I'd like second what Christine said as well to those wise women of lactation
who are feeling burned out.

I have been reading LACTNET now for about 5 years, first as a LLL Leader,
then as a student in a lactation program leading to a Bachelors degree, and
now as a newly certified IBCLC.  I am in my early thirties, with 3 young
children.  I am trying to break into this field and make a difference.  I
have met many of you at ILCA and LLLI Conferences, however I am sure you do
not remember me.  But I want you to know the impact and influence you have
had on me.   

I have soaked up everything you have written. Listened to you talk and give
gems of advice, listened to you complain about the work and lack of respect.
Your words and thoughts have made me a better person, and I think, a better
IBCLC.  As Christine said, those of us new to the field ARE out here, we are
full of vim and vigor and ready to carry on the fight for normal
breastfeeding and birth.  We need you to stick around and continue to lead
the way for those following in your very big footsteps!

And yes-a HUGE thank you to all you pioneers in the field of lactation, but
with that-please don't give up the fight just yet.  If you are tired of
fighting the system, then work on mentoring the next generation of LC's.
Not all of us newbies are here to take YOUR jobs away, we want to work with
and along side you and learn from you :-)  We need you to pass on your
knowledge, skills and insights.  We need you to tell us that fight IS worth
fighting and that we can make a difference-one baby at a time!   


Blessings,
 
Robyn Roche-Paull
LLLL, IBCLC, BS:MCH
------------------------------

Date:    Wed, 15 Nov 2006 01:48:35 EST
From:    Christine Pillado <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: I hope I never get too old...

Dr. Mimi, 
This is a beautifully written post.  Thank you.
 
To all the women who are feeling worn out and time for a change, 
Please know that I have spoken to most of you in person and read many,
many, 
many of your posts on LACTNET.  Even if you don't remember speaking  to me
at 
an ILCA conference, I remember meeting you and your words of  wisdom.  
After several years of preparation, I took and passed the exam this  summer.

I have three young children (the youngest, 10mo, is nursing and  hopefully 
will be for years to come) and I am (to my knowledge) the only IBCLC  in my
city 
who does home visits.  I am also one of a handful of doulas who  still take 
clients.  AND my youngest was born at home with a  midwife who just had HER 
second child at home last week.  We are out  here!!  We are learning from
your 
experience and are traveling a path that  isn't as difficult because of all
the 
groundwork you have done and are  doing.  THANK YOU!!
Keep up the good fight.
 
Christie Pillado, IBCLC, RLC
El Paso, Texas
 
 
 

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET email list is powered by LISTSERV (R).
There is only one LISTSERV. To learn more, visit:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html