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From:
Janet Simpson <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 26 May 1998 08:33:20 -0700
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Hi All,
I am sure that whoever wrote this particular line  "Are LC's priests, and
LLL the recipient of church teaching?" didn't mean it to come out quite the
way it sounds.  I feel that it sounds rather not nice, and as Kathy said,
confrontive.  But I think it was a question rather than a comment, if you
catch my drift.

IMHO, LC's are people who have taken the IBCLE exam and passed, or who have
taken a course (long term and LOTS of work) through someplace like BSC and
have graduated with a degree or certificate of LC.  They are the ones who
have usually worked very hard to earn the recognition to be an LC.  However,
I have known LC's (board certified) who didn't know half of what some LLLL
friends of mine know, and were nowhere near as competent in helping a mom
and baby succeed at BF.  I think, also, that "Lay BF counselor" simply means
that your education is not a formal one, but one of self education and
learning from those around you (rather than going to shcool, taking CLE
courses etc.).  It doesn't mean that the Lay BF counselor knows less than an
LC, or someone with a formal type of BF education, it is just different.
Being a "Lay" BF counselor is a great thing to be because it shows the
average woman/mom that knowing how to BF and knowing how to help someone BF
is not something that you have to learn in a formal education forum, anyone
can do it.  This puts BF back in the "hands", so to speak, of women
everywhere, like it ought to be.  I know a gal, my very best friend, who is
LLLL, has no formal traning like I do, is not a CLE and has no CERPs or CEUs
or anything like that.  She has been a LLLL for about 6 years, and yet with
all my training and education, and her, supposed, lack of formal training
and "only" being a lay counselor, knows just as much as I do, and in fact
knows more about some areas of BF than I do.  I know more about other areas
than she does, but what I know is no more important that what she knows.  We
seem to complement each others educations very nicely.  I think that anyone
who can say that they are a Lay BF Counselor ought to be very proud.  It
takes a lot of work to learn, on your own, what you can learn in a formal
training course, and those of you who are Lay BF Counselors, pat yourself on
the backs, you are a benefit to our society and our moms and babies.  People
who have gone on to become Board Certified, or who have taken formal
training or education to become LC's are wlao very improtant, and I think we
all know why.  There are some situations that require the expertise of
someone who has the extra education and experience that an IBCLC, or RN
IBCLC can offer.  (Goodness knows I was one of them almost 4 yrs ago.)
We, in the field of BF, those of us who help moms BF in one way or another,
are all valuable.  There are no Priests and recipients, we educate each
other when we are open enough to listen.  We have Drs on this list who knew
very little about BF, who are on here asking questions, saying "Hey I did
this with a mom, was it right?"  and I think that is awsome!  We have LCs
asking for help and getting advice from LLLL and peer counselors.  This is
the way it is supposed to be.  We help each other, because no one knows it
all, regardless of how much formal or informal training you have.  And, I
must say that even the leaders in the field, no matter how much they know or
haow great they are, even they don't have all the answers. :)
Work with each other, help each other, love each other, but most of all
Respect each other...
With lots of love and gratitude to all I have learned from you, Lactnet,
Jay
Jay Simpson, CLE
Sacramento, CA
"No Miracles performed here, just a lot of love and hard work."
LACTNET Quilt Raffle  Check out the web page then e-mail me at
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