I apologize to everyone who is burned out on this topic. I do think it is a very important one for breastfeeding advocates to discuss. I have done alot of research about becoming a lactation consultant. I have several concerns about what I have discovered: 1) There is no control of any terminology other than IBCLC. It is legally OK for anyone to call themselves a lactation consultant, educator, guru, whatever. 2) There is no well defined practice area for IBCLC/CLXs: there is no legal description of what she can and can't do. For example, if I were a physician IBCLC, it would be acceptable for me to examine breasts and baby's mouths, to prescribe treatment via medications or herbs, BUT, as a non MD/CNM/NP breastfeeding helper, getting an IBCLC does not make it OK for me to start doing these things. Part of the big confusion in this field is that what a surgeon can do is not the same as what a physical therapist can do, is not the same as what a social worker or peer counselor can do. Getting the IBCLC credential does not empower one to do everything else other IBCLCs can do. This is different from other fields where all practitioners with the same credential have a comparable education, training and scope of practice. 3) I am really confused by the impression people seem to have that once you are a credentialed LC who is not a health care professional, you can recommend herbs (prescribing) or do suck training (invasive exams), etc. I do not think this it is professional behavior for un-medically trained people to start doing these things. On the other hand, I am equally bothered by the attitude I hear from some that only medical professionals should know/give breastfeeding information and support. 4) I am peeved by the impression I get that some IBCLCs don't want anyone else to have the right to call themselves a CLX. As a business woman, I have to say that this smacks of monopoly. (In the US, at least, we are free market culture...the idea that officials of a professional organization get to tell other organizations they can't give a comparable credential is reminiscent of the past grossly unfair control the AMA exerted over midwifery and alternative health providers.) Every professional who should care about breastfeeding is not going to willingly subject themselves to a grueling, expensive test to prove it. These CLX courses seem a way for many people to show their special interest and expand their expertise in their own field. 5) It seems to me that there is a move afoot to create IBCLC/CLX as a NEW, stand-alone profession. Again, as a business person, I think it is bad timing to launch a new medical field and compete with the shrinking medical reimbursement dollar. Instead, lets offer people ways to show their special interest and training in breastfeeding. Certification just like the CLXs we are discussing is the RAGE in the business industry. Doesn't that make it beneficial to the world of breastfeeding as a whole? We need to look outside the breastfeeding world for parallels in other fields as to how to handle this. 5) Bottom line: if we really want breastfeeding to become the cultural norm, we are going to need the help of every interested society member, as well as the medical professionals, paraprofessionals, clerk/typists, janitors, WIC clerks, etc. Let's find a way to embrace the professional and credential diversity of those who care, and not push away those who are trying to do their best to help EVERY woman to breastfeed her babes. Lots of opinions! Thanks for listening, Marci Clark ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html