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No Breastfeeding During a Breastfeeding Exam

7/27/2010

9 Comments

 
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This story is so absurd I almost laughed when I first read about in the New York Times.  Yesterday Chiara Pozzi Perteghella, a pharmacist from Bassano del Grappa in Italy, was not allowed to breastfeed her 3 month old baby while taking an exam.  The exam was long- 5 hours in total, and they refused to make any special allowances for her to nurse her baby during that time.  They claimed that it would disrupt other students, yet they wouldn't provide her a separate room.  They said she could leave to breastfeed the baby and come back, but they would not make up the time she might loose during these breaks. 

So that sounds bad, but get this- the exam was for certification as a BREASTFEEDING advisor!
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Chiara is a pharmacist and a mother of three children. Her pharmacy was already a part of the Farmacia Amica Allattamento Materno (Breastfeeding-Friendly Pharmacies - Code Complient Pharmacy,) but she wanted to increase her skills by becoming a lactatian consultant through the IBLCE. 

The IBLCE- International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners is the world recognised authority for certifiying practitioners in lactation and breastfeeding care.  After the birth of her son in April she informed the instructor that she would need to take the exam with her son, because he would be too young to stay with someone at that point.  He was only three months old by the date of the exam, and Chiara is a follower of what she calls the "maternage approach," the Italian term for attachment parenting.  She was under the impression that the arrangement was fine with them until May 18th, just two months before the exam, she was informed that only examiners and examinees may go into the room.

Why? 

Perhaps they thought the baby might whisper her all the answers?

The reason they gave was that the baby would be too distracting to the other examinees.  I'm trying to imagine who might be more qualified as a breastfeeding advisor than a breastfeeding woman...?

Given their evident lack of support to breastfeeding mothers completing this course I can imagine that a room full of certified breastfeeding advisors would be...
 
men? 

Childless women?

Who would you rather take breastfeeding advice from?

Ironically the exam involved a question on the practice of "External Pregnancy," which means the mother wears the baby for several hours a day in a wrap or sling, breastfeeds frequently as needed, and even takes the baby to work with her. 

If the IBLCE would not make any special allowances for breastfeeding mothers, how can they expect  employers to? 
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 Their new policy is about involving mother in society, making it possible to breastfeed anywhere, integrating mothers and babies instead of excluding them.  In fact this year's IBLCE meeting in Chiara's home town was titled: "Women and their breastfeeding choices: cultural changes and practical support systems."  All very ironic considering Chiara's treatment during one of their exams.  Chiara herself said: 

"I regret to say that I will not sit the exam, because I don’t think such discrimination and inconsistency should be tolerated and because I don’t like to be qualified as a breastfeeding expert by people who showed they know nothing about it."
9 Comments
Jenn-Connected Mom link
7/27/2010 04:37:54 pm

Nothing intelligent to say, this blew my mind!

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Giuseppe link
7/27/2010 09:09:24 pm

Thanks for sharing my wife's story.

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Rose link
7/28/2010 12:08:18 am

You have *got* to be kidding me! This is idiocy.

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Kate Hansen link
7/28/2010 12:14:46 am

Jenn- thank you for sharing it like you did. It blew my mind too, I just had to write about it!

Giuseppe- I felt honoured to get a chance to chat with your wife, however briefly. Let me know what happens with the IBLCE!

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Jeffrey link
7/28/2010 12:23:29 am

When it comes to human stupidity nothing surprises me. I do see a law suit here and it should be pursued.

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Karen Gromada link
7/28/2010 03:26:50 am

I assume the exam candidate was in communication with the IBLCE in Europe staff (http://www.iblce-europe.org/Start_1.htm) and has got in touch with them again since the exam? IBLCE has reasons for exam "rules," and they are the ones who can address complaints/concerns. Perhaps access to enough proctors was an issue at the particular exam site where this occurred.

I don't know how the exam is proctored in Italy, but I know accommodations have been made for candidates breastfeeding a baby in the USA - at least in my area. In the USA, the 5-hour exam is given in 2 parts and there is a lunch break after part 1 (about 2.5 hours, although few need the entire time). Most candidate mothers breastfeed just before going into the exam room and as needed during the adequate lunchbreak. They return for part 2 (again up to 2.5 hours allotted but rarely needed).

Although candidates cannot bring their babies into the exam room out of respect for the different test-taking styles of the many other candidates in the room (who paid in the 100s of dollars to take the test), most do well with the before/after break scenario. However, if a baby needs a "during the test" snack, a mother can go out (with a proctor accompanying her) to breastfeed, but the clock is still ticking re: time for exam - usually not an issue, since most finish each part with time to spare. One candidate mother told me she was asked if she wanted to keep her baby with her by taking the exam in a different room, because they had enough proctors for that. She decided it would be too distracting to have her baby in her arms during the exam, so she went with the "during breaks" scenario.

I'm not on the IBLCE staff or Board, although I am an IBCLC. However, unless a candidate has been in close communication with the accrediting body (IBLCE in Europe for this situation), I don't see how it actually solves or resolves the problem.

All the best... Karen

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bronwyn
7/28/2010 03:53:44 am

if that wasnt so sad it would be funny...

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Kate Hansen link
7/28/2010 03:34:33 pm

Karen- thanks for your input! Nice to hear from an insider. :) Yes, Chiara had been in touch with them right up until the exam, but they wouldn't make any accomodations for her, (separate room etc.) I don't know if she was in touch with them after the exam, since this blog was written only a day after the exam date. Chiara will be keeping in touch with me, so I imagine I can update you on what happens.
I know this story doesn't reflect the entire organization as a whole.

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Jeanette
7/29/2010 11:15:54 am

Just wanted to echo what Karen said - I just sat for this exam in the US with my (older) nursling. We nursed right before the start (the exam even started a few minutes late because of us). We nursed again during the break (the exam is 2.5 hours, then a 1 hr break, then 2.5 more). You are welcome to leave the room with a proctor during the 2.5 hours. I did leave (with a proctor) during the first part - not to nurse, but to snack because, as a breastfeeding mama, I get hungry! The time counted against me, but *no one* uses the full 2.5 hours. I was the last one in the room at 2 hours.

On the point of "do you want these folks supporting nursing moms" - I want to share with you that the exam environment is *very* artificial. As a LLL leader, I happily support moms all the time in a crowded busy room, teaming with talking moms, crying babies, and rollicking toddlers. The exam is testing not only your ability to apply the art of breastfeeding support, but also your knowledge of the most current research. For many folks, this is a challenge with even the smallest distraction. To be clear - I'm not saying that *all* organizations shouldn't support breastfeeding moms - they should! Just wanted to give you all a clearer picture of what happens here in the U.S.

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    A blog on art, roller derby and life.

    Kate Hansen

    I'm an artist and mother of two  in Courtenay, BC.  I've completed a project called the "Madonna and Child Project," and I'm now working on a series of roller derby inspired drawings. In my spare time I play roller derby with the Brick House Betties.  

    Kate Hansen

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