This text and tests were very helpful in preparation for the lactation consultant exam. Very good practice exams helped those of us who haven't been in school for a while. The exams help with content and timing. CD Rom was helpful for the picture portion of the exam.

Before you buy this text, think very clearly about why you want to take this test.

While I think it is important that lactation consultants be helpful, educated, competant people, I am not sure that this is the way in which we want to develop the world of lactation.

Breastfeeding used to be something that women, not the medical establishment, used to teach each other. It is so hard to watch the medical establishment take from us women another area in which we are competant. They took from us control over own own births, and now look at the statistics! I am fearful that the more we lactation consultants join up with the medical establishment, trying to "prove" we are worth with letters behind our names, and tests, and other non-reality based tests of our skills, we are going to slowly lose everything just as most women have in the birthing process. Look at the medical experiences you have had as a lactation consultant so far-- despite the certifications aquired by the nurses and dr's you work with, are they all competant and great at what they do? Tests do not tell ability.

Now, by subjecting ourselves to this test and its requirements, we are giving up our right to shape the world of lactation into something better-- something that helps women take control of thier own breastfeeding experience and therefor the complete care of thier child.

After all, we know that the expert of a baby is only her mother-- we lactation consultants, doctors, nurses and other "experts" are only here to consult-- to provide the information she needs-- she should be the one to take the credit and the challenge. What kind of world will we have when everything requires an expert?

So think about this test more than once-- make sure you are confotable with the idea that this test and this text promote-- that breastfeeding is for experts, and that it can only be taught by those who have the means to take the test, access to the required courses, and time to take them.

Remember that you will not be among those who can really make a difference-- like the "uncertified" 80-year old midwife who delivers babies in the backwoods of Mississippi, or the mother who talks everyone on her street into nursing thier babies, or anyone else who helps others take control and responsibility for thier own lives, instead of relying on experts.

Do you want to be an "expert" that mothers depend upon for information and guidance, or do you want to be someone with information that can empower women to take control of thier own breastfeeding experiences?

Just think about it.

And in case it is important to you, I have been certified as IBCLC myself-- although I never go as far as to include all of those letters behind my name!

Kennedy

This book is an excellent preparation and a "must have" for the IBCLC Exam. If you have not taken a board exam in a long time, this book gets you into "exam mode". Sometimes, taking a test of this nature requires good exam skills. This book gives you plenty of much needed practice. The first part of the book delves into the different sections on the exam blueprint. It lists topics to learn and resources to read. The second part is three 200 questions tests. Eighty some questions in each test are based on pictures from the CD-ROM. The answers generally give the reasons for the right and wrong answer, list the difficulty of the question, and state from what section of the exam blueprint it pertains to. Having practiced with these tests, I felt very confident going into the Exam. It also is a great review for LCs who are retaking the certification exam. I heard comments from several LCs who stated the first exam they took they did not do as well as they thought because oftentimes taking exams is all about practice. They performed much better on the subsequent exams when they studied their mistakes. This is a "must have" for everyone planning to sit for the board exam.