I said nothing of the sort. I said I do not consider myself an *expert* in
infant feeding, I am an expert in *breastfeeding.* In the course of just 6
years, I worked with over 24 cleft-affected infants. It's not a normal
condition, it was one that required use of pump and often supplemental
feeds. I've worked with a number of moms who have adopted from overseas and
relactated. Not "normal," it was one that required use of pump and often
supplemental feeds. In this area of poverty and ignorance, there is abnormal
aplenty.

Until the marketing of "wonder products" which claim to reduce colic,
increase intelligence, decrease allergies, increase sleep time, we are
chasing our tails. Learning every new additive, learning every new claim,
it's a never ending process. In 10 years, the Breastfeeding Answer Book went
from being a few hundred pages to what, 600? Used to be it was positioning
cured almost everything, now we have MRSA, PPD, legal issues, adoption
issues, societal issues, recreational drugs, prescription drugs to deal
with. That's a lot to learn and keep up with - any of us who have tried to
encourage mothers to become Leaders will tell you, it is overwhelming for
them.

I don't believe any one of us live under a rock and are not aware of the
different schemes to draw mothers away from breastfeeding, but to expect us
to be experts on all the different schemes seems unrealistic. And in order
to pass the exam, you have to at least be comfortable with infant and child
nutrition.

Sam Doak BS RN IBCLC



<< Sam Doak stated that she only deals with the normal, not the
abnormal--IMO, the "normal" breastfeeding dyad  never needs to see a
lacation professional--they aren't having any problems. We might see a new
family that just needs reassurance that everything is going as it should.
The cases that really challenge and reward us are the abnormal. As a
 healthcare professional, one always must be aware of not overstepping your
scope of practice. However, it will only add to an IBCLC's level of skill to
be educated in all areas of infant/child nutrition.

<<snip>>
Sincerely,
Linda A. Madsen, RN, BS
Aetna Better Health Inpatient Care Coordinator
Wylie, TX    >>

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome