Lactaction consultant on my 3rd baby

[abckidsmom]

I'm not an ob nurse (STICU, if that matters), but I'm wondering what you guys think.

When my first dd was born, the lactation consultant was really intimidating, had me all propped on pillows every time she came to help with nursing, the baby was not nursing well, and I was so stressed out I was sweating, every time I tried to nurse. We ended up going home, pumping and feeding her bottles for about a week until we got nursing established.

With the second dd, I delivered at the same hosp, and didn't consider that the same LC would be there (stupid me, it was only 1.5 years later). The baby nursed well in the delivery room, and I just basically sat around all day nursing the baby because she was big into sucking and I liked the closeness with her. Then the LC came in, same thing with the pillows, saying I *must* nurse sidelying at least every other feeding or my milk wouldn't come "all the way in." Again, stressing me out, and the baby never nursed well when she was involved.

Here I go for the 3rd baby. I know how to breastfeed. Sheesh, I've done it for 19 out of the last 36 months. I only want her advice, I don't want her to touch me or to tell me what positions I must use. I just want to work it out between me and my baby, and *if* we have problems, and only then, do I want her to help me.

How can I communicate this to her or to my nurse without offending anyone, and maybe also let them know what stress she's brought to me in the past?

[Jolie, BSN]

You are not obligated to accept the services of the LC.

Try it yourself (or with the assistance of your L&D or PP nurse). If you have any problems, the floor staff can probably help you, since you are an experienced nursing mom. If further help is necessary, perhaps you can confide in your floor nurse that you have not had good experiences with this particular LC, and ask if there is anyone else available to help out.

If the LC shows up and you do not need her services, just politely thank her for her interest, and let her know that you will contact her if needed.

Have a happy, healthy delivery!

[ARLadyRN]

If she came in with this one, I would just say--"I'm a pro at this now since this is my third breastfeeding baby and I remember all your help from the last two babies and I will call you if I need you. Thank you, very much. If you need to see the baby nurse, that would be fine, but I think the other mothers need you more and since there is just one of you to help with all these new mothers I'm sure that you are very busy and don't need to waste time with us experienced ones.----:)

[SmilingBluEyes]

Our LC would not be offended if you said "no thanks" to her.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

You "must" nurse sidelying or your milk won't come in??

Nah.

Just say no to LC.

steph

[gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP]

Yeah the sidelying thing is outright not true and I have 7 (count em) lactation textbooks to prove it.

As the others have said (and as I said to the LC who was entirely put out that I didn't want to attend the bf class at the hospital where I had my 5th child) you are now an old pro. You are free to do what works for you and to seek assistance when and if you need it. You are not even obligated to allow her to asses a nursing in progress honestly. Just tell her thanks but no thanks.

[CoolhandHutch, MSN, RN]

I have 7 (count em) lactation textbooks to prove it.

There's that many in print?!?!

[abckidsmom]

Thanks everyone. I guess I just will go it alone and tell my nurse to let the LC just keep walking past my door.

[gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP]

Actually there are many more than 7 believe it or not. What shocked me when I started studying this is how many pages they all contain! And how much physiology and endocrinology is actually involved - it just isn't as simple as it seems like it ought to be - but it isn't as hard as most of us humans make it either.