In addition to the previous comments about less-than-experienced/skilled
LCs, I think we need to ask other questions, too.

a) Are all hospital LCs really LCs or simply the designated breastfeeding
person on the floor?
b) Are the hospital LCs in question certified via IBLCE?

I realize that IBLCE certification is no guarantee that the people know
more than other people or act on that knowledge appropriately/effectively,
but that IS the minimal competency element that needs to be asked each time
we or our clients are introduced to a hospital-based LC.  I am not
questioning the adequacy of knowledge/experience of all hospital-based
LCs--there are so many on this list who are clearly on top of their
game--but the practice (we have seen this with childbirth education in
years past) of simply designating a person to "do breastfeeding" is
something I am acutely sensitive to whenever I meet someone paid by the
hospital to see breastfeeding mothers.

As for assuring that people have clinical experience in a supervisory
sitaution, this is exactly why Barbara Wilson-Clay and I are offering
mentoring opportunities (see her web page or mine for details).  We and
others have recognized for years the tremendous gap in this area for most
persons seeking LC certification.  What we offer is one attempt to try to
reduce the size of that gap...

I believe it is incumbent on ALL LCs to frequently ask about our colleagues
experience, where it was obtained, how much it is, and whether they are
certified.  Not with our noses in the air, but rather to offer to assist
should our level of experience exceed theirs.  How else will those with
less than we would want them to have to learn?

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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
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Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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