Wow.  I guess I've been spending too much time helping moms and furthering
my own education.  I have been so busy actually working as an LC doing all
the things we are supposed to be, I missed the part about all these other
organizations with alphabet soup behind them and what they do (or don't do),
and that IBLCE seriously changed up the requirements to the point that I
doubt I'll be doing much mentoring anymore, and apparently counseling (which
is 90% of my job) isn't all that important but medical charting and standard
precautions is??   Am I that out of touch with what is going on??
Apparently I am.  

What the hell happened to our Field?  Is some part of our field in such a
tizzy to keep up with the Jones's (medical community/model of care) that
they have sacrificed us to the point that in 20 yrs or less we will be just
as medicalized as other professions have become?  The (western) medical
model has taken over it seems and NOT in a good way.  

It is absolutely critical - Vital even - that we maintain the IBCLC's touchy
feely, warm and caring, compassionate standard of care...at least somewhere!
Counseling and compassionate education comprise the vast majority of the one
on one with a mother.  According to my clients, the hospital setting is
generally not the greatest because LC's are allowed barely minutes of time
with the mother and far too many (according to moms in my area) are nurses
who have a job to do and that is what they do, as fast as they can - not
LC's there to teach and care for the mother and baby.   A medical based
mentality is not what moms need by any stretch of the imagination.  They
aren't sick - they are simply moms who need some assistance.

Now, before anyone hollers at me or takes offence at my comments above, let
me say that I know RN, IBCLC's who are wonderful.  I know of far more who
are not.  This comes to me from the moms directly.  And there are non-RN
IBCLC's that, based on the moms reports to me, are just as bad, no
compassion, and the education is POOR.  These types harm far more than they
help.  And when you have lived in an area for 30 yrs, and heard the same
thing about the same people/hospitals/practices from a couple thousand moms
in a 17 yr time period...well, you take it on their word.  

Compassion, counseling, educating and warmth seem to be being left behind
(for the most part) and in the wake is left rough care, 'let me do this for
you' education (which isn't education), moms being told things are great
even though mom is in extreme pain, 12 nurses and 12 different OPINIONS, and
lack of adequate help and education.  And if mom is LUCKY she will get a
listing of help available outside the hospital.

Look - if our field is going the route of Western Medical Model - I don't
want any part of it.  We need to stay a warm, touchy feely, caring,
compassionate field with (required) excellent counseling skills that assist
us with our education.  And I love the idea of role playing being a required
assessment...Very interesting thought that.  We need to be able to get what
we need information/education wise without breaking the bank, and we need to
not be required to know things (like medical charting...???) when we will
not be an environment that requires it. 

Just really saddened by what I am reading the last few days...really doesn't
give an IBCLC much hope you know?

Respectfully,
Jaye


Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM
Breastfeeding Network
Sacramento, CA
www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

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