IBCLCs aren't the only ones who have identity crises as anyone can call
her/himself an LC.  Dietitians have been in this boat for awhile, too,
although the scene is changing slowly.  Registered Dietitians are
credentialed nationally, but it's really just been in the past decade
that some states have granted them licensure.  The title protection
varies by state...in some states, non-RDs can call themselves
nutritionists, in other states, only RDs can do so.  Some states don't
have licensure, so you may find a non-RD calling him/herself a
dietitian.  It's confusing, to say the least; some RDs believe licensure
has truly helped them and protected the public, while others (myself,
unfortunately, included) have simply seen it mean another check to write
to the state.  The process doesn't appear to be as confusing or messy
for other allied healthcare professionals, like OTs or PTs, does it?

Also, I'm curious how often well babies are weighed by you physicians on
this list.  In a profession where the scale sometimes rules as almighty,
it puzzles me why we are so tied to its numbers.  I know problems occur,
esp. w/ newborns and the elderly and the scale can be a helpful tool,
but I am so tired of hearing mothers and fathers reciting their infant's
weight in the same breath as they tell me his/her name.  A neighbor
informed my husband that his daughter was "finally above the 75th
percentile", like that was a goal to be achieved.  We (in the US) are
obsessive about scale weights...hoping that our babies are hefty, but
not too heavy, then we see the elementary girls start on diets to keep
their scale weight down since they watch their mothers dieting
eternally.  Are developmental signposts given their proper places?  What
is the scale's proper place?  Are we so prone to worrying about lawsuits
that everything to cover our back end boils down to weight as the most
important objective measurement?  Why do so many breastfeeding support
groups have a baby weigh-in?  If it's because the mothers like it, why
do they like it?  Does it make them feel good that they have provided
the milk that caused the weight gain?  Why are the mothers discussing
how many weeks it took to get back into their size 6 jeans?  Why do
in-laws look aghast when you tell them you have no idea how much your
5-month old weighs?

Okay, enough discussion generated...

Rebecca DeYoung Daniels, MBA, RD, LD, CCE in Overland Park, KS  where
I'm not so sure I want to see the numbers on the forms heading to the
IRS tomorrow!

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