One of the things I think about a lot is why do I have a job? If breastfeeding is so natural, why do people need me to help them get started with breastfeeding or continue when their babies are older. There are many reasons for this in my opinion. (Remember, this is where I get to just say what I think! I may be right or wrong. If there is research to back things up, I’ll share that too when I can.)
I one of the biggest reasons I believe I need to do this work, that there is a lactation profession, (IBCLC is the name for this. If you are paying someone to help with lactation, they need this credential! See my “Breastfeeding Consults” page for my rant on this.) is that I am now the holder of what use to be our collective knowledge concerning breastfeeding.
I think back when we were an exclusive breastfeeding society, our daughters grew up assimilating their own breastfeeding experiences through sight, sounds, touch, smell. If they then had a breastfeeding issue as a mother, they would just ask every other mother she would see about her concern and someone would have her answer. We don’t have that now. How many of us come from breastfeeding families? Not that many.
More on that later. So, I, now through my own breastfeeding experiences, my extensive studies of breastfeeding, my collaboration with the best lactation consultants in the United States, these have all brought me to a place where I know more about breastfeeding then the great majority of the population. And I still don’t know so much. My leading lactation ladies, that’s what I call them, have been in this business for 30-50 years! I at, 14 + years, am still collecting experience and knowledge. Also, I will never be done learning. There will always be new research about breastfeeding, new mothers and babiess to learn from. I am honored that you may need me. I also wish there will come a day that no one will.