Gretchen says "If the LC field became so restrictive as to allow
> only those who entered via the professional medical field, I think we would
> lose some potentially wonderful practitioners who could add so much from
> their various perspectives."
And Laurie: ''I agree. I don't think the LC needs to enter
> via the RN or OT or RD pathway, but I do think the Lc needs to have its own
> university program.

I'd like to remember that the profession was created from within La Leche League
and first entry was the experienced LLL Leader.

Laurie continues: I don't think you need a college degree to be a bf
> supporter, advocate, peer counselor, but I do think you need one to be a
> CONSULTANT. Now I have said a few years back that I never did like that
> term. It sounds like I'm an accountant or something. I suggested the term
> lacation therapist [LT] and I still like that better, or what about
> lactation practitioner?

The word we choose for LC is ''lactatiekundige'', which is purposely similar to
''verloskundige'', which is midwife. We also know a profession
''voedingskundige'' which is a nutrition specialist and ''verpleegkundige'',
which is a RN. The schooling for midwife takes 4 years in midwifery school,
which is a sub-university level, which is similar to the schooling for RN's and
nutrition specialists. Schooling for preparation of the IBCLC exam is at
post-sub-university-level. (I can't find a better way to explain that).
So we did take the consultant-part out of the name, for in Dutch that is more
related to montairy professions.
I wouldn't vote for Lactation Therapist, for we do not use lactation as therapy
to cure anything.
As for the option to make lactation consulting a univerity-level profession, I
don't think that will be a positive movement in teh quality of the profesion.
I'm afraid it would decrease the counselling part in favor of a more medicated
part. That would likely make breastfeeding go the same way as childbirth has
done in the major part of industrialised countries.

Gonneke van Veldhuizen, IBCLC, Maaseik, Belgium
http://www.users.skynet.be/eurolac
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