If  we don't support one another and learn from each other we won't have to
worry about the future of our profession - we'll succumb to internal
injuries.  LC's as a group are only as strong as our weakest link, so we need
to mentor one another, share what works and communicate with as many others
in our field as we can - just like we do here in this wonder forum of
Lactnet.  Unfortunately, many of the people who could use this daily infusion
of wisdom and sharing are not a part of this group.  We still need to be
respectful and mutually supportive.
This is especially difficult to do if one is dealing with a really
bone-headed move by someone who doesn't seem to know what they are doing!
But if we say anything to discredit the other person we weaken the overall
perception of our profession and everybody in it.  It is very difficult to
try to bridge those gaps by reaching out and talking to another practitioner
and encounter their hostility and refusal to dialog.  Sometimes it takes more
than one pass to create enough rapport to begin to dialog and sometimes it
just doesn't work.  But we really need to make a concerted effort to be
mutally supportive and not fight amongst ourselves.
The comment that there are many paths to the same end is very true.  Each of
us looks at the problems moms and babies present to us through the lens of
our own experience, training, personality and current state of mind.  We
ourselves might use a totally different approach to the same exact problem if
the mothers or babies personalities were different.  The positive support
that has been expressed on this thread has been wonderful!  The growing pains
that our profession is experiencing are mandatory to continue that growth.  A
case of no pain, no gain?
Wonder what the OT's and PT's had to go through in the beginnings of their
fields' struggle for autonomy and recognition?  Maybe we could learn
something about what works (and doesn't work) by looking them.
At any rate, mutual respect and cooperation are the best strengths we can
offer one another.  This didn't start off as a soap box stand...
My 2ccs seems to have gotten larger than intended.

Humbly,

Gretchen Andrews, BA, IBCLC
private practice, Redlands, So CA, USA

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