Dear Linda,
I am one of the people you described in your 'mild rant'
I posted my request to Lactnet because I have felt comfortable enough
here to admit that I am still a 'learner' in this wonderful field of
lactation - as are we all on Lactnet.

I have had over 6 years of counselling experience, and breastfed four
children for a total of 8 years. I definitely understand NORMAL
"deeply, thoroughly and sensitively" and am stunned that you think
that those preparing for the exam would not do everything they could
to know 'abnormal' from 'normal'.

Despite studying lactation, and going to years of NMAA (like LLL)
meetings, as a member and a Counsellor and Group Leader, I AM STILL
FEELING A LITTLE UNSURE ABOUT THIS PART OF THE EXAM.
In no way do I consider it a short cut to try and study my subject as
thoroughly as possible. That is why I requested to be pointed toward
visual references that would reassure me that I could analyse problems
and potential problems in a photograph. Maybe I am overly concerned,
but I like to be thorough in my preparation.

In my situation at present, (on an island of 2,500 square kilometres,
2.500 people, half of them traditional Aboriginal people, no hospital,
small medical centre, No LC, lots of breastfeeding mums who know I am
a Counsellor) I have no access to other LCs to accompany them on home
visits. I wish I could!

Please remember, those of you who have been in the profession for a
long time, that those of us who are studying and sitting the exam look
to you as role models.
I want to be the best LC that I can be. That includes trying to expand
my experience any way I know how.


Taking a deep breath and sending this,
Querida David IBLCE exam candidate
Australia.






-----Original Message-----
From: Linda J. Smith <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, 16 June 1998 23:17
Subject: clinical photos (mild rant)


>Recently I've received several private e-mails from people wanting a
source
>for clinical photos or slides from which to study for the IBLCE exam.
And
>I've seen similar requests here on Lactnet.
>
>This is NOT the way to go about preparing!! Future IBCLCs are
supposed to
>learn about different breasts by working with breastfeeding women,
not from
>looking at someone else's photos or slides. The exam's requirement of
2500
>hours of contact with breastfeeding dyads is supposed to provide
candidates
>with this experience. The breastfeeding dyad is more than the sum of
its
>parts, and the idea is to learn from the MOTHERS and BABIES
themselves.
>Within the 2500 hours, you're going to see lots of normal and some
abnormal.
>Knowing normal from abnormal is absolutely critical!
>
>Instead of looking for photos or slides, go see normal breastfeeding
mothers
>and babies. Attend breastfeeding support groups like La Leche League
or
>NMAA. Volunteer at a public health and/or WIC clinic. Accompany
another LC
>as she makes rounds or does home visits. Listen to the mothers. Watch
the
>babies. Then listen to the mothers some more. Expect to take TIME to
do
>this. There is no appropriate shortcut, IMHO.
>
>Breastfeeding got messed up when people started telling BF mothers
what
>"should" be instead of listening to them and supporting them. The
collective
>"we" of the health care community failed to recognize and study
NORMAL
>breastfeeding for long (normal) lengths of time measured in years,
not
>months. Lots of BF still gets messed up by people who don't
understand
>normal BF - we see the posts here on Lactnet all the time. Of course
LCs
>need to know abnormal - but they also absolutely MUST understand
"normal" -
>deeply, thoroughly and sensitively!
>
>Climbing down now, a little breathless.....
>
>Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
>Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre
>Dayton, OH USA
>http://www.bflrc.com
>