Melissa: I really don't think I've been slinging anything. If you would go
back to my posts and re-read, I did not ever say that ALL CLEs fit the
problematic category that I described. I never said that CLEs were
incapable of answering questions or helping mothers. I did post about
overstepping ones' knowledge level and not knowing when to refer (and if you
don't know about some of the other options, sometimes it is hard to know
when you are in over your head).
Please, calm down...The IBCLC is NOT an END point as you stated, but a
beginning for many, really! It is the MINIMUM standard to which we are
held; however I strive to soar much higher. If you could take a moment to
look at the extensive training that goes into many professionals (I'm
talking about 8, 10, 14 years or more), I think you would see this from a
different perspective (yes, I went to the University of Calif for 11 years
full time while working in the health care field full time, but I do know
that's not the ONLY path to a career). I do think membership in ILCA is a
very important step for LCs at all levels. My rationale behind this is that
ICLA provides many opportunities for on-going education and for all LCs to
be exposed to world-wide "standards of care" based upon clinical evidence
and outcomes studies. I would respect a CLE who stays current and is an
ILCA member any day over someone who sat for the IBCLC exam 4 years ago and
hasn't done a thing since except practice in isolation and who doesn't even
know that their are practice guidelines for the first 14 days of life
because they have never joined ILCA.
Also, I'm not into adding barriers where none are required, nor am I
interested in marring anyone's image. The problem is when we have
crisis-oriented cases where parents may not be in a state of mind or have
the time to self-educate about the differences between all these credentials
it is VERY confusing for them when ANYONE can call themselves a lactation
specialist. Then again, there are also parents who have not taken the time
or thought that it was even an issue and just start flipping through the
yellow pages. I think you would feel very differently if another
direct-entry midwife was giving your main profession a bad reputation, and
then repeat that across the whole country.
This issue is NOT unique to LCs, as many astute LNers have noted. In fact,
it has happened many times over in the health care field. For those who are
interested in reading some historical context, I would highly recommend two
books: Paul Starr's THE SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION OF AMERICAN MEDICINE (a
Pulitzer prize winner), and ER Brown's THE ROCKAFELLER MEDICINE MEN.
Respectfully--REALLY!
--
--Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC [log in to unmask]
INFANT CUISINE AND MOTHER CARE: Lactation Consulting, Perinatal Health
Education and Attachment Parenting Classes for parents and practitioners
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