Ann,
I'll be sending some comments to IBCLE but since I'm not sure whether my
experiences/views are completely out of line with others I'm posting to
Lactnet also.
It's been my understanding (and it's something that has been discussed on
Lactnet repeatedly) that the IBCLC is the *minimum* qualification for those
providing professional breastfeeding assistance ie that it's a qualification
that describes the base level of knowledge/experience. I have observed that
a proportion of people who achieve this qualification have significant holes
in their knowledge/expertise and are adept at facilitating "train wrecks"
that either fall by the wayside (ie the mother weans) or are left for
someone else to pick up (and I'm not talking about things that are big
problems here but things that are basic) . It is perhaps inevitable that
this should happen but I am concerned that should less be required of allied
health care professionals in order to achieve some form of certification in
lactation that this issue will only be magnified and multiplied. It's also
concerning to me that just as in recent years it has made more difficult for
those whose knoweldge of breastfeeding has been developed in a
non-institutionalised setting (ie primarily lay breastfeeding counsellors)
to achieve the IBCLC qualification and these candidates have been known for
their high standard of practice that it may now be made easier for those who
have a formal qualification in another area to achieve a breastfeeding
certification. Doesn't seem right.

Karleen Gribble
Australia

> The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners is evaluating =
> the possibility of creating a certification for such allied health care =
> professionals and paraprofessionals as WIC counselors, midwives, =
> dieticians, speech pathologists, public health workers, and others who =
> work closely with breastfeeding women and their families. This =
> certification will define international standards for the education and =
> training of these individuals, as well as provide recognition of their =
> expertise. It would require fewer hours of practical experience and =
> education than the IBCLC credential, but would still require passing an =
> exam to verify lactation knowledge and the ability to provide =
> appropriate and effective care for breastfeeding women and their =
> children. Training for these individuals would include recognition of =
> problems that are beyond their scope of practice and which should be =
> referred to an IBCLC or other medical professional.
> =A0

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