This is in answer to Lisa Amir who asks about the ASPO/LAMAZE organization
and its "Breastfeeding Support Specialist Certificate". It appears Lisa's
statements were in response to another messege and unfortunately I must not
have caught the original statements.

ASPO stands for American Society for Psychoprophylaxis in Obstetrics. It is a
non-profit organization founded in 1960 whose purpose is to develop and
promote standards for prenantal education, Lamaze childbirth education, early
parenting education and family-centered maternity care.

I recently participated one of its 2-day workshops and got certified as a
Breasfeeding Support Specialist. I can tell you that not only did no one fall
asleep, but the material was so recent, interesting and far reaching that no
one really wanted to leave! All the material was supported by research and
clinical studies. Our instructors were/are highly qualified  (one:
RN,IBCLC,FACCE and the other BSN,Ph.D., FACCE) with years of experience each.
New ideas were exchanged and techniques were explained and practiced. The
participants came from a wide variety of backgrounds:RNs, L&D nurses, Doulas,
a physical therapist , to name just a few!

What is your concern regarding the workshop and the certification? We who
were certified are very clear that our role as BF Support is just that... to
support. To aid early on to prevent "problems" or complications (which we
would refer to either LCs or physicians) and to promote BFing.

I, too, wear my BF Support Specialist everywhere (or nearly so) and it is one
more tool to help promote BFing, which, I believe, is the goal of us all!

Laura Vinogradov
Postpartum Doula, Scottsdale, Arizona