I would like to briefly comment on Barbara Clay's note re: charging our fellow LCs for our time. I felt it was appropriate to make the point that CHele charges for her services. I was not judging her for this decision. I applaud anyone who can make money ...make a living wage, that is, at LC work. I think that these women are FEW and far between. I think that sometimes the reason for this is that we, as women mostly, who come at LC work from maybe strong volunteer backgrounds,...believe in our hearts that it should be free...LC work isn't really work...and it really is not valuable or something that people should pay for. This warped idea is readily reinforced by nearly every insurance company in America. I have a good friend who is a FABULOUS LC. She lives below the poverty line..is a single parent, and has a hard time emotionally, charging for her services. She could make more money CLEANING HOUSES...and the woman is TALENTED. I guess I have mixed feelings. We ALL give a LOT of ourselves to many people. As women, this is our nature. We are mothers, giving to children, we are wives...we do volunteer work...giving giving giving. We also need to receive, and this is fine. However, there are ways to indicate that there are fees for service, and it is a personal decision who we charge for our services. I believe that it is ok to charge for consults to whomever we wish. I think that anyone who thinks of calling another consultant should be aware that a charge will be incurred. This is just information...no judgement ...etc. In the professional world, I do not know if it is common for one professional, say a Family practicioner to get charged if he/she calls a Gastroenterologist for some information. I suspect that no charge occurs. Can someone enlighten me on this? However, in a strange world where LC work in undervalued, and underappreciated, I say, make your own decision, and stick with it. Just my .02. Kathleen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC, LLL Leader Co-Owner Lactnet, LLLOL, Corgi-L E-mail lists LACTNET WWW site: http://www.mcs.com/~auerbach/lactation.html -----------------------------------------------------------------