Lactation Business Coaching with Annie and Leah

Compassion fatigue and the IBCLC

Episode Summary

We’re working with families in their most desperate moments, and we’ve all experienced those moments when we feel like we can’t give anymore—hello, compassion fatigue.

Episode Notes

Overwork, compassion fatigue, burnout. It’s a common cycle for anyone in a helping profession, and it feels especially intense for lactation consultants because the stakes are so high—I mean, we’re working with babies who can’t eat! Compassion fatigue is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be the end of you.

Show Notes

• I’m so tired: We all have limits, and we’re all going to reach them
• Hitting the wall: What it looks like when the compassion runs out
• Powering through: Getting through the other side
• Strategies for prevention: You can help yourself so you can help
  others
• Recharge and overcome: Put your compassion in the right place

Quotes

• "When one of us falls down, let’s pull that person back up"
• "Check your superhero cape at the door because you can’t help"
  everyone
• "Self care is so important for us too"
• "If you don’t take care of yourself there won’t be anyone to take care
  of the families that need you"
• "Recognize that you are valuable and you are worth taking care of"

Annie’s Tech Tip

How to give your brain a break from emails

Leah’s Marketing Tip

Referrals are important for growing your business. Have you thought of midwives?

Recommended Resources

• Keep the fires burning: Conquering stress and burnout as a
  Mother-Baby Professional

If you like what you heard today, please follow us on Facebook and leave us a review in iTunes. You can email us questions and comments at hello@lactationbusinesscoaching.com.

About Us

Leah Jolly is a private practice IBCLC with Bay Area Breastfeeding in Houston, Texas.
Annie Frisbie is a private practice IBCLC serving Queens and Brooklyn in New York City, and the creator of the Lactation Consultant Private Practice Toolkit.

Many thanks to Stephanie Granade for her production assistance, and to Silas Wade for creating our theme music.