If no one stands up and says certain things are important, if we just go 
along to get along, are we not a part of the problem? Do we gain respect 
by being silent and just getting along? Doesn't this just keep the myth 
that breastfeeding is "too hard" going when we don't tell mothers how 
childbirth practices may or may not affect the baby's ability to suckle 
properly and efficiently?

I do agree that being argumentative and nasty is not the way to gain 
respect, either.

In my opinion, the way to increase respect for the IBCLC profession is 
to move to standardized schooling -- not keeping quiet about important 
issues that mothers need to know about. At this point, someone can 
become IBCLC with very poor in-person skills but lots of book knowledge. 
These are the ladies who use Nipple Shields first thing because they 
don't know what else to do. Plus, anyone can be a lactation consultant 
-- the hospitals in my area almost all have non-IBCLCs as their 
breastfeeding staff. Some seem to have a bit of knowledge, others are 
unaware of such books as Hale's or the BAB.

And what about our standards of practice and code of ethics that so many 
IBCLCs seem to have no knowledge of? How can doing consultations without 
written permission from the mother, test weights, breastfeeding/medical 
history being taken, written care plans, medical receipts, staying for 
the entire feeding and not rushing things, follow up, and sending a 
report to the HCP promote our profession?

Kathy Eng, BSW, IBCLC

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