Dear Lactnet Friends: I went back to the source documents, IBLCE's Code of Conduct, Scope of Practice and Clinical Competencies. (Proud of me, Liz?) The word "diagnose" does not appear in any of them. IBCLCs do: assess, assist, calculate, contribute, critique, document, educate, evaluate, facilitate, function, identify, integrate, make, promote, provide, record, report, select, and use. I can weigh a baby before and after a feed, and calculate milk intake and use that information, along with other assessments and evaluations, to determine that a baby is not gaining. I can identify factors in a mother's medical history and a physical assessment that would lead to an insufficient milk supply. I can discuss feeding frequency, observe attachment and positioning and develop a plan of care. . . . based on my analysis of what is going on. Some might call that diagnosing. As Lisa says, we are heading into the area of diagnosing by virtue of our expanding knowledge base. Who else puts it all together, save the physicians who practice breastfeeding medicine and who very well may insist that the word 'diagnose' belongs to them, and to others with prescriptive ability only. warmly, -- Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC Author:* Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breastfeeding Therapy* www.nikkileehealth.com https://www.facebook.com/nikkileehealth *Get my FREE webinar series* *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome