I wanted to weigh in with my two cents here as an IBLCE staff member - since
somewhere during this discussion a concern was voiced that some folks have
passed the IBLCE exam without *really* meeting the clinical experience
requirements.....

No doubt that if someone wants to, they can "fudge" their practice hours.  On
the other hand, believe me when I say we really do read those exam candidate
applications carefully and have learned to spot things that don't seem quite
right.  (For example, someone who says she works in L&D and 80% of her staff
time is working with BFing moms and babies)  When we see a discrepancy or
questionable time claim, we follow up with the candidate, we contact the
references, we may ask for additional references.   We look really carefully
at the thirty hours of continuing education to make sure it has been in the
three years prior to the exam, and we DO throw out hours that are too old.
 (Next time you hear a complaint about the exam fee, please consider how much
time is spent on these applications!  :-)  )  Finally, we do occasionally
hear from a concerned IBCLC in a community who suspects that someone will
present themselves as a candidate despite not meeting the exam
qualifications.  We advise direct expression of concerns - it is always
better for the local person to state her concerns to the person in question.
 But we also listen to such concerns very carefully and keep them in mind
when reviewing the application for that candidate.....  such concerns can't
"make or break" a candidate's file, that wouldn't be at all fair, but we do
read the application even more closely.  The letters of  recommendation are
looked at carefully, too.  If you're claiming 1500 hours of practice in a
clinic or hospital setting in the past two years, but your letters of
recommendation are from your employers five and seven years ago, we follow up
on that and ask for a recommendation from someone at your current job
setting.

Finally, I would hope that more experienced IBCLCs will provide mentoring and
support experiences for those newer IBCLCs, who were clinically knowledgeable
enough to pass the exam but can certainly ALWAYS learn more.

Now you know more about the review process for IBLCE exam applications than
you ever wanted to read!

Chicken pox -
Although I am pretty tired myself of reading chicken pox stories I just HAVE
to tell mine.  When I was 39 weeks with my third baby my oldest came down
with it;   I did the math and was terrified to consider that my soon-to-be
"middle" child would have chicken pox when the baby was born - with plans to
have a home birth with both brothers in attendance.  I was even more upset
when I pulled out a nursing textbook (Peds or Maternity, can't remember
which) and read, "Chicken pox can be fatal in the newborn."  Also read that
there's no specific transplacental immunity to chicken pox, nor is there
specific immunity in human milk.  Fortunately I have a VERY nice
pediatrician;  when I finally talked to him his wonderful, laid-back comment
was, "Well, if Michael has chicken pox when the baby is born....  well, I
wouldn't let him KISS the baby."

Michael bloomed in chicken pox the day before Elaine was born.  We carefully
followed the doctor's advice and consequently have a wonderful picture of
shirtless Michael, covered in pox but with a sheet across his lap, holding
12-hour-old Elaine without *touching* her.  (She got chicken pox at age six.)

Mary Renard, whose opinion on the chicken pox vaccine is "I'm sure glad I
don't have to decide!"