Julia asks,
 "wanted to know what you all think about Lactation Consultants who  have
never breastfed before? Do you think a LC who has never personally  breastfed
can be as effective a LC as one who has?

Also, I do not think  there are any in existence (other than the one on
"The Office"), but what would  you all think about male LCs?"

I know that LC's that have not breastfed can be every bit as  effective. I
breastfed but never had mastitis, plugged ducts, over supply,  yeast, non
latching infant, a child with special needs, etc. That  doesn't mean I can't
help mothers with these issues. If we want HCP's to have  the knowledge and
expertise to help breastfeeding mothers  then we have to  believe that they
can be effective promoters, supporters and teachers of  breastfeeding whether
or not they've breastfed themselves. I think  we sometimes  invest
breastfeeding with  magical properties  that are impossible to learn unless you've
experienced it first hand. Many  nurses I've worked with think of
breastfeeding just this way and although they  can titrate cardiac drugs and run a
ventilator they believe something about  helping a mother breastfeed is beyond
their capacity to master. And a  couple of the best breastfeeding helpers
I've worked with never  breastfed.  One nurse I'm currently working with did
not breastfeed her  babies but does a wonderful job supporting breastfeeding
mothers . She will be  sitting the exam this summer. And what a wonderful
gift this is for her to  be able to put aside any guilt or disappointment she
might have  for not  breastfeeding and learn everything she can  so she can
help other  mothers.  Much of what I know about breastfeeding  I've learned
from studying, attending conferences and most importantly from the mothers
I work with.

  And isn't Dr. Jack Newman a board certified lactation  consultant?

Kathy Boggs, RN, BSN, IBCLC

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