This is by no means an "official" response -- but here's my thought.

The clinical hours requirement is not meant to make you crazy, but rather to
make you able to pass the exam. No number of hours looking at pictures or
reading about counseling methods can make you competent. It's being there
with moms, having that moment of "Oh heavens I don't know anything how can I
possibly help" that make the difference.

Were you always "the breastfeeding one" among your helping colleagues? Did
you get all the challenging cases? Do you figure your case load was half
breastfeeding? A quarter breastfeeding? (And don't forget that some of the
postpartum physical and social issues are a part of your breastfeeding
knowledge....as is the teaching component)

Then figure up 50 weeks a year multiplied by the number of hours you were
out in the community each week. Multiply that by the percentage you gave
yourself in the above paragraph. You'll come pretty close. You may be taken
aback by the number!  If not -- you may need a couple month "intensive" !

Dawn Kersula MA, RN, IBCLC in souther Vermont USA (driving later today to
take my Alaska daughter to Logan airport in Boston with her nursing toddler
and preschooler for their 18 hour trip home!) And who seems to live, eat and
sleep breastfeeding some weeks!

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