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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used the two LCs at my pediatrician's office (Reston Town Center Pediatrics) and they were awesome -- awesome!

Yay for Reston Town Center Peds! We also go there and their LCs are fantastic! They (especially Mary) have helped me through 2 babies and I am having twins this summer and I expect to see the LCs there often. They rock!

[Anonymous]

I didn't read all of the responses and have not met Pat but Margaret works with Pat. I tried and failed at first to BF and wanted to give it a go. Margaret gave me great advice at 3 different phases. I bfed for 12 months. I am thankful that they are there for those of us who want them.

[Anonymous]

I think Pat is a great advocate for BFing but a lousy LC. She tends to diagnose new problems instead of solve existing ones, sort of creating the idea that you need to/can quit. I would be interested how long women who say she is great did BF. Not a judgment, just that I think she gives advice that doesn't set you up for long term success. I BF for 2 years and still look back on the $1000 I spent on her and her LCs as a total waste. I EBF only because I did not follow their advice that I could not do it. And I am not the only one with this experience.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one laughing at breast whisperer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Pat is a great advocate for BFing but a lousy LC. She tends to diagnose new problems instead of solve existing ones, sort of creating the idea that you need to/can quit. I would be interested how long women who say she is great did BF. Not a judgment, just that I think she gives advice that doesn't set you up for long term success. I BF for 2 years and still look back on the $1000 I spent on her and her LCs as a total waste. I EBF only because I did not follow their advice that I could not do it. And I am not the only one with this experience.

I was there at her new moms meeting every single day for 4 months! I never paid a dime and all my issues were resolved just by asking general questions and reading stuff online. We're on month 10 and I intend to BF until month 24.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Pat is a great advocate for BFing but a lousy LC. She tends to diagnose new problems instead of solve existing ones, sort of creating the idea that you need to/can quit. I would be interested how long women who say she is great did BF. Not a judgment, just that I think she gives advice that doesn't set you up for long term success. I BF for 2 years and still look back on the $1000 I spent on her and her LCs as a total waste. I EBF only because I did not follow their advice that I could not do it. And I am not the only one with this experience.

To this day I will credit my success at BFing to Pat Shelley. I BF my first son for 18 months and #2 is still going strong at 15 months (and I had to call on Pat for him as well). Pat saved me with my first son and I am so grateful to her. As soon as I encountered a little trouble with my second, I immediately called her, she came by for a home visit and we were on our way to success within the hour. When I can, I will make a sizeable donation to Pat because I don't think what I paid her was near enough the benefit I and my sons received.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Pat is a great advocate for BFing but a lousy LC. She tends to diagnose new problems instead of solve existing ones, sort of creating the idea that you need to/can quit. I would be interested how long women who say she is great did BF. Not a judgment, just that I think she gives advice that doesn't set you up for long term success. I BF for 2 years and still look back on the $1000 I spent on her and her LCs as a total waste. I EBF only because I did not follow their advice that I could not do it. And I am not the only one with this experience.

To this day I will credit my success at BFing to Pat Shelley. I BF my first son for 18 months and #2 is still going strong at 15 months (and I had to call on Pat for him as well). Pat saved me with my first son and I am so grateful to her. As soon as I encountered a little trouble with my second, I immediately called her, she came by for a home visit and we were on our way to success within the hour. When I can, I will make a sizeable donation to Pat because I don't think what I paid her was near enough the benefit I and my sons received.

[Anonymous]

Another mom here who credits Pat Shelly for helping to make BF possible. That supplemental feeder was awesome and a huge help to us. FWIW, we actually got it from an other LC first, although that LC was less than helpful about showing us how to use it. Pat gave us the training that we needed to use it effectively, and also the coaching about how to get DS to move from the supplemental feeder to the nipple. She was a good teacher. I was impressed that she followed up with personal phone calls every few days over the next three weeks to check-in (often in the evenings, so she was doing it on her own time). I BF through 14 months, until my son lost interest and weaned himself.

[Anonymous]

9:17 from 4/15 again. I breastfed just past 2 years, so it was definitely not a short-time thing. No formula other than what we needed to do in the first week while I got my supply up. I'm another who credits Pat with making bf'ing work for me.

[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 didn't use Pat, but saw Margaret at the Breastfeeding Center who also showed us how to supplement with the feeder. It turned around our breastfeeding experience when DS was a newborn.

[Anonymous]

I went to Pat during pregnancy because I knew I was going to have problems and she was very helpful then. I saw three different LC's at Sibley and only one was really helpful. We did the home visit with Pat as well and she also recommended the feeder. She didn't push on that when I said no to it.

Truly though as much as Pat was helpful and I am grateful for all her suggestions and support, Margaret from the BF Center was the one that really gave me some good advice that really got us going. Margaret then called me for a couple of weeks following, unsolicited and for free to follow up on how we are doing.

We live really near the BF Center and it has been great to be able to send my husband out there for pumping supplies and other things as needed.

[Anonymous]

I found Pat to be very frank, honest and nonjudgemental. I could tell from the start that she is a straight shooter and had so many more tools to offer than previous consultants I had met with. Any woman needing help with breastfeeding should not be put off by less than positive remarks. She is a lifesaver, and I would not have been able to breastfeed if she hadn't talked me thru the challenge of working with my baby who couldn't and then wouldn't latch. My advice is if things aren't going well, call PAT and RIGHT AWAY!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Pat is a great advocate for BFing but a lousy LC. She tends to diagnose new problems instead of solve existing ones, sort of creating the idea that you need to/can quit. I would be interested how long women who say she is great did BF. Not a judgment, just that I think she gives advice that doesn't set you up for long term success. I BF for 2 years and still look back on the $1000 I spent on her and her LCs as a total waste. I EBF only because I did not follow their advice that I could not do it. And I am not the only one with this experience.

I was there at her new moms meeting every single day for 4 months! I never paid a dime and all my issues were resolved just by asking general questions and reading stuff online. We're on month 10 and I intend to BF until month 24.

Wacko. Wow, you need to find some friends, or get a hobby or something.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read all the previous posts, but I had a GREAT experience speaking with Pat Shelly when I needed LC help.

She was accessible for a short Q&A/consult by phone, which I appreciated immensely because I didn't want to haul downtown with a new baby. She gave great advice that solved my problems, AND it barely cost anything in the end.

I'm sure there are other great LCs in the area, too, but the reason everyone recommends Pat Shelly is because she's terrific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yes, I used Moira, too and thought she was great. I know everyone else has said the Sibley nurses are awful but I had several appointments with Moira and got our issues all worked out and it was great.