CLC / RNC

[winter_green]

Do your unit require CLC? Are you certified? Do you recommend CLC for a new nurse in L&D?

Purpose of RNC? More pay? what does the test consist of?

[MKS8806]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to breastfeeding. I help many moms breastfeed and teach them little tricks and tidbits to help get the baby started. We have a lactation consultation service that we encourage all breastfeeding parents to partake in, that allows the family to come back and get help or advice with breastfeeding.

But I feel that if a mom wants to bottle feed her baby, she shouldn't be be given the impression that its wrong. Bottle feeding or breastfeed, at least the baby is eating!

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

Bottle feeding or breastfeed, at least the baby is eating!

Right...but breastfeeding should be promoted as the norm. It's better for moms and babies, so there's nothing wrong with nurses, the government, or anyone else, promoting it. As klone says, it's a public health issue that needs attention. I'm not saying you are against breastfeeding, but I don't understand the "the government shouldn't tell us how to feed our kids" argument. At all.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

Thanks Lily! I have saved a little money and I think I might just sign up and take it! It's in my town in the winter, so I feel like I should take advantage of that and not need to do a hotel or major driving. Just have to figure out if I can spare a week off from my job (and what to tell them! UGH!)

And MallorieRN, I have heard of the baby friendly hospital initiative (it's a UNICEF/WHO initiative) and that encourages breastfeeding. I don't know the entire scope of the program, but it's focused on training staff about BF, not handing out free formula, rooming in, etc. Not sure what kind of incentives it brings, though, if any?! (meaning financial/tax/whatever, not talking about health benefits). I'm also not sure how many hospitals are moving towards this? (I'm new to all of this!)

its not just nursing staff who is required to have breastfeeding education at a Baby Friendly Hospital-the providers must have a certain amount of hours too.

The hospital where I will be starting my L&D job next month is Baby Friendly. Its more or less about promoting a culture where breastfeeding is the norm. However, we don't deny mom's formula. If they so choose to feed their babies formula, we have many different brands available-we just don't advertise it. And we pay market value for formula-meaning we get no handouts/kickbacks from formula companies to carry their product. Similarly, we also have human donor milk in stock too, in case a mother is having trouble breastfeeding and wants to supplement in that way as well.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

That's so great that you have a donor milk bank! My hospital is Baby Friendly but we have no access to donor milk, unless the mom were to find it and purchase it herself, which never happens. I feel like it would be really helpful.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to breastfeeding. I help many moms breastfeed and teach them little tricks and tidbits to help get the baby started. We have a lactation consultation service that we encourage all breastfeeding parents to partake in, that allows the family to come back and get help or advice with breastfeeding.

But I feel that if a mom wants to bottle feed her baby, she shouldn't be be given the impression that its wrong. Bottle feeding or breastfeed, at least the baby is eating!

I wish the government would offer incentives to have comprehensive breastfeeding education programs in OB/prenatal clinics. THAT is when we need to be talking to women about why it's important to breastfeed.