Hi All,

Jennifer Tow wrote:

In light of the lack of respect we already face on so many 
fronts, I would think action that shores up the IBCLC credential rather 
than dilutes it would be much less short-sighted. A softer, diluted 
credential just validates what is already going on in the field and 
muddies the waters even more. Mothers already hesitate to pay for an LC 
and rarely know the difference between an IBCLC and any other 
"certification", and they often usually have no idea what the 
credential is of the "LC" they have seen. I am very, very disappointed.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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As an IBCLC in private practice, I see this issue with mother's all too
often.  I am called a Lactation or Breastfeeding: Nurse, specialist,
counselor, lady, coach or person - rarely consultant.  When moms say they
saw the hospital "LC" and I ask who that was, more times than not they
mention someone I either know is NOT an IBCLC or is someone I have never
heard of - and I know ALL the IBCLC's in my town either in person or by name
and reputation.  Parents often consider the RN with the lactation
certification (RNC) an LC - and most people do not correct them by saying:
"No, I am not an IBCLC, I am an RNC..." or whatever they are.  When I gently
educate parents and tell them "Actually, I am an IBCLC..." and give them the
full title - THEN they say "Wow!  How did you get that??"  Then they get the
idea that there is something special about what I do and they are seeing
someone who truly knows her stuff and really does have the skills to help
them get past their issues.  

I am concerned that having a softer credential will create a real issue for
us PPLC's in many ways.  I focus on PPLC's only because I don't know what
the fallout for hospital based LC's would/will be - but I have my
suspicions.  Some, like me, do this for our living.  I refuse to work for a
hospital for my own sanity (I have TONS of respect for those of you who do
work in that environment...) so I work for myself doing home visits.  I love
what I do but sometimes it is difficult to make a living doing this alone
(which explains why I just took a job at a local pre-school to supplement my
income - might as well use that other degree I have...).  If there are other
people out there with a softer credential - how will that affect my
business?  I think it will impact it negatively, quite honestly.  I charge
fairly for my services - but someone without my skills can charge less,
thereby undercutting me and putting me, and others with similar skills,
nearly (if not completely) out of business due to lack of work.  While I
love the challenging cases it is the more basic ones of simple latch and
positioning that make up the bulk of my practice.  I can't support my
children on 5 challenging consults a month because someone without my skills
took care of the easier ones but couldn't figure these out...

I also am disappointed.  If anything, it seems there should have been an
effort to stabilize and strengthen the title of IBCLC - give it more clout
since we seem to be endlessly fighting that uphill battle where hospitals
and insurance companies don't want to pay for the experts out there -
they'll pay someone with little education and call them a lactation
nurse...but generally not for those of us who work their butts off to get a
good education, take a difficult entry-level exam and study and learn
consistently to better and further our knowledge and education - usually at
our own expense.  And, if we happen to be an RN, IBCLC then we end up doing
more RN work than LC work, which isn't necessarily what we want (or were
hired) to do.  Quite frankly, though it is very difficult for me to scrape
up the money to attend educational conferences (like the Wolf and Glass one
coming this Sept that I will attend any way I can), I find a way to do it
because I LOVE what I do and am exited to learn anything I can to continue
to learn and grow to help more moms and babies.  How sad it will be if I
have to leave this field because I can't find enough work as an LC due to
others out there with a credential that is half of what mine is taking that
business away...This is the ONLY field I have ever found such a passion and
calling for - the only field I have ever been interested in longer than 6
months.  I have been doing this now for 11 1/2 years.  The best consults are
the repeat ones - babies 2 and 3...where I get to see baby #1 who I had the
honor of helping learn to BF...

At any rate, maybe it won't be so bad - maybe it will be a huge mistake -
only time will tell.  I just hope, for people in my shoes, it won't put us
out of a job...or make us less credible.

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM
        

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