Although I am not currently in active pursuit of the IBCLC credential, I 
expect that at some point in the future I will work to attain it, and I 
have been following this discussion with interest.  My MD degree will, as 
far as I remember from my past review of the pathways, substantially 
lessen the number of hours I will need in order to sit for the exam 
(interesting, as I remeber about 1.5 hours of lecture and even less 
clinical time during medical school that even mentioned lactation... but I 
digress.  What has prepared me thus far for any work in the field of 
lactation has been independent study - and my five years of volunteer work 
as a LLL Leader.  So this statement by Barbara was surprising to me: 
"mother  support leaders earning 'free' (in some people's eyes) hours 
annually."  I had no idea that some people felt that way.  I can't tell 
you how many times my husband, family and friends have said to me, "Why do 
you give so much of your time away for free to LLL?  Don't you want to be 
paid for all of the help you provide?"  The hours I spend leading mother-
to-mother support meetings, working with moms over the phone and on home 
visits, and speaking in the community are all given freely, with no 
strings attached - I am not doing them as part of a paying job, nor as an 
avenue to attain some other goal (ie eligibility to sit for the IBCLC 
exam).  This is time that I take away from my family, away from potential 
paid employment, because I believe so strongly in the power of mother to 
mother support and all that we as trained, accredited, VOLUNTEER LLL 
Leaders offer to mothers.  No, I am not paying much monetarily to be a 
Leader, and yes, I am accruing hours that may someday count toward my 
eligibility to sit the exam - but these hours do not come freely.

I do not mean any offense to people who accrue their hours through paid 
employment, or those who participate in a program for which they pay to 
fulfill criteria - this just struck a nerve with me, and I suspect their 
are other volunteer BF helpers out there who may feel the same way.  
Thanks for letting me explain my point of view.

Karen Pogge, MD, LLLL, perhaps feeling a little extra sensitive at 34 
weeks gestation!

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