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*

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