Dear Lactnet Friends:

Any dedicated, interested, and knowledgeable person may provide counseling,
practical advice and encouragement about breastfeeding, no matter their
credential or gender identity.

A peer is someone like the person being counseled. WIC peer counselors have
themselves been WIC recipients in the past. Research consistently supports
the outstanding value of the peer counselor.

Back in the 90s, one WIC program used middle-class white women as
breastfeeding counselors. These were women who needed counseling hours to
qualify for the IBLCE-exam. While these were dedicated and helpful
counselors, they were not peer counselors in any way, shape or form.

If you are lucky enough to have some teens who are enjoying breastfeeding,
plant the seed in their brains about learning to be counselors. Teens will
listen to other teens more than anybody else.  This is true of any other
group; I have begged clients from Asian countries to consider becoming
breastfeeding helpers.  In my region, AfricanAmerican and Latina women have
stepped up; women from Asian countries have not. . .yet.

warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC
Author:* Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breastfeeding Therapy*
www.nikkileehealth.com
https://www.facebook.com/nikkileehealth

*Get my FREE webinar series*

             ***********************************************

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