Debbie,

I liked your letter, a lot :-) !  I'm curious about what you meant when you
said

<<It is
important to get help early on from an International Board Certified Lactation
Consultant (IBCLC), either through their local hospital or privately>> and

 <<The mothers that I work with receive tons of misinformation from all sorts
of
sources.  Many just make phone calls without getting personal assistance. This
is often how a serious FTT (failure to Thrive) case can arise.>>

If you weren't a LLLL I'd think you were suggesting that phone assistance is
insufficient and that all moms need the help of an IBCLC.   I really don't
mean to be critical even if that *is* what you were saying - you wrote an
important letter and I'm so glad that you did.  But I have been wondering
lately whether leaders have a role to fill in the future (15 to 20 years in my
guesstimation)  when breastfeeding is the norm and LCs are accessible to all
women.  I think LLL has a lot to offer, but I wonder if as a whole society is
becoming even less interested in women's volunteer work than it was 40 years
ago.  I'm confident of victory on the bf front, but think the quest to
validate mothering is a 'nother story.

This started as a private post, but I guess I'll be brave and post to the list
because surely one of you will have thought this through before.  Please
understand that I am not critical of Debbie, IBCLCs, or LLL - just wondering
how we'll all fit together when (YES, when ;-)) the bf battle is over and ABM
is as common as baby aspirin (medicinal for adults but rarely given to
children).

Elaine Ziska, LLLL
Jackson, MS
the buckle of the bible belt, deep south, and land of cotton where we have
beautiful, warm (not blazing anymore) sunny days with cool nights.