Need some 'actual' Nurse experience...

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Specializes in Rehab, CICU, ICU Pulmonary, ER, OB.

I am finally going back to nursing school in the fall of this year, so I have some time, but this is something that has been weighing on my mind for a long time, about 7 years.

I have had 3 beautiful children and my L&D experiences were amazing. Since I had my first daughter in Dec of 2000 I knew that I wanted to be a L&D nurse. As great as my L&D experience was I had horrible breastfeeding experiences until I gave birth to my last daughter. Every since having her I have want to also become a LC.

So what I am wondering is would being a LC in L&D be beneficial to the patients or should I look more towards mother/baby. I have a passion for L&D, but I also have a passion for educating women and helping them through those first trials and tribulation in nursing a baby. I had a rough time with BF'ing and was able to over come that and I feel I have a lot to offer a new mommy.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in Picu, ICU, Burn.

I can tell you I had a bad experience with LC when I had my daughter 4 years ago. She was small and having a hard time latching since I was extremely engorged (I know tmi) but the LC just kinda went through the basics with me. Then she left me soaking in bucket of epsom salt water and never came back without telling me how long to do it.

Also it seems like there is a lot of conflicting info given by different LC's so I would say the field is lucky to have you knowing first hand what the moms are going through and what they need to hear to decrease the frustration and keep trying!

Good luck!!

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Just keep an open mind...you have alot of work to do before you actually have to decide all of that. You can do both, you are very young - your nursing career can take you in many directions.

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Specializes in Picu, ICU, Burn.

I should add you don't have to be an LC only. You can give great bf info to your patient as their nurse as well. You will run into nursing moms not only on L&D units but NICU's and Peds as well. So keep that in mind.

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Specializes in Rehab, CICU, ICU Pulmonary, ER, OB.

Thanks for your advice!

I definitely know I want to be a nurse. Being a LC will just be a *bonus* to me, and my patients!! I feel that my calling is to L&D, so I am sure I will end up somewhere in L&D or around it mother/baby or NICU. I feel drawn there! :)

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