To Deborah -

It depends on "Sue's" background. Someone with a LLL background will have
different "holes" to fill than a dietitian or nurse.  All probably have
"holes" in their knowledge base, but in different areas. The five deficits
seen most often in our course students are, not in any particular order:

1. Knowledge of normal infant suck.
2. Counseling skills - how to listen, validate mom's feelings before
problem-solving.
3. Milk Supply - just WHAT matters, and what doesn't, and preventing supply
problems.
4. Sleep issues - the normalcy and desireability of sleeping with the baby.
5. Normal breastfeeding behaviors and patterns in exclusively BF babies.

If I could add a 6th: effects of birth medications/practices on the baby's
ability to suck.

Linda Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
Dayton OH