Lactation Consultant

Published

So...

I was looking online for nursing jobs (only 4 weeks left woo-hoo!).

I saw a position for a lactation consultant listed. I didn't realize they made so much...

Regardless

Have you ever seen a male Lactation Consultant?

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So...

I was looking online for nursing jobs (only 4 weeks left woo-hoo!).

I saw a position for a lactation consultant listed. I didn't realize they made so much...

Regardless

Have you ever seen a male Lactation Consultant?

Kung, i see that no one has answered your question, so let me be the first:

He!! no, i haven't.

(do they make a lot?):chuckle

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So...

I was looking online for nursing jobs (only 4 weeks left woo-hoo!).

I saw a position for a lactation consultant listed. I didn't realize they made so much...

Regardless

Have you ever seen a male Lactation Consultant?

You would probably be very hard pressed to find one, if one exists at all.

Being a lactation consultant is a very intimate thing..you have to actually work with a woman's breast to guide it into the mouth of an infant, etc. What a male lactation consultant would get, is very much the same thing that many male-RN-delivery nurses sometimes get, "Can you please get me a female".

I understand it's medical, and not sexual, but there is too much touching/manipulation to where if I was a guy, I wouldn't want to go through 4,000 clinical hours of training to find out I can't find a job doing it.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I am a NICU RN, and do my fair share of breastfeeding education. I would agree that the "hands on" aspect of it is VERY hard to manage as a male. There is only so much assistance you can give without physically grabbing a breast to demonstrate. LOL.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

And on the flipside of that, I as a woman (mother/baby nurse) have never had a woman say no when I ask if I can touch their breast to demostrate something. I always ask first, though. I can imagine some women having issue with a man touching their boob.

Having said that, my supervisor's husband is a Labor/delivery/postpartum nurse at a different hospital. His patients love him, and very very rarely has he had anyone turn him away. He does everything I would do.

There are male midwives too. I personally would welcome more men into women's health nursing. :)

Sorry for peeking in here. :smokin:

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Specializes in Oncology, Triage, Tele, Med-Surg.

:omy: No offense, but I'd be very uncomfortable with a male. I'd decline. Sorry.

Signed, Miss Modest

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Specializes in ED, Flight.

Hell no, I've never seen it!

It isn't impossible. I remember old Rabbi Schwartz from the Geula section of Jerusalem used to advise new mothers about nursing. He had circumcised most of their sons, and so there was a sort of unique bond already. And he never actually observed them bare-breasted. The man was amazing though, in what he knew about neonatology and peds.

Nonetheless, I think this is one of those few areas where if you, the nurse, can share your experiences with a patient it could really help. You might get stuck on that point...:rolleyes:

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I would take good bfing help wherever I could get it, male or female. I do realize I am not the norm, though.

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For what its worth, I just completed a stint with the LC as part of my Maternity Rotation - she had me do all the pt teaching including showing the moms how to hold their breast and how to place the nipple for good latch. I didn't have a single problem or anyone ask for a female. The LC commented on how professional I was and that I spoke directly and clearly to the mom. I also tried to incorporate the dads so they saw what was happening and understood the importance of positioning.

This reminds me of all the concerns guys have about caring for females in general - just do it and be professional. I see each pt as a pt - period. I am there to solve a problem/provide care/ease suffering/teach.....I've never had a problem.

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

"Excuse me ma'am let me demonstrate how to latch-on"...LOL

Funny you should mention this, couple of my buddies and I at work always tease about that "lactation consultant" job listing when our ED is going crazy.

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Actually, casn made a great point.. it's important not to forget about the dads out there. I would imagine that, in this day and age, (depending where you are, of course) a guy could be accepted as a Lactation Consultant. A guy might be able to reach fathers where a gal might not... just a thought hoping to keep you optimistic! :wink2:

In my Lactation Consultant class, we're talking about all sorts of interesting challenges that come up - men haven't been nearly as big a factor as same-sex parents who both want to breastfeed, transgendered parents, invitro, and surrogate situations!

I say, go for it!

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Specializes in ER.

I'm sorry to butt into the guy's forum too, but I have to tell you, I had major complications with the birth of my daughter 8 years ago, but was hell bent on breast feeding, even though I was too weak to hold her independently. The lactation consultant had to teach my husband because I was so out of it. My now (ex)husband would make an outstanding lactation consultant even though he isn't a nurse (although he's been married to 2 of them???) because he had to do all the positioning for me!!!:rollHe can even set up the little hanging feeders that they attach to your breast and everything. If he can do it, ANYONE can! LOL - I say go for it!

Yang

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