For 8 years I have been a full time certified (NAPCS) postpartum doula having
worked with about 300 families. I've recently become IBCLE certified for more
credibility. In the 70's I was a newborn nursery LPN. (Let my license lapse
and got into another field to earn a better living to raise my kids as a
single mom.) While the other nurses pushed bottles so they could write down
an amount in the charts I enjoyed going to the rooms teaching moms to nurse
because of my own personal failures and successes in breastfeeding. I
wouldn't put any requirements on aspiring LC'S other than experience with
breastfeeding assistance, training and passing the test.  It doesn't appear
to me that those in the medical profession or with college degrees are
necessarily better equipped to be LC'S having heard so much silly or
downright harmful advice from labor and delivery nurses with bachelors
degrees. I wonder if they would even gain more common sense if they become
LC'S. Some women may have a "feel for breast feeding" without first getting a
bachelors degree. I was fortunately allowed to sit for the board exam based
on hours of experience and strength of references. I believe there will be
quite an increase in pp doulas in the next years because, for instance, a
doula can be at the mom's bedside in her home throughout 3 feedings, folding
her laundry while watching the feeding and explaining the basics of
breastfeeding and showing her the alternative to watching the clock, thus
giving her a "feel for breastfeeding." I once had a scale but found that I
didn't need it at all. My approach with her is based on watching her interact
with baby and listening to her talk, my LC training and observing evidence of
her personality type by her environment.  I wish more pp doulas would become
LC'S and I wish more LC'S would push doulas. We fill an important gap.  Sorry
for the length.
Vicky York, IBCLC, CPD
Portland, Oregon

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