I spent the afternoon in a custody hearing where Dad is suing for 50-50
custody of a 6 month old, exclusively BF baby. I feel like I have gone
through a torture session. In order to be accepted by this judge as an expert
in the area of lactation and infant development the attorneys have to
question every little detail of my education, experience and certification.
The Dad's attorney spent a very long time questioning me on why I am not
licensed by the state of NC to be a IBCLC. I kept explaining that this was a
certification process with a recertificatioon every 5 yrs and he kept asking
why ILCA had not applied for state licensing. I do not know the difference.
The mom's attorney later told me it was just to try to disarm me. He also
spent a great deal of time asking about La Leche League International, how to
spell it, what it is etc.  Then after I was accepted and started my testimony
he pulled out The Womanly Art of BFing, with bookmarks in it! The mom's
attorney wanted me to explain any risks to the mom's health of having to pump
bottles to send with dad every other week for a week's worth of milk. We
figured that at 10 bottles a day, 70 bottles a week, 6 oz each bottle ( best
estimate I could come up with), the Mom would have to pump 420 oz! And would
have to do that between now and next Friday when Dad wants the baby for a
week. I explained about mastitis, engorgement, letdown problems with a pump
etc. Then the judge dismissed me until 9 AM tomorrow. I don't know what that
attorney had bookmarked in the Womanly Art of Bfing. Any ideas on whether or
not pumping can begin at 6 months and continue for one week with baby and one
week without. There is a strong family history of allergies and diabetes so
the attorney wants me to address the risk reduction associated with BFing.
The dad's mom will be babysitting the baby and made the statement that all of
her babies were on cow's milk by 6 months. A ped in our town wrote a letter
for the dad stating that the mom would be able to pump and provide milk in
bottles for the dad. ( how he can guarantee that, I don't know).
Any ideas for me?  I have testified before but the licensure thing threw me
and I am now feeling very skittery about tomorrow. This is an older, very
conservative judge so I don't know if he will go against standard visitation
plans. The Mom's attorney has all the Liz Baldwin stuff.
Y'all send good vibes my way. Usually I am try to apear self assured and
confident but don't feel so about this for some reason.

Barbara Whitehead, IBCLC
Eastern NC

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