Many nurses take extra courses in lactation, and some get certified as lactation consultants. Most public health units (including Hamilton's) offers in-home visits by public health nurses who are trained in lactation and can help. Many hospitals also offer a similar service.

the problem is, as I said above, it's piecemeal. Some are very well trained. Some have nursed three or four children of their own. Some are fresh out of school and have only theoretical knowledge. There are no provincial standards for breastfeeding clinics, and their availability depends on the public health department in each region. Hamilton's is better than most - but one visit from a public health nurse is not enough to solve breastfeeding problems when you're sleepless, recovering from c-sections or any other kind of birth, your nipples are cracked and bleeding, and your milk isn't coming in.

The average hospital nurse has one hour of theoretical training in lactation during her nursing program. That is simply unacceptable. We need lactation consultants on hand consistently in maternity wards, we need them on hand consistently in clinics placed around the communities and available by phone for worn-out new moms, and we need consistent standards for such clinics so that all moms can expect good information.