<<<Silence speaks a thousand words.  The silence about the illogical
attack on role of IBCLCs, which has already had a significantly
negative impact on private practice IBCLCs, baffles me.  In fact, in
defending themselves against this attack, it has been the private
practice IBCLCs who have been criticized widely for even daring to
suggest that they may have a specific and unique role to play among
the many and varied actors that are needed to return infant feeding to
some sort of approximation of normal.
Sincerely,    Susan E. Burger, MHS, PhD, IBCLC>>>>

I get frustrated with the confusion that the certifications, classes
and the titles that go along with them cause. Then the hospitals call
the positions something else.  The moms can't keep it straight. I'm
all for licensure and would be willing to pay the fee that goes along
with it. For me, the silence is, in part, because I don't know what
else to do about it. I discuss the differences to people who don't
understand when the opportunity arises. I belong to ILCA, am on the
email list for IBLCE and respond to all surveys. I told IBCLE that we
are being undermined and our certification is losing it's impact.

This topic came up a couple of months ago and it was suggested that we
stop complaining and that what was being said was part of the reason
IBCLCs won't ever be taken seriously. If we can't discuss it here,
then where? In a field where burnout is not uncommon, people need to
be able to vent and find support. When we work so hard to teach
mothers and families and are then undermined by professionals and
misinformation, what can we do? To work together we need to be able to
discuss it somewhere. Here.

As it is, helping moms with breastfeeding after they leave the
hospital seems like an uphill battle. How can I possibly correct all
the bad information and advice being passed on? Babies are
inconvenient. They don't work on schedules and don't care about the
checklist.

So, I help the moms that want help. I encourage them to contact me
anytime, evenings, weekends, holidays. Breastfeeding is a huge part of
my life and at times it is emotionally draining. The thought of
fighting against established practices can be exhausting.

Help one mom at a time. That is what I do and I feel really good about
it. I don't want to struggle everyday fighting against what is already
in place. Is that wrong? I don't think so. I need to protect my well
being so I can continue to help the moms.

Allison Laverty Montag IBCLC, RLC
Wisconsin, USA

-- 
"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we often might win,
by fearing to attempt."
William Shakespeare
Measure for Measure

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