Marie
        I am sure that you will get an earful about this.  Personally I
am both appalled and insulted.  I have been a La Leche League leader for
25 years and even before taking the IBLCE exam considered myself somewhat
knowledgable about breastfeeding.
        Becoming a La Leche League leader is a lengthy process usually
taking over a year.  The first pre-requisite is having nursed a baby to
about a year.  After that there is a process of reading, responses to a
whole host of questions, and the development of a broad knowledge base.
In addition the LLL leader applicant must also agree with the basic
concepts of LLL philosophy.
        As to "hands on" this varies greatly.  Most leader advice is
given verbally, either at a meeting or on the telephone.  But touching
either mom or baby is not forbidden.  There are many leaders who will
visit a mom at home, in certain circumstances, or invite the mom to the
leader's home for a helping visit.  This totally depends on the interests
and the inclination of the leader.
        IMO expecting a nurses aid to be able to give lactation help is
unlikely to be totally successful.  Is your supervisor planning to take
an inexperienced, uneducated (in regards to lactation) person, send her
to a 3 day course and say " bang you are now a lactation specialist!".
It certainly shows us how cost containment can be absurd and how
undervalued the benefits of lactation are in our society.
        Hope this helps.

Sarah


Sarah Friend Barnett   LLLL, IBCLC
Bronx (New York City), NY  -  [log in to unmask]
" You are not obliged to finish the task,
 neither are you free to neglect it."       R. Tarfon