I went to my second BF support group since Ella's been born. I don't like how it's been ran at all. There was probably 10 of us sitting around this HUGE table and the LC/nurse on the end of it. Every just sat there and chit chatted about most anything and everything for an hour and then everyone left. No organization, not much talk about breastfeeding, it was barely worth my time.

I went regularly with Spencer and we made a small circle and always started off with introductions and then went one by one asking each person if they had a concern to bring up. With each concern the leader would give her input but we would all have a chance to give our input as well.

For two times going now I don't have a clue as to who anyone is, nor do they even ask what my name is, it's very cliquish where everyone broke off into small circles having private chats. It was so noisy and when I wanted to ask questions I could hardly make myself heard (my voice is still rough from the strep throat) and found myself so frustrated that I just sat there and listened to everone else's conversations and then left. I'm normally more outgoing but I was tired and still recovering.

Should I write a letter to the leader and voice my frustrations and concerns? I felt very little support in what was supposed to be a support group. I planned on going every month for as long as I was breastfeeding but I could get the same socialization at the park.

__________________

I would be frustrated too. I would definitely write a letter. I can't believe no one even asked your name.

__________________
Jen (36) David (43)
Mommy to Megan, DOB 6/25/2003 (My baby is 5!)
and Cameron, 12/29/06
Megan and Cameron's blog
Tons of Megan pics

That sounds like a complete waste of time. I've never been to a support group, but I've thought about it now that I'm pregnant again. I would definitely write a letter to see what's up.

__________________

doesn't sound like there is much support at all!

have you thought about going to a la leche league meeting instead? they ALWAYS start off with an intor for everyone, and one of the leader's main jobs is to keep bf the main topic for the duration of the meeting. (now after the meeting is officially closed, you can talk about anything you want, but suring the meeting it is all nursing related.)

what part of michigan ar eyou in? i'd be happy to try to help you find a group.

__________________

I'd voice a concern for sure......you can't be the only mom who's left for the same reason....some people really NEED the support - that's why they go and that's why the group should be there......

Our groups were always circles too....intros, baby name/age, concern/question this week etc.....like you describe.....

__________________

I LOVE my BF support group just for that very reason - it is INTIMATE. We sit around in a small circle, there are 2 LCs, we do intros and then questions out loud with our concerns and everyone chimes in. Then after all the BFing questions we socialize. You need to say something, I bet you're not the only one who feels that way.

__________________

what are the credentials of the person who runs it?

__________________

The closest large towns I live near are Big Rapids and Cadillac. I'm 70 miles north of Grand Rapids. I would imagine that Cadillac has something through their hospital as well. I've never looked for another group though.

I don't know the credentials of the person running it. I know at the very least she's an RN but I know being an RN myself that doesn't make us breastfeeding experts. They said a few years ago that they have to be a lactation consultant to run the group.

This group only meets once a month. I don't know if that's normal or not. I won't be able to go to all meetings because I might be scheduled on those days. Where I really want the support is going back to work. I work in an emergency room which doesn't give much time to sit down nonetheless take a pumping break. In fact I was never going to breastfeed more than two months because of this. The idea of stopping just breaks my heart though since I nursed my last for 14 months with pumping at work for 12 months. I received quite a little criticism at work for this (told by one supervisor that the bathroom stall was the only place to pump). Another girl had washed her pump parts and set them on a towel to dry in the break room (for that dept. only) and some girls thought it was so gross (one was an RN and the other an EMT) that they put the parts in biohazard bags and taped them to the wall with a nasty note as to how gross it was to have her parts laying out where they eat. The EMT still works in the dept where I currently work. It's not that I want to have my pump parts laying around, it's that they had an issue and instead of pulling her aside to talk about it they humiliated her instead.

So you see, it's not well supported by many people who I work with and it helps to talk about those frustrations in a group situation. I have the boards though and this IS a great place to come for support. But real time talk is really beneficial as well.

__________________

i can imagine it'll be tough for you tryign to figure out a way to pump when you return to wrok, will you be hving 12 hr shifts or what?

gimme a sec, i'lll seew what i can find for you.

__________________

http://www.llli.org/Web/Michigan.html


i am not familiar with anythign up in your neck of the woods. if you call any of the leaders listed on that page though, she should be able to tell you if there is a group near you, frequently there are groups that just don't have internet info listed.

__________________

Wow, that's tough! It's hard to believe that a hospital would be that hostile to a pumping mom. Is there any chance that Ella will reverse-cycle? Are your shifts going to be fairly regular? Maybe you could still breastfeed, but supplement while you're at work. Nurse her when you're home.

70 miles would be a bit of a drive!

Good luck!

__________________

I checked that website and the closest is 70 miles away. Thanks anyway. I'm just going to express my concerns with the local one here and see what happens.

Kara, what do you mean by reverse cycle? That's a new one for me. I work 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts. Best case scenario I'll pump twice at work. I'm hoping to be able to keep up enough of a supply to nurse some during the day. I'm open to supplementing some as I don't want to completely stress out over this.

My other option would be to change departments. I love ER but maybe something a little more low key for awhile might not be a bad thing.

__________________

Reverse cycling, IIRC, is when a baby essentially doesn't eat at all while you're gone, and then cluster feeds when you get home. Vivian would do that when I left her for any length of time because she refused to use a bottle or anything else to drink BM out of. Even now she won't drink expressed BM at all.

3 days a week doesn't seem too bad, even if you can't manage to pump much at work.

Good luck at the next meeting!

__________________

It's not too bad, depending on how I'm scheduled. I'm on a rotating schedule and there is one nasty stretch where I work 3 on 1 off and 2 on, virutally working 5 out of 6 days. I'm going to see what I can do to change that, even if I have to give up a shift.

__________________