I have posted in the past regarding finding a mentor and found myself quite
discouraged.  I am confused on how we LCs in training are to find the
experience when IBCLCs are not willing or able to train us.  If they are not able to
due to time and financial constraints aren't there deeper issues in the
profession that need to be addressed.  Are we, the LCs in training, to go back and
attempt to gain our experience through trial and error as you, experienced
IBCLCs, had to do in the past?  Have we not learned from your experience that
breastfeeding families suffer from this?  My experience has been to gobble up as
much education as I can and hope I can continue to learn from the small amount of
experiences I am able to find.  When I graduated from nursing school I felt I
knew all I needed to know to work with patients.  Little did I know I was on
my way to learning the other 80% of my knowledge that would lead me to
proficient care with my patients.  I know that is the same place I am right now.
Books can only teach so much.  I do understand the concern of IBCLCs who are
constrained for time and money.  On the other hand, I do think that there are
other ways we could work these things out!  How about having interns doing grunt
work like paper work, advertising, research, or pump care?  Wouldn't that leave
more time for the mentoring?  Maybe even make someone a little more money?
There is nothing like a newly graduated person to get some enthusiasm and
creativity into the atmosphere.  I am not giving up hope.  I will get every last
one of those hours and that is because I am fresh and new to the profession and
I genuinely feel I can change the World through breastfeeding.  Call me naive.

Rebbecca Rosen RN, BSN, CBC, PPD

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