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Subject:
From:
Leslie Ayre-Jaschke / Eric Jaschke <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 20 Jan 1997 13:56:32 -0700
Content-Type:
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Anna--
I was so sorry to read you make this statement: >... (I
>am not yet qualified, so my support was more "mother-to-mother"). I am
>sure she was afraid of being put off the idea, or being laughed at, or
>being told it was impossible. When she did eventually contact a LLLL,
>she was pleasantly surprised the woman was "so nice and didn't think I
>was daft at all".

As a La Leche League Leader, you are very qualified to give mother-to-mother
support, which is often the most important kind. Please don't underplay your
ability and influence as a Leader because you don't have an IBCLC. And who
do you think developed most of the information on relactation? Not anyone
certified because there was no such thing! It was a woman who wanted to
nurse her adoptive children (Jimmie Lynn Avery, developer of the Lact-Aid)
and LLL Leaders who didn't think mums who wanted to do this were "daft".
Kathy Auerbach and Elizabeth Hormann, both LLL Leaders, were highly
instrumental in getting this concept and the information "out there."

IMO, you don't have to be an IBCLC to help someone relactate or induce
lactation, if you have access to the information you need and the support
structure (LLL Leaders have this). You may need to refer her to someone who
sells nursing supplementers, or you may decide to refer for some other
reason (like not having enough time to work with her, etc.), but please,
don't think you're not qualified. My very first call as a new Leader was
from a mum who wanted to relactate. I certainly didn't know as much about
the topic then as I do now, but I think I was just as able then, 15 years
ago, to offer the information and support she needed to do it if she was
committed (she wasn't, but needed to try a little and then stop and do her
grieving over stopping bf prematurely).

We too often get all hung up with techniques and technical details. So much
of what I do as an LC is hand holding--not much different than what I did as
a Leader. If I were working in a high tech hospital or urban centre, I'd be
working more with high risk and difficult cases, but as a community-based LC
in a small town, I don't see a lot of exotic situations. (Which is why my
skill level with sucking difficulties, etc. will never be at the level I
hear described here on Lactnet, but that's another discussion topic...)

It bothers me a lot  when Leaders are apologetic about not being IBCLCs. You
don't need to be an IBCLC to be an excellent LLL Leader! Who developed the
LC field, anyway? Mostly active or former LLL Leaders who pushed the
knowledge they had gained about the normal course of breastfeeding, and who
recognized that there was a need for a profession to complement, not
supplant, what keen, dedicated peer volunteers were already offering. IBCLCs
with their expanded knowledge and hands-on experience are very important and
today's Leaders are lucky to have them to refer to when necessary, but the
mother-to-mother support is just as important, IMO, and can accomplish
wonderful things.

Off this particular soapbox for now ...
Leslie Ayre-Jaschke, BEd, IBCLC
Peace River, Alberta, Canada

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