Hi everyone,

My name is Amy Ma. My background was in health services admin. and just got
my CLE from UCLA this July.  Planning to pursue my Ph.D in Naturopathy and
the LC program from the Breastfeeding Support Consultants in Spring 98. I
breastfed my first son till 18 mons. and I'm still bf my 5 mon. old.

I have a question regarding the LC from BSC.  Is the program good for
preparing for the IBCLE or anyone has a better suggestion on preparing for
the exam?  Regarding the internship required for the qualifications, where
will be good places for me to start?  I really would appreciate any
suggestions at all.

Regarding breastfeeding in Taiwan, R.O.C., I have a sister-in-law who is an
Opthamologist gave birth to her daughter two years ago in Taiwan.  She
prepared for bf her daughter, so she contacted a breastfeeding support in
her area (probably LLLand read quite a few books in bf.  She was prepared
and after delivery, the hosp. staff kept the healthy full term baby in the
nursery for first 24 hours and was fed bottle.  After that, the mother told
them that she wanted to bf, ok, the nurse advised her to wash the breasts
with soap and water before nursing everytime.  Well, that's a typical wrong
one as we know.  Nobody helped her for latching on at all.  Of course, she
quit two weeks later because her daughter lost 11% of BW and also after
mother-in-law and mother's "good advice".  She was very disappointed.  Now
she is 4 mons. pregnant and this time she wants to  talk to the dept. head
of hosp. re. bf policy and I really want to go back to Taiwan when I become
certified as IBCLC to educate hosp. staff and hopefully develop some bf
protocols for them.  People know BF is good but they receive the wrong help
and advice.  None of my Chinese friend here in the U.S. or in Taiwan had
successfully bf. Chinese M.D.s here are not excited about bf, so they don't
give advice or offer help.

I really want to make a difference in my community, at least let mothers
know there is help out there beside the M.D.s they go to and offer some
education to the Chinese M.D.s. here and in Taiwan.

Sorry for the long post!!:-)

Amy Ma
Redondo Beach, CA
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]