>
>
> Pamela Mazzella Di Bosco
>Unfortunately, in my opinion, as long as formula is considered an equal
>alternative it does not matter what letters we have after our names.  It is not our
>level of knowledge  and credential that are not respected.  It is the work we
>do.  It is that breastfeeding is not respected.  Until breastfeeding is the
>normal way the majority of babies are expected to be nourished and artificial
>feeding methods of all kinds are seen as the last resort of treatment after all
>lactation management skills are exhausted, it won't matter how many
>credentials can be listed before or after IBCLC the work of helping a mother and baby
>to breastfeed will still be considered something that is "not all that
>important" by those who to this day, have no problem seeing formula as the solution to
>any breastfeeding problem.
>
> Michelle Meeks
>I agree that the IBCLC needs a tier or two! Maybe a Lactation
>Practioner/Lactation Nurse Practitioner (which would encompass both lay and
>nurse people much as the certified midwife/certified nurse midwife does)at
>the grad/postgrad level would be an appropriate course to have available.
>
>
I also agree with these ladies.  I'm a dietitian and we get about as
much respect as an ant hill.  The attitude that Pam mentions, "not all
that important"  stems from ignorance about what we do, RD or IBCLC.  I
can see IBCLC offered in the schools of public health, maternal and
child health program as a speciality.  I did alot of work and research
on breastfeeding at my college, and would be delighted to have had an
opportunity, along with many others in my classes, to have had the IBCLC
as my speciality instead of nutrition, which was redundant with the RD.
 It may have to start with a few schools of public health, but I KNOW
that the maternal and child health deans/directors would be highly
interested.  How to approach them?  Ahhhh, I bet there are quite a few
out there that have a really good idea on how.

Diana M. Miller, MPH, RD
NC, USA

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