I'm not real nuts about the term "Lactation Consultant" - at WIC, my name
tag listed me as "breastfeeding specialist", and I wasn't all that fond of
that term either. My guess is that "Lactation Consultant" came about as part
of an effort to help establish ourselves as professionals in the "medical"
(and, not coincidentally, male-dominated) world.

"Lactation" sounds so much more scientific, impersonal, and dignified (i.e.
more manly, less feminine, so therefore obviously more desirable - must be
better if it's as far removed as possible from that gushy, messy, woman
stuff, right?) - and lord knows, we can't have a word containing the dread
"breast" being bandied about. Also, "lactation" is a broader concept than
"breastfeeding" - it includes connotations of knowledge about the anatomy
and physiology and biochemistry of milk production, not just helpful advice
about how-to.

"Consultant" - also sounds kind of detached, to my ear, so, by the same
token, "better" to an emerging profession seeking to gain credibility and
recognition. LCs are in fact "health care professionals", and in the medical
field the appearance of scientific objectivity is highly valued.

What would I rather be called? I don't know, because we are in a position of
wanting to bridge 2 worlds: that of professional, medical scientific
credibility, and that of regular "moms", who need hands-on help in an area
that is considered to be simple and natural. As in "what's the big deal -
you got the baby, you got the boob, you put 'em together, and if it doesn't
work, give the kid a bottle". (How many times have we all heard this? Talk
about your tongue-biting moment...!) I don't want the title to sound
intimidating to women who might need what I offer, nor do I want my title to
sound "cutesy" or trivial to other HCPs. "Breastfeeding specialist" works
better informally, or with women to whom "lactation consultant" sounds kind
of scary...yet in a world where credibility and professional standing are
still not taken totally seriously, I don't want to sound like just another
nice mom who might be able to give a new mom some "tips" about BFing. I
guess I don't care all that much what you call me, just CALL ME when you
need my help.

Cathy Bargar, who hasn't even objected to being known as "the boob lady at
WIC" or "that breast nurse", but wasn't as amused as might be to find that
co-workers had put a sign on my office door saying "Boobs R Us". (And I hate
that b**b word! I use it only when quoting others.)