Lactation Consultant Pathway help needed

[shorti3287]

Hi everyone!

I will be starting nursing school this Fall!! My goal is to finish my ADN, and go on to RN-MSN. I would like to one day be a CNM. I know that those things are far off, however I have been looking into becoming a LC for years now. I am having trouble finding a way to accomplish it BEFORE Im a RN.

I understand there are 3 different pathways to take. Pathway one requires, already being in the health care field, which I am not.

Pathway 2 requires a school that offers the program. One near me actually does, but they require you to have at least a BS.

And then there is pathway 3. I would love to try and start this route. It requires some traditional schooling, and clinical hours with a mentor. I already have completed most courses necessary, but I need serious help finding a mentor.

Has anyone become a Lactation Consultant through Pathway 3? Would it help me to become a Certified Lactation Education Counselor first?

Thank you for any input!

[klone, MSN, RN]

You do not need another Leader to certify your hours. If you are an active Leader, the IBLCE will just accept that.

In order to be a LLL Leader, you need to have breastfed for at least 9 months, you have to attend the series of meetings and be a dues paying member. That is in order to qualify to begin the leadership process. The process itself takes anywhere from 6 to 12 months, depending on how motivated you are.

[shorti3287]

Oh really? I did not really understand that part, thank you. I have breastfed my children, one for 14 months. Do you know if the 90 hours of education is provided by LLL or is that separate? I think I read the university of San Diego offers a lactation educator course and its online. I wonder if that can fulfill the 90 hours of education or part of it. With starting nursing school this Fall I might have to take the 12 months, but that is ok. I just want to make some progress! Thanks again!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Being a LLL Leader provides the consultancy hours, that's it. You still need to do your lactation specific education elsewhere. I did mine through breast ed/health e-learning.

[douxmusique]

I did mine through lactation education resources, it's online, it's approved for ibclc and they have opportunities in some locations to pay for an internship/mentorship. It was around $800 plus cost of books and I was able to finish it within a year. Of course you know I waited until the last minute and ended up doing the majority of the work in the last 6 weeks of my year :-)

I had some time off from school and sat down and spent everyday doing it.

With pathway 3 I was looking into paying for the internship but like I said I couldn't really commit to a schedule since I wasn't sure of my nursing class schedule so I didn't follow through with it.

[shorti3287]

Ok, maybe I should start off doing the education portion online. I could probably get a good chunk done this Summer while Im out of school. I will still look into LLL. It just stinks because using LLL hours you still need 1000, whereas pathway 3 with a mentor you only need 500. I guess I should start on the part I can get done now, the education. Thank you for all the help ladies! I am going to look into both courses you listed.

[douxmusique]

Good luck! I am so excited for.you :)

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Moving to the OB/Gyn forum for more targeted responses. Best of luck!

[DalekRN]

I would advise focusing on nursing school, then going pathway 1 by finding a job in OB. Then you get the experience you need as a floor nurse for both IBCLC and for your cnm. Working full time it should not take you long to get the 1000 hours.