I seriously doubt IBLCE is trying to weed out anyone - unless of course they
want to weed out EVERYONE and simply kill the profession.  What is the point
of being an IBCLC if you risk your certification every time you give a
mother correct information that contradicts an MD's misinformation?  I have
talked to many RN's over the past few years who flat out refused to get the
IBCLC credential because they were RN's and didn't need it to help moms BF -
well, I felt, at the time, they were wrong and doing the IBCLC community a
disservice - I felt they would help us have a lot more clout if they went
after that credential.  Now, I guess they may have had a point.  With the
restrictions placed on us - wow.

 

I have no medical background; I have no intention of getting one.  I don't
want to be an RN or (as a friend suggested) an MD in allopathic/alternative
medicine.  I find it insulting to be told by anyone to 'go back to school'
if you want to be able to do what we RN's can do.  # 1 - I am a damn good LC
with excellent clinical skills and shouldn't NEED some other credential just
to give out correct info.  #2 - I am a single mom trying to make ends meet
raising 2 kids with absolutely NO help from anyone and doing it all on a
Private Practice income (which ain't much folks!).  Don't take that as a sob
story and me complaining because it isn't and I am not - I am very happy
with my life and I am realistic about it as well.  If I go back to school
JUST to be able to contradict an MD without risking my IBCLC I won't be able
to feed my kids, see my kids, raise my kids or see my clients (which is how
I feed my kids and have the time to raise my kids) because I'll be too busy
with school and residency.  Not worth it to me by any stretch of the
imagination.  And bottom line is - I Don't Need It.  I am a highly educated
and excellent LC.  I catch things that others miss - I have specialized
skills that others in my community don't.  Does that make me better than
them?  Absolutely not - just like being an RN/IBCLC or even an MD/IBCLC
doesn't make someone better than Me.  We all work together here in my
community to help the moms and babies.  We refer to each other on a regular
basis - I refer out to those who have skills in areas I don't - those who
don't have the skills I have refer to me.  Respect is what that it, folks.
No one in my community has the nerve to tell me I need to go back to school
just because I am ONLY an IBCLC.they have too much respect for me as a human
and LC to do so.

 

Here is my take on the picture if the SoP does not change:  I am to
recertify in 2010.  I won't.  Period.  I will, however, continue to practice
as I have been designating myself as a Professional Lactation Consultant -
that is what I am even now.  The manner in which I currently practice shows
that.  I don't need the letters after my name to do what I do - there is no
law saying I can't call myself an LC even if I am not.  So, a Professional
Lactation Consultant I will be.  

 

Have a great day everyone - I get to go be a representative for out local
ILCA association at the California Breastfeeding Coalition
meeting/conference today.  I think I'll be taking several copies of the new
SoP for those who have not heard the news.

 

Jaye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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