Pat Shelly, Pat Shelly, what is she the breast whisperer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The LCs at Sibley were useless - my son would latch when they were in the room and then immediately fall asleep and unlatch when they left the room.

Agreed. I attribute all of my BFing problems to the nurses and LCs at Sibley. They actually told me that I had to supplement when my LO was 24hrs old (if that) and never bothered to check if I was engorged (I was). It wasn't until I finally saw an LC a few weeks later that I realized that the problem was never my supply but rather the baby's latch. I was never able to get my supply up after that and still have to suplement at 8mo. Foolish me for listening to the nurses and LCs at Sibley. I learned my lesson.

Agree that the LCs at Sibley are useless at best. My DS was in the special care nursery for the first few days so I wasn't in my room that much, and I literally COULD NOT even find an LC for the first few days. The special care nurses kept trying to get one to come down there (a 30-second walk from the main floor) but they were always unavailable or said they'd come and never did. When DS got sprung from special care I finally had a brief consult with Mary Keys and she was awful. It was clear she was in a hurry and I felt like I knew more about my situation (breast reduction) from reading books and websites than she did.

I will say that the special care nurses were wonderful and quite helpful with BFing, but ultimately it was Pat Shelly who got us on the right track when we got home.

[Anonymous]

As an alternative, I really liked the LC at NVLCbaby.com, who was recommended by my ped. She also was ok with supplementing when necessary, but really helped me work through a LOT of issues. They are in Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

11:11 are you talking about Josie Tullo or someone else there? I agree, I didn't use anyone there, but I rented a pump and stopped in for weight checks and support a lot (I am 10:10). And I am SO with 9:17 -- where do the LCs at GWU hide out anyhow? Do they have a batcave or something? It was impossible to track one down.

[Anonymous]

She helped me, but I LOVED the LCs at Sibley Hospital. They helped me so much in the beginning and I credit them for setting the path for nursing my DD for a year.

The key is (at least for me)--get help early and often.

[Anonymous]

Pat is good, but I found the lactation consultants at Alexandria INOVA to be just as good.

[Anonymous]

I had Pat Shelly come to my home for a private consult. I came into the consult with an open mind. Conclusion: I did not like her. She gave me poor advice. My DS was not gaining well and she told me to formula feed and breastfeed "for dessert". Huh? I ignored her advice and offered the breast first and supplemented with formula. My milk supply eventually got to the point where I could EBF. She also tried hawking this ridiculous supplemental feeder (basically a long, flexible straw that I can tape to my breast and attach to a bottle of formula). I told her directly that I was not interested. She opened up the package anyway and charged me for it. Her rate is $175 p/hour and I kept looking at the clock thinking what a waste of money it was. She also wanted to watch me pump. Yeah right....at her rate, I could buy another pump. Anyway, I do not recommend her. there are others who are better. Breast whisperer? My ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had Pat Shelly come to my home for a private consult. I came into the consult with an open mind. Conclusion: I did not like her. She gave me poor advice. My DS was not gaining well and she told me to formula feed and breastfeed "for dessert". Huh? I ignored her advice and offered the breast first and supplemented with formula. My milk supply eventually got to the point where I could EBF. She also tried hawking this ridiculous supplemental feeder (basically a long, flexible straw that I can tape to my breast and attach to a bottle of formula). I told her directly that I was not interested. She opened up the package anyway and charged me for it. Her rate is $175 p/hour and I kept looking at the clock thinking what a waste of money it was. She also wanted to watch me pump. Yeah right....at her rate, I could buy another pump. Anyway, I do not recommend her. there are others who are better. Breast whisperer? My ass.

Open-minded? You refused to do anything that she suggested. How do you know whether it would have worked? I'm glad that you found another solution that worked, but I don't think you can judge hers if you didn't even try it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had Pat Shelly come to my home for a private consult. I came into the consult with an open mind. Conclusion: I did not like her. She gave me poor advice. My DS was not gaining well and she told me to formula feed and breastfeed "for dessert". Huh? I ignored her advice and offered the breast first and supplemented with formula. My milk supply eventually got to the point where I could EBF. She also tried hawking this ridiculous supplemental feeder (basically a long, flexible straw that I can tape to my breast and attach to a bottle of formula). I told her directly that I was not interested. She opened up the package anyway and charged me for it. Her rate is $175 p/hour and I kept looking at the clock thinking what a waste of money it was. She also wanted to watch me pump. Yeah right....at her rate, I could buy another pump. Anyway, I do not recommend her. there are others who are better. Breast whisperer? My ass.

