Pam,
It is my understanding that the profession of lactation consultant started
with those with no formal qualifications ie the lay breastfeeding
counsellors as a major force. I'm not a lactation consultant and never will
be but I'm sticking my nose in because I can see that the building up
lactation consultancy qualifications as a valuable qualification has had
some unintended results. That is, some people who do not really believe in
breastfeeding are acquiring the initials as a career enhancing move. Such
lactation consultants often do not help mothers to breastfeed, they are
missing the commitment to breastfeeding. In contrast, the lay breastfeeding
supporters who may have no formal qualifications in any field are by
definition commited to breastfeeding and historically, their knowledge of
breastfeeding has been recognised as being of a high standard. Presented
with 2 IBCLCs and knowing nothing about either of them other than one came
to the profession via a lay breastfeeding support org and having to choose
between them I would choose the one with the lay support background because
I could be certain that that LC would be committed to breastfeeding, the
other LC I could not. It's sad. I wish it were otherwise but it's not. It is
a side effect of the professionalism and I don't know how it can be solved
but surely it cannot be made better by making it more difficult for those
who do have commitment and knowledge to help breastfeeding mothers from
acquiring qualification as lactation consultants.
Karleen Gribble
Australia


> Please, no flames, as this is my humble opinion.  I've often wondered why,
> from the beginning, our "profession" did not require a course of formal
> training, as is required in other professions.
Have never sat the IBLCE exam, but planning to do so
> this year, as I'm quite frankly, getting tired of being critcized for not
> having entry-level initials behind my name. Other professions do not
accept
> only "on-the-job" experience, so why should we? Formal "schooling" as part
> of our licensing requirement would go a long way towards
> the "professionalism" we so greatly desire.
>

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