On Fri, 10 May 1996 22:38:39 -0400, Diane Mulonas wrote:
>Are you saying that women NEED to have the help of an IBCLC cert, LC to
>breastfeed?  Although I see a need for Lc's, I also see women who are helped
>by others who are not IBCLC. ie LLL, sisters, mothers, Drs and nurses etc.
>hate to see BF over medicalized. Not all women need Lc's. some are just
>lucky, I guess.

Dear Diane,

If all women needed IBCLC's to BF, the human race would have died out
before the stone age!  Nevertheless, if 10% or even 20% needed them, the
loss would only have been significant to the victims.  Today, thanks to the
pervasiveness of ABM and unnecessary medical interventions, the care of an
IBCLC is more necessary than it was historically, but still is probably not
necessary for most women who have a good support structure, and nursing
role models to emulate.  I pray for the day that we're successful enough at
teaching the rest of the healthcare community, and the population at large, to
let nature work as well as it can, to render most of us unnecessary.  Until that
day comes, however, I'll continue my studies (and practice when I get there)!

Jonathan
****************************************
*       L. Jonathan Kramer, P.E.       *
* Graduate Breastfeeding Counselor and  *
*    Student Lactation Consultant      *
****************************************