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Subject:
From:
"Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 4 Aug 1996 10:32:33 -0400
Content-Type:
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To Jane Bradshaw and others...

Jane is absolutely right that no ONE pathway makes the "best" LC because no
ONE mother-baby couple is like any other!  The "bottom line" is that
lactation support, breastfeeding care, or whatever you want to call it is
very complex and inherently multidisciplinary and woman-centered.

LC work emerged as a merger of  two philosophies/pathways: mothers talking to
mothers, and professionals trying to understand and promote BF. (I traced the
history of this concept back to the 1920's). It's the external, professional,
scientific, objective, analytic, left-brain approach combined with the
internal, humanistic, subjective, intuitive, right-brain understanding that
works best.  With different situations, different skills are needed.  Leaving
out either half is dangerous and counterproductive, and doesn't work.

In a survey of breastfeeding course directors in 1992, ILCA asked "what's the
difference between a competent LC and one who isn't?" The overwhelming answer
was "experience helping mothers directly."  ILCA recommended to IBLCE that
the 2500 hours minimum requirement be strongly adhered-to on the basis of the
survey results. In my own experience, I would completely agree. The tricky
part is establishing the "cut off" line between "enough experience" and "not
enough." However, this is true for all jobs and professions - novices are
always novices until they learn more. The lowest-scoring person in the
graduating class of a medical school is still called "doctor." (No slight
intended - any profession could be substituted!)

My advice is get out of a "dualistic" mode of thinking and into a "matrix"
format. Many kinds of people can effectively help moms, and moms may need a
wide variety of supporters/protectors to be enabled to breastfeed long and
well. This is the trend in health professionl regulation, although you'd
never know it in some places!  Your best "teammate" in helping moms is
probably someone from a different background, who can see or understand the
piece you've missed.

Linda Smith, also believing there's also no ONE right spice for the stew.
private practice, Dayton, OH

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