When I was asked to do this for the Public Health Nurses in Delaware I found
that "they" thought they knew all about how the breast works etc. but when I
actually got to sit down with one of them-a friend-and quiz her on what she
really knew,  she was stammering with the answers.  I chose to briefly review
the basic workings of the breast, how and when the milk is produced and told
them basically that I was doing this so we were all coming from the same
direction.  They were pleased with the presentation and appreciated the
review.  I only had 90 minutes to cover it all and that was a challenge.   One
of the best benefits of this kind of update is that many people realize that
they don't know as much as they thought and that some research has been done
since they graduated from nursing school in the 60's.  A good part of the
presentation time was spent on dispelling those old wive's tales.  The clients
tell the WIC staff  they hear these from the field nurses.  I gathered all of
them and ran them out for the group and we picked them apart.  There were so
many "oh"s that I know they were passing these along in their everyday
interactions with our clients.  There have been many good "side-effects" from
this presentation.  The nursing supervisors have asked me to recommend a film
they can show clients on breastfeeding, instead of the poor one they had been
using, and they purchased it.  They have asked for written information for the
clients and for themselves-including  our Delaware Breastfeeding Resource
Guide.  Best of all they know they have a resource in our office for those
times something comes up that they are unfamiliar with.

Linda Inglis, BS IBCLC
Delaware WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator
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