While I greatly appreciated Linda's post re ILCA wrestling with this
problem for years, I still am left to wonder about several points: Linda
seems to indicate that this would need to be a highly structured, rigidly
defined training period, and on the one hand, I DO see the need for this,
certainly. However, I also tend
to think that it will simply result in, evolve into, a situation that in
effect leaves many/most people in exactly the same position they were in
previously.
I realize that it is extremely difficult for most of the people on
Lactnet to comprehend what difficulties can face some members from other
parts of the world. I don't for a moment imagine that *anyone* lives in a
bed of roses if s/he has chosen to work in our wonderful field, but try
for a minute to envision a country which has not one breastfeeding task
force or anything even remotely resembling one? A country where the
Ministry of Health's only pamphlet supposedly promoting breastfeeding
(that I have seen at any rate - correct me, fellow Israelis, if I am wrong),
pamphlet #26, advises on both breastfeeding and bottlefeeding, and has
pictures of moms breastfeeding and bottlefeeding right next to one
another, and gives exactly the same advice, word for word, on beginning
solids for both bottle- and breast-fed. The only mentor whom I would
think acceptable either to me or to ILCA and IBCLE lives and works a 4
hour bus ride away from me, one-way! Thus, aside from all the legal and
professional aspects which have to be worked through, eventually we work
down to the mundane. As described by Linda, I remain bereft of a solution
that works for me personally. Lisa is really still on the mark.
Listen, I really DO deeply appreciate the concern and empathy I feel, and
value it more than words can say. And I do understand how hard it is
for you busy people to cope with these issues. I hope that Lactnetters
remain patient while we "talk" about this and share with each other,
and, dare I say?, I hope to hear from more people their thoughts on this
thread. Thanks, everyone. Judy Knopf in Beer Sheva, Israel