I am a RN and a relatively new IBCLC. However, I have spent several years involved with La Leche League and I am a mother of 10 children, all of whom I have breastfed until 3- 3.5 years, tandem nursing for many of those years. The past 22 years that I have been a mother and involved with La Leche League and other mother's groups and helping family and friends with breastfeeding has been very formative for me and I have a very solid sense of the fact that, although there are general basics to start from, breastfeeding is a very organic process that does not necessarily look the same for each dyad, and there are many variations on the "right" way to do things.
When my husband became disabled, I became a nurse because that is what I had to do in my state in order to become a lactation consultant and secure a job for my family as such.
Although there were many graces along the way for me and my family, I am sad that this is a requirement in so many states. I see it as an unnecessary obstacle and one that, without a richness of real life experience, leads to a mindset that can cause unnecessary intereference and even damage in otherwise effective breastfeeding relationships
I do not believe one has to be a nurse to be a good LC, even in a hospital. In fact, I think the hospital and patients in the hospital would benefit greatly from perspectives of regular LCs in the community, and specifically LCs who have not gone through conventional medicalized training.
I am happy that there is a lot more research now detailing the miracles of breastmilk and breastfeeding.
But I am sad how many of them are being interpreted to create rigid protocols and flowcharts that dont take into account the richness and wisdom of the individual mothers and babies, and the many cultures - of all different backgrounds, including European. Many times I see these lead to unnecessary interventions, and/or unnecessary anxiety for families who believe they must do things a certain way.
I also see it lead to moms and babies that fall through the cracks and are not given the attention they really need because they technically hit all the checkboxes in the assessments, but were not actually in a good place and needed more help.
I am sad to see how much the profession of lactation has become about the profession of lactation and not about the art of supporting moms and babies on their pathway to successful breastfeeding.
I dont know the answers to change. I am now a RN and IBCLC, so part of the system in place.
But I try to bring the sensibilities that I have learned through my experience over the years to really support, empower, and encourage the families I am working with, whether I am working in a hospital or community setting.
And I encourage them all to go to La Leche League meetings whenever they are able. Because whatever "problems" we LCs might help fix, it's really the community support that really provides a sustained uplifting and supportive environment that keeps moms going.
One of the sad ways I have seen the effects of medicalization in lactation is the hospital breastfeeding groups. At first I thought that was a great idea. I do still think having groups where moms have access to an LC for free and can get help at regularly scheduled times is great and necessary. But sadly, at all the groups I attended, I found that none of them spoke about or encouraged La Leche League or other breastfeeding moms groups. At the hospital groups, women would sit in a circle and wait their turn with the LC. They may or may not strike up a conversation with the mom next to them. They eventually will get their time with the LC, and after a few times coming to the group, will get their problem fixed (or not). Then they will leave and not come back. Many will spend most of their time in a world where they will never anyone else breastfeeding around them.
This is in stark contrast to the LLL (and other similar moms groups) where you see a lively discussion, camaraderie, friendships striking up, and women attending consistently through the years and often through multiple babies... and who then provide support and education to other mothers they may come across.
I really wish we could have both things - a breastfeeding "clinic," so to speak, AND real moms support groups like LLL.
I am doing my best to get those things going where I live now.
This is my rambling 2 cents. :)
I appreciate all of you ladies and your wisdom. :)
God bless you,
Maire
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