Per the CLC,CLE, IBCLC,etc topic...agreeing with Jan and Chris I think the only thing left out is How we present ourselves. We need to clarify the usage of the title "lactation Consultant". If the program you attended and certified in does not confer the title of "lactation Consultant" should you professionally use this as a reference or "let" someone refer to you as this? IMHO i feel the title "lactation consultant" to mean you have passed a program that designated you as a "lactation consultant" , if you attended a program that confered the designation of "lactation counseler or lactation educator,etc" that is how you professionally should insure you are refered as. With our suit prone society, IMHO to use a title or designation that is not correct could be construed as misrepresentation.... Certifications are what we all take "pride" in..you use the title of what you rightly earned and at the level of certification that you personally and (only you) chose to access, for whatever reason. It doesn't make anyone "less"..it's just a personal choice we all make..what certification or title we earn.I just feel that you should "call" yourself what you professionally and honestly earned when you represent youself to a public overwhelmed by "titles" to prevent misrepresentation. ( Please...no flames!) this doesn't and shouldn't make a difference when we share insights and support here on Lactnet...I know Nursing Aides who are more knowledgeable than BSN's and CLC's who are more based in reality that some IBCLC's... Rant: Beating my head against the desk because again today I dealt with a first time mom who delivered elsewhere, discharged in 24 hrs and baby admitted here on day of life 3 for a bili of 23 and dehydrated. The lactation team at the other place were able to (in 24 hours) tell the mom she had flat nipples, start Hobbitt shells, incorporate a shield when the baby didn't latch,sucessfully promote the purchase of a almost $300 pump, demonstrate syringe and cup feed ( for WHEN the very edematous mom was able to pump any colostrum out) and discharge the couplet...whew, in just 24 hours!Breastfeeding the natural way..right? GROWL!!! I could go on but the continued scenerio is just too unbelievable! The rant is- whatever your title,certification or experience, what is this trend for tools and pump purchase promotion( and /or profit?) without close follow up? IMHO if you place them on a tool without sucessful signs of milk transfer you should be legally responsible for the outcomes! OK- back to pounding my head on the desk and shutting up! Lisa Jones RN IBCLC ( CLC, CLE and another half dozen certs that I don't take time to write because I'm too lazy, not because they aren't important to me) *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html