My LLL Leader job is to monitor and assist moms on a county wide yahoo 
group, and I'm happy to do that.

For local email inquiries, I send a polite reply saying that I cannot 
answer email, and to call my office to make an appointment (I give the 
number in case they don't have it). That immediately sets the 
interaction on a professional footing, and does not seem to anger 
people. The secret is to make the email seem like an automatically 
generated response (shh!).

For women who are distant, I refer them to ILCA or IBLCE's referral line 
for a local IBCLC.

The thing I hate the most is when the local LC is frustrated with the 
mom and gives her my email address. I'm happy to help my colleagues, and 
am happy to look at photos sent by email and let the *LC* know what I 
see, but I hate when that turns into a year of corresponding with a 
mother I've never seen. I know that other IBCLCs with easily-defined 
areas of expertise have the same problem. I've begun insisting that the 
local LC be in on any conversations...that's helped substantially. It's 
also better for the profession if we LCs keep improving our knowledge base.

Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC

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