Pardee,
Oh, how I have to agree with you.

>What can we do about this type of situation?  Providers that allow this are
>fooling the public and should be held accountable.  But to whom?  And
>professionally, I am angry that a provider assumes that going to a
>breastfeeding class qualifies one to do what I have worked years to learn.

Part of the problem is that we haven't even agreed within our own
profession as to what the standards should be. We have CLE, CLC, IBCLC, and
the quality of the person behind the letters can vary tremendously. I would
like to see IBCLC become the standard, but I know of at least one large
program that tell its CLE/CLC's that this isn't necessary. I have three
years of formal training, still not quite complete, plus my previous
years of experience, but the local hospitals are more secure with a CLE
who is an RN.

I have struggled over these issues. I was originally an accountant, but fell
in love with breastfeeding, became a LLL Leader, and found a talent and
desire for consulting. I wrestled with becoming an RN, then taking a CLC
course, but it seemed ludicrous to spend two years training for something
that was not directly related to what I wanted to do, and then still have
no further training in my chosen area. So I finally opted for an MA in
Lactation, and have gone back to school to do remedial work in the
sciences that I was deficient in.  I would *love* to see us all come
together and agree on the necessary education and training, both
medically and in lactation, similarly to OT's and PT's, who are their own
respected specialties. Then, when we can agree among ourselves as to what
constitutes the "right" background and training, we can uniformly push
that standard as THE standard, hopefully under the banner of IBCLC.

As for putting this under a state's thumb, maybe that will have to
happen. If it does, I think that our lack of unity will have contributed
to this need. How do the rest of you feel?
-Lisa


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Lisa A. Marasco, IBCLC                                /  [log in to unmask]
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant    /  [log in to unmask]

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