Fantastic post, Jennifer. So well thought out, and zeroes right in on
some major problems.

I would not trade the years of experience I had at the bedside in the OB
department, nor the many interesting hours I have spent in medical
libraries ferreting out references to answer the questions in my own
mind.

But the personal help of LLL that empowered me to finally achieve several
successful long-term breastfeeding experiences myself was a turning point
in my clinical practice as an OB nurse. In addition to that, I have to
admit I would be nowhere close to being the LC that I have thus far
become today without the long-time close friendship, role modeling,
discussions and volunteer relationships in our community's CBE group of
several of my LLL friends whose paths allowed them to qualify for the
leader experience.  My path as a working mother 4 decades ago forced
divergence from the LLL path to actual leadership, by their rules, and in
retrospect, probably rightly so.

LLL resources and relationships can be a fantastic opportunity to learn
those facets in which one is not strong, even without the actual
leadership experience. I have heard LLLL's and LC's with LLLL background
wish that they could go on, or actually do go on to be RN's, or MD's etc.
in order to help bring about changes. Difficult course, but not
impossible.

However, I don't believe the reverse opportunity would be open to most
already employed RN's to become LLLL's. Nor would many of them opt to if
they could. But 100% proof will always be hard. I have seen RN LC's come
to conventions, get registered, and then go out and shop and sight see
for the bulk of the convention, but somehow still manage to get their
Cerps. Their skill levels, and their lack of leadership in helping change
their hospital's policies too often show it, and the mothers and babies
are the worse for it.

But surely, there are ways possible to amalgamate not only the
information, but the actual on-the-scene experiences and appropriate
skill practice into the future of the LC  profession, so as not to
"disqualify" some very good potential LC's right at the "starting gate".
And, let's not forget that there are some very good LC's out there who
have never personally nursed a baby, many of them males!

I think this kind of dialogue is crucial to the advancement of quality
preparation for the profession.

Jean
******************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

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