Lactation Consultant/Specialist

tablefor9, RN · Feb 7, 2011

Lactation, doula program, try to get a nurse tech job in the Women's Center, all of these things may help. Keep in mind that it's a **great** idea to get bedside experience in Med-Surg prior to moving to L&D.

Good luck to you.

merrick · Feb 7, 2011

Have you looked into the process of becoming a certified lactation consultant? There are several pathways but the shortest and easiest is if you are already a nurse. You will probably have your nursing degree in less time than it will take to get certified as an IBCLC. You could look into being a breastfeeding peer counselor for the WIC program, if you have personal breastfeeding experience, that is. OR being a tech on an OB/PP floor.

proudmommy · Feb 7, 2011

Wow This is what I should do! I almost 4 yrs of breast feeding exp.

Is this more for the BSN. I think Im going to embark on my adn (2yr) 1st.

Smackdown · Feb 7, 2011

I am an RN working in L&D/Postpartum. I have taken the required 45 hours of educational classess to sit to become an IBCLC and now just need to 1000 hours of breastfeeding education in the workplace documented.

Becoming a board certified lactation consultant is a long road. Look into doing something easier - like taking a one week course and become a Lactation Counselor (which I took).

Or become a doula - like another poster suggested.

BrewerRN · Feb 7, 2011

Just a little FYI, the requirements for sitting for the IBCLE will be changing this year. Good Luck.

For the OP, any experience is great!

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 7, 2011

It's a long road, but it used to be much longer. When I sat for the exam, they required 4000 consultancy hours. I spent more than 8 years accumulating the hours needed for the exam. The year after I took the exam, they changed the hours required to 1000. :/

BrewerRN · Feb 7, 2011

It's a long road, but it used to be much longer. When I sat for the exam, they required 4000 consultancy hours. I spent more than 8 years accumulating the hours needed for the exam. The year after I took the exam, they changed the hours required to 1000. :/

Me, too. They are changing the criteria for the next exam qualifications to make it a little more challenging than the 1000 hours and 45 CEU's.

bookwormom · Feb 7, 2011

I don't know if the program is still in operation, but for several years I was a lactation peer support counselor for WIC. It was a lay position, and they gave the training. You could call the WIC offices. I learned a lot on the (part-time ) job.

panurse123 · Feb 7, 2011

I have always been interested in being a lactation consultant, I am curious about employment. Do most consultants work for a hospital, or independently? My breastfeeding days were years ago - but I remember having a consultant come to my hopsital room, but also think that when I had my youngest, the midwifery group sent one to my home.

Is there just one certification for this?

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 7, 2011

"Lactation consultant" does not have title protection in any state (that I'm aware of), so anyone can call herself a lactation consultant or lactation counselor, but the gold standard for certification is IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant).

Some IBCLCs work in hospitals, some work in outpatient clinics, some have private practices. It all depends on what you want to do. Private practice LCs generally do not make a ton of money, however.

panurse123 · Feb 8, 2011

I went to that website, but