How to become a Lactation Consultant?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Dear fellow nurses,

I am trying to research how to become a lactation consultant. I have went on the website that provides certification and it provided me with information on how to get certified. My problem is that I currently do not work in Labor and Delivery, thus I am unsure of how to meet the clinical hours requirement to be eligible to take the exam. Please advise if anybody has any ideas.

Thank you.

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Specializes in hospice.

Ask to transfer?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

It's really difficult to transfer in my hospital, as the hospital is not too big and L&D nurses are usually there for years and nobody wants to leave... :(

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Do you have children of your own and if so, did you breastfeed? You could become a La Leche League Leader and that will earn you 500 consultancy hours/year as an active LLL Leader. Also, many WIC offices have volunteer "peer counselors" that help out women in the program who are breastfeeding - that will earn you several hundred hours/year. Other than those two options, the only really feasible way is through working in postpartum/mother-baby helping new moms.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I am a mother. I didn't breastfeed for long, but at least 3,5 months I did. Thank you very much this is very helpful.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I haven't been a Leader in over 5 years, so I don't know if it has changed, but La Leche League use to require that Leaders need to have breastfed their own children to at least 9 months (it used to be 12 months, but they changed it about 15 years or so ago).

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

oh, then i'm doomed... Thank you anyway for your help.

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Specializes in hospice.

What makes you want to pursue this?

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Specializes in Maternity.
Do you have children of your own and if so, did you breastfeed? You could become a La Leche League Leader and that will earn you 500 consultancy hours/year as an active LLL Leader. Also, many WIC offices have volunteer "peer counselors" that help out women in the program who are breastfeeding - that will earn you several hundred hours/year. Other than those two options, the only really feasible way is through working in postpartum/mother-baby helping new moms.

This is really good advice.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

You're not doomed. If you really want to do this, you will find a way.

You know what I did in order to become a lactation consultant? I became a nurse. I went through 4 years of nursing school, for the sole purpose of becoming an IBCLC. If I could do that, then surely you can find a way to get hired into OB (or a Peds clinic - you could get some lactation assistance that way). No, it may not happen immediately, but if you are determined, you can figure it out.

Another option is that there are a few lactation programs at certain universities (not sure if it's a BS or MS). That would be Pathway 2 - and the hours necessary through that pathway are much fewer (300 as opposed to 1000).

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

oh, wow! Thanks for your advice! I admire your determination!

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Don't get discouraged. There is a program through UCSD where they provide the education and help you set up your clinical hours. You don't have to work in L & D, as I am starting the program and I'm not even an RN yet. It doesn't matter what part of the country you live in either, it is a hybrid program where you do the education part online and the clinicals at a location near your home. Good luck! Here is a link to the info:

Breast Feeding Education | Lactation Consultant

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