I just wanted to say that most patients will see anyone who works
around babies and/or moms as qualified to give advice on breastfeeding.  A
friend of mine just delivered her second in Florida the other day - during
her stay she asked everyone who came into her room for help with BF and got
a different answer each time.  Finally, when she was sent home, they kindly
gave her extra sugar water to prevent jaundice and fill her tummy up between
feeds!  (I told her, next time you are hungry, go grab yourself a big glass
of water and see if that helps).
        The really scary thing is that people will do whatever you tell them
to do if they think you are qualified.  One solution is to require all
nurses and doctors who choose to make a career out of maternal/child become
IBCLC.  A bit unrealistic, I know but my fantasy anyway.  Hospital LC's
could exist side-by-side with private practice LC's - one picking up where
the other left off.
        Okay, time to wake up from my dream world!
                        Debbie
Destiny is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice.
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Debbie Codding, RN   Mother-Infant Unit, Oak Harbor (Whidbey Island), WA
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