Guest guest Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 , if there is any way you can purchase or rent a scale, I would definitely recommend it. I did start out without a scale, but that was a looong time ago. I really think a LC in the US needs a scale for many reasons. First, many people expect that it be available when they hire an LC. Secondly, using the scale has taught me just how many “tricky” non-transferring babies I may have missed in the beginning. Plus, since so many US women are supplementing before you ever see them, the scale really helps to convince them when they need to decrease reliance on the bottle. Now, I am definitely NOT saying that you need a scale at every consult or that scale use is always a good thing. However, it definitely has its place. If you can get one, do. If that isn’t possible at this time, go ahead and see moms and babies and hone all of your no-scale skills. These will still be valuable to you once you are able to purchase a scale. If you do see a case where a scale is really necessary, is there someone you can refer to? Becky , IBCLCMilky WayLa Plata, MDwww.milkywaybreastfeeding.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 I think scales are important too. I’ve left them with clients many times for them to do test weights and to check daily weights for weight gain. I didn’t buy a super expensive one. Seca has a nice scales that weight down to 2-5grams that are cheaper than Medela and other brands.June , RN, IBCLC Cherish the Baby I am just (slowly) starting out in my PP, and I have not yet purchased a scale. I do plan to, but I was wondering if any of you started do consults without a scale? They are very helpful, but not necessary for every consult. However, I'm thinking that if I don't go ahead and get my hands on one, the first consult I do I will need a scale. P Lavergne RN, IBCLCLouisiana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 I have never owned a scale. I did have an office for three years in a suite where I could use a doctor's scale. I have occasionally told mothers to rent scales when babies are FTT or other specific conditions, but I just do not rely on them. Tow, IBCLC, France > > I am just (slowly) starting out in my PP, and I have not yet purchased a scale. I do plan to, but I was wondering if any of you started do consults without a scale? They are very helpful, but not necessary for every consult. However, I'm thinking that if I don't go ahead and get my hands on one, the first consult I do I will need a scale. > > P Lavergne RN, IBCLC > Louisiana > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 I agree scales are not mandatory but the docs like seeing those numbers in the reports. Sometimes I have thought wow that baby really did a great job of milk transfer so many swallows and the scale shows nothing. Then I see a baby pretty much looking like she is just hanging out and transfers tons. So I think they can be useful just not the only tool in our tool kit. Shari I have never owned a scale. I did have an office for three years in a suite where I could use a doctor's scale. I have occasionally told mothers to rent scales when babies are FTT or other specific conditions, but I just do not rely on them. Tow, IBCLC, France > > I am just (slowly) starting out in my PP, and I have not yet purchased a scale. I do plan to, but I was wondering if any of you started do consults without a scale? They are very helpful, but not necessary for every consult. However, I'm thinking that if I don't go ahead and get my hands on one, the first consult I do I will need a scale. > > P Lavergne RN, IBCLC > Louisiana > -- ~~~~~~~~~~ Shari Silady ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ " Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future generations as all other earthly causes combined. " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Thanks guys for your input. Someone suggested a Seca scale, which I had not heard of, but I think is more affordable. Looking into this. Lavergne > > > > > > I am just (slowly) starting out in my PP, and I have not yet purchased a > > scale. I do plan to, but I was wondering if any of you started do consults > > without a scale? They are very helpful, but not necessary for every consult. > > However, I'm thinking that if I don't go ahead and get my hands on one, the > > first consult I do I will need a scale. > > > > > > P Lavergne RN, IBCLC > > > Louisiana > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > ~~~~~~~~~~ Shari Silady ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > " Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of > future generations as all other earthly causes combined. " > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Another option is arranging to rent a scale for the day to bring with you to the consult. I am fortunate to have a local rental station 5 minutes away, and this works well as I have too few consults at this point to justify the expense. ~Nadja Catano, Mother of 8, LLLL, IBCLC, RLC, MA > > > > > > > > I am just (slowly) starting out in my PP, and I have not yet purchased a > > > scale. I do plan to, but I was wondering if any of you started do consults > > > without a scale? They are very helpful, but not necessary for every consult. > > > However, I'm thinking that if I don't go ahead and get my hands on one, the > > > first consult I do I will need a scale. > > > > > > > > P Lavergne RN, IBCLC > > > > Louisiana > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > ~~~~~~~~~~ Shari Silady ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > " Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of > > future generations as all other earthly causes combined. " > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.