Supplemental feeders are a great way to increase supply. If you didn't want to use it, fine, but they are proven to work, and you make yourself sound uninformed by throwing around words like "ridiculous".

[Anonymous]

We had a big problem with feeding at Sibley and found only one of the LCs - an English woman named Moira, I believe - to be really of any use, but she was great. I was ill right after my son was born and while I pumped to maintain my supply, we had to feed our DS formula until I went off the meds. Margaret came to our house once and worked to get my son to BF again - which until she showed up, he had no interest in doing.

[Anonymous]

Love Holly McClain at Capitol Medical Group. I saw her multiple times (at least 5 or 6)--she was so patient with our latch issues and very knowledgeable. I credit her entirely with being able to BF my DC for 14 months.

It's great in general to have access to a lactation consultant at a ped's office (and I think not a bad reason to choose a practice!) . You can make multiple visits if you need it and you only have to worry about the co-pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had Pat Shelly come to my home for a private consult. I came into the consult with an open mind. Conclusion: I did not like her. She gave me poor advice. My DS was not gaining well and she told me to formula feed and breastfeed "for dessert". Huh? I ignored her advice and offered the breast first and supplemented with formula. My milk supply eventually got to the point where I could EBF. She also tried hawking this ridiculous supplemental feeder (basically a long, flexible straw that I can tape to my breast and attach to a bottle of formula). I told her directly that I was not interested. She opened up the package anyway and charged me for it. Her rate is $175 p/hour and I kept looking at the clock thinking what a waste of money it was. She also wanted to watch me pump. Yeah right....at her rate, I could buy another pump. Anyway, I do not recommend her. there are others who are better. Breast whisperer? My ass.

I used the supplemental feeder and it was extremely helpful. It's fine if you didn't want it, but it's hardly ridiculous. And why would you have let her open the box and then pay for it if you didn't want it? Sounds like you're angry over a situation you could have prevented.

[Anonymous]

My only interaction with Pat was when my daughter was about 10 months or so and my pumping output was so low I was worried that I would have to switch to formula. We did a phone consult and she was unbelievably helpful and supportive -- she not only helped me get to the 12-month mark, which was my goal, she also reassured me that if I didn't make it, all would be well, which I needed to hear from an expert since I had become more than a little obsessive about it.

I also had a good experience with the LCs at Sibley. The nurses, not so much -- they were threatening formula the day before we discharged, and fortunately the pediatrician told me to ignore them. But the Sibley LCs were helpful both in the hospital and over the phone once we got home. They also offered a follow-up visit at the 2 week mark, which I did and which was very reassuring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had Pat Shelly come to my home for a private consult. I came into the consult with an open mind. Conclusion: I did not like her. She gave me poor advice. My DS was not gaining well and she told me to formula feed and breastfeed "for dessert". Huh? I ignored her advice and offered the breast first and supplemented with formula. My milk supply eventually got to the point where I could EBF. She also tried hawking this ridiculous supplemental feeder (basically a long, flexible straw that I can tape to my breast and attach to a bottle of formula). I told her directly that I was not interested. She opened up the package anyway and charged me for it. Her rate is $175 p/hour and I kept looking at the clock thinking what a waste of money it was. She also wanted to watch me pump. Yeah right....at her rate, I could buy another pump. Anyway, I do not recommend her. there are others who are better. Breast whisperer? My ass.

Supplemental feeders are a great way to increase supply. If you didn't want to use it, fine, but they are proven to work, and you make yourself sound uninformed by throwing around words like "ridiculous".

NP here....are you Pat Shelly? I used or tried to use the supplemental feeder and it didn't work for me either.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP quoted above. No, I'm not Pat Shelly, and I didn't ever see Pat Shelly so I can't comment on her. I'm just saying that this device was really helpful to me. It was a huge pain for sure and took a lot of time and trouble, but it was worth it for me. I don't think LCs "peddle" these things just to make money, which is what I think the PP inferred.

[Anonymous]

She really, really, really helped us. I don't know enough about her to know whether I'd "like" her as a friend or whatever, but she came to our house, figured out the issues, coached us on how to deal with them, and was gentle, kind, and supportive in our 2 or 3 consults with her. I would recommend her 100%. I didn't participate in any of the Breastfeeding Center mom's groups, so I can't speak to that, but yes, she probably IS the "breast whisperer"!