From the NYtimes article, the following statement is what disturbs me:

"Similarly, since 2003, the number of lactation consultants certified by the 
International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, which requires 2,500 
hours of practice and 45 hours of course work, has increased 15 percent to 
nearly 9,000. But most consultants are not that well trained. Dozens of groups 
offer certification after completion of one- to five-day courses, and there are 
at least six different acronyms signifying lactation credentials. How can a 
sleep-addled mother differentiate among a C.L.E., a C.B.E. and a C.L.C.? "


because this is basically implying that one can be certified by IBCLE after a 1-
5 day course..as they say that "dozens of groups offer certification"- to me it 
kind of could be taken to say that the IBCLE, while requiring 2500 hrs of 
practice etc, still certifies after a 1-5 day course- its just the wording of the 
paragraph that allows for this implication- this bothers me because the 
NYtimes is obviously read by a lot of people and holds a certain amount of 
credibility, so someone could walk away from this article thinking that IBCLC 
certification is not a very standardized, rigorous, or time intensive process 
(which it actually is).  I guess its just that the distinction isnt made between 
an IBCLC certified RLC and a 1 week course certified CLE, and we all know as 
IBCLCs that there is quite a difference between the two.  I would have hoped 
that a newspaper of this caliber would be more accurate and clear in the 
information they give, as I think this article is damaging and dismissive to the 
LC profession and will be read by many prospective parents- and with what 
influence?
I just wish this profession was taken as seriously by the general public as we 
take it ourselves.

Kristin Newman, IBCLC,RLC, LLLL, Calgary,AB Canada...who knows just how 
long the process took and how much education and effort was required to 
make it happen

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