Anyone going for IBCLC?

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I am currently a pre-nursing student hoping to get my RN license in 2013 and I also want to start a pathway to qualify for the IBCLC exam so that when I get my RN license I will hopefully be IBCLC also. I am going to ask about the WIC peer counseling to gain my hours but I will also ask around about having a mentor. I have kind of heard you should pay for these mentorships? - How does that work? Does anyone have this experience? And I'm sure it's the wrong attitude but I feel like a burden following someone around for 1-2 years, even though I will be loving every minute of it I'm sure.

What pathway did you go about and how many hours/year are you getting in?

Thanks everyone~

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I am going for an IBCLC as well. They change the testing BIG TIME next year, so keep an eye out for that. I wanted to sit for it before then, but I won't have time. I am taking the La Leache League route because I am a breastfeeding mother of 3. I have started my leadership process and will hopefully knock that out by January, just in time for my OB rounds in school. I am going straight through for my MSN in Womens Health or Midwife, and hope to pad along the way with IBCLC and Childbirth Educator and the likes. Good luck, it is worth the extra work.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I am going for an IBCLC as well. They change the testing BIG TIME next year, so keep an eye out for that.

In what way?

I know they just changed it significantly in 2008 (requiring a lot fewer hours than previously). I'm surprised they're doing it again so soon.

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Specializes in lactation.

I sat this year for the IBCLC exam. The 2012 exam requirements should not be an issue for a nurse to meet, they are requiring more classes then previously required. The reason being that non-medical professionals that were sitting for the exam where often ill prepared. Even though I have been an RN for 8 years, I went through a different pathway to get my clinical hours for the exam. I have been a LLL Leader for years and also work for WIC running their peer counselor program, I used my years with LLL to qualify with IBCLC.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I have been a LLL Leader for years and also work for WIC running their peer counselor program, I used my years with LLL to qualify with IBCLC.

That's how I qualified when I wrote the exam in 2007. However, back then, they required 4000 consultancy hours (with an associate's degree). It took many years as a LLLL to qualify!

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I just talked to the community health nurse in town (the only IBCLC in the county) and they do not have a WIC peer counselor program here. :( And she didn't sound too interested in letting me shadow her. I'm not sure what else I'm going to do, maybe do the UCS Extension Lactation Educator training for now and see where that can take me, and then hope I can get into a PP department once I get my RN license.

Where you all of you with your IBCLC work? Are you specifically a lactation consultant or LD/PP nurses? I would love to hear how you got where you are, as I am struggling with my career path.

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Specializes in Mom/Baby.

I used to think I wanted to, but I spent the day with lactation on Monday and it was BORING! I learned a lot of great stuff, but I would never want to be a full time Lactation consultant.

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I'm hoping to go for my IBCLC in the next year or so. Hopefully I'll get the L&D job that I interviewed with last week. That will help tremendously.

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I used to think I wanted to, but I spent the day with lactation on Monday and it was BORING! I learned a lot of great stuff, but I would never want to be a full time Lactation consultant.

That is interesting to hear! I did sense a tone from my community health nurse that IBCLC shouldn't be put on such a tall podium for me. Re-certifying can be a pain every 5 years. I am still going to put it on my bucket list though.

I'm starting to lean towards just staying in my freelance graphic design career (I make as much $ now PT as I would as an PT RN and I have a VERY flexible schedule) and then getting certified lactation educator and becoming a hypno doula/Hypnobabies Instructor. I just really want to helps new moms have a positive pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding experience!:redpinkhe And maybe I don't have to be an RN to do this...I guess maybe it's the prestige of an RN license is what attracts me to going that route, but as far as what's best for my family, it might be to avoid the RNs unflexible schedule and tough schooling. :uhoh3:

Sorry, just thinking out loud. Please chime in though if you have any advice!

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i to am a pre-nursing student (okay i will be in the spring), hoping to graduate in 2013 as well. I am hoping to go in to L&D and was thinking of being a lactation consultant. I BF my oldest son for 6 months, an i have a new baby, that i chose not to BF, and am now wishing i would have. Would it be worth it if i were a "certified" lactation consultant in addition to being an RN? I live in a small town in the Texas panhandle (about 45 min away from a "large" city (Amarillo))

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I am an RN and IBCLC. Yes, IMO I think it would be worth it to have both certifications. It looks great on a resume and gives you a really good leg up, compared to other applicants who may have just as much OB experience.

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Specializes in ED, Tele, L&D.

I'm currently working towards becoming an IBCLC and I'm taking the Lactation Consultant program through UCSD and will sit for the exam next summer. I know by taking this course, the number of hours is greatly reduced and I'm also starting a new job in L&D next month so I'm hoping that will even further reduce the number of hours spent in clinical. I took the CLEC course online through UCSD this summer and I loved it and I'm really looking forward to start the LC course next week. If anyone's in CA and interested in this pathway here's the link to the instructor's website - she teaches classes all over CA.

Breastfeeding Education - Lactation Courses with instructor Gini Baker

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