Dear Lora,
ILCA and IBLCE have the Professional Standards and the Code of Ethics
(available on their web sites) for IBCLCs. Part of the problem with the
lactation profession is that there are no "set in stone" guidelines for what
people may do or the education/skills they need. Anyone can call themselves
a "lactation consultant" or "breastfeeding educator" and do whatever they
want. In my opinion, this affects the public's perception of the IBCLC
profession in a negative way.
I am not saying that anyone with less credentials or skills than IBCLC isn't
valuable -- they are in other settings than what an IBCLC should be doing.
In my community, many women refuse to pay a professional IBCLC because the
worker in the hospital (often called an LC), the childbirth educator, the
pump dealer who already "helped" them wasn't able to solve or correct the
problem. The common perception in my community (both the public and
physicians) is that all of us doing breastfeeding work are the same skill
level -- and I don't see these other people clarifying to mothers what their
skill level or education really is.

Therefore, I strongly encourage you to mentor with an experienced IBCLC, one
who is well known in your community and highly thought of. Use this person
to guide you as you acrue your breastfeeding contact hours.

I would also strongly encourage you to follow the Standards of Practice and
Code of Ethics that IBCLCs do -- get yourself in this mind set from the
start. An example of things IBCLCs do that others may not is: getting
written permission to work with mom and to send a report to the HCP, getting
a medical history relating to breastfeeding, quote fees before making the
appointment, use universal precautions and safety measure, test weigh with a
Medela Baby Weigh scale before and after nursing, write up a care plan for
mom, keep written records of each consultation, give referrals for outside
care when needed, write a report to HCP, and do follow up to evaluate your
care plan and skills. Refer to more skilled providers when necessary.

Thanks for asking this important question!

Sincerely, Kathy Eng, BSW, IBCLC

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