I, too, have a pet peeve with the idea that IBCLCs need to be RNs--even in
the hospital setting.  Now, perhaps in a small rural hospital with 3
maternity/L&D nurses it would be true that an RN/IBCLC would be essential.
However, that is not the case in the overwhelming majority of situations.
I believe that Kaplan's rule applies here: "Give a boy a hammer, and
everything looks like a nail."  Give a nurse-IBCLC a patient, and many bf
situations WILL look medical in nature; whereas someone else might see the
situation as being rooted in cultural bias.  We could rationalize any
number of prequisites for IBCLC positions on the grounds that their
training or experience enhances their IBCLC abilities.  If having a medical
background makes it easier to relate to docs then why not say all IBCLCs
should be MDs?  Obviously, this would be ridiculous (although it is great
to have some IBCLCs who are MDs).  Nutritionists have a distinct advantage
in one area.  Social workers in another.  Public health practitioners and
health educators in even more.  So...the question is really how is the job
being defined?  LLL Leaders provide mother-to-mother support, information
backed up by references and come to "their volunteer jobs" with years of
personal experience.  When they choose to become IBCLCs they bring those
years of one-to-one and group helping with them.  Most LLL Leaders discount
just how much they really know (and will virtually always draw on "upline"
support in complicated or medical situations).  On the other hand, I have
seen many medical practitioners (non-IBCLCs) arrogantly exaggerate just how
much they know about breastfeeding.  IMHO, the real issue here is
respecting the fact that lactation is a multidisciplinary field, which
requires a broad perspective and benefits from all the experiences of its
professionals.  Furthermore, we all must be open to learning new "tricks"
as the professional literature and experiential base expands.

: )Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC  email: [log in to unmask]   : )
: )HSR & Health Educational Consultant        voice/fax: 541 753 7340    : )
: )LLLLLLLLLLLLL**CHANGE THE WORLD, NURTURE A CHILD!**LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL : )