Kathy and all-
I must respectfully point out to you that there are
many areas, and many pathways to becoming an IBCLC. 
Let us not forget the original pathway was through lay
counseling avenues.  That being said, I hope that
you-and others-can recognize the value in having
professionals from many disciplines working toward the
same goal.
I have a master's degree in special education.   I
have experience in teaching children with Down
Syndrome to read, and find that working with new moms
uses many of the same strategies and skills that I
used in the classroom. In addition, I have been a LLL
leader since 1984.  I have been board certified for 16
years.  I have been in private practice, corporate
practice, worked in a doctor's office and in a
hospital.  And-perhaps most importantly-I know my
limitations.  If I am in a medical setting and need to
consult with an MD, I do that.  Ditto with nurses,
although more often, they consult with me.  And yes, I
am currently working in a hospital setting, as a
non-RN IBCLC with another non-RN IBCLC.  We are part
of the nursing dept, paid exactly the same as per diem
nurses, because we take a lot of pressure off of the
nurses.  And because we cannot be pulled away from the
LC dept. to do floor work, lactation is always covered
in the hospital in which I work.  I think there is a
real benefit there.  In addition, we have weekly
mother's groups, and outpatient appointments.  And
guess what?  The children we see as outpatients are
almost always more than 5days old.  And we can handle
those problems because we have had years of experience
doing so as lay counselors.
I believe there is room for us all in this profession,
and I urge you to open your mind to that possibility. 
There is a lot more to being a good lactation
consultant than being a medical professional.  As a
matter of fact, some of the worst lactation
consultants I have known have been medical
professionals first.  And some of the best have  not
been. 
Ellen Kadden MA, IBCLC
Fairfield CT 
among other things, mother to three breastfed
children, the youngest of whom turned 20 today and was
a totally breastfed, 25-week, 720 gram premie

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