Maternity Home
Visits.  Three of us share doing rounds in the NICU and mother-baby unit,
teach a discharge class, answer calls on our breastfeeding warm-line, visit
all our hospital's Healthstart patients in their homes 1 to 3 days after
discharge, and provide FFS lactation consultations in our office or client's
home.  I have two sons who were breastfed  (#2 never had a bottle), now 12
and almost 8, and a supportive husband.
A comment on WIC:  Our local program does a fantastic job of promoting and
supporting breastfeeding.  Approximately 90% of the healthstart patients that
I visit are breastfeeding.  The peer counselor is outstanding.  She visits
most of the patients in the hospital, makes home visits, and follows up with
phone calls.  And she acts as an interpreter on home visits for the nurse
that does not speak Spanish.
To Shirley Gross:  Yes, my hospital requires an MD order before ABM can be
given to a breastfed baby. ( Not that a night nurse cannot convince a just
awakened Ped. or FP resident to do so! )
To Larry Gartner:  I really appreciated your comments and anecdotes on
children at conferences.  I am so looking forward to meeting you when you
come to NJ to speak in April.

To all of you in the midwest: Thanks for senting that cold weather our way.
 We'll be below 0 tonight, too!

Kim Block RNC, MSN, IBCLC
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