Hello to all,

This question is primarily directed to those who you who do not have
professional medical (RN, etc) licenses in addition to your lactation
credentials :)  Of course, I would appreciate input from anyone--licensed
or not !

My question:  when giving advice to parents as a volunteer--where precisely
does the line between advice and medical advice fall ??  I am familiar with
the LLL concept of "mother-to-mother" advice--and frequently use that--ie
"when my first son had gained weight slowly (but, within the range of
"normal") and the grandmothers recommended cereal--this is what I tried
instead of adding solids before six months of age" .

I don't see any problem with that type of "advice".  The line becomes more
difficult as the type of question asked becomes more specific or medically
oriented.  While I would *never* recommend OTC meds or discontinuing meds
Rx'd by a HCP at the risk of "diagnosing" or prescribing"---what about the
"grayer" areas???  For example, if a HCP has suggested a care plan that I
know (from research, not hearsay) is out-of-date--is it acceptable to
provide the mother with published and reputable studies for her to read and
interpret ??  Is it acceptable to quote studies I have read that provide
more up-to-date and/or more evidence-based info---not telling her *what* to
do--but, providing her with good info in order that *she* may ask better
questions of her HCP ??

I always explain before giving *any* advice of any sort that I am not a
HCP--but, is that disclaimer sufficient ??
My main effort is to first provide support by listening--and then to
provide the mom with reputable info to further her own "education" so, that
she may ask good questions of her HCP and better evaluate the
recommendations of that HCP.  Does this fall within the proper guidelines
of giving "advice'

Thanks so much for your time and input :)
Nancy
lay BF advocate, former teacher , former EMT--and mostly a mother to three
BF children

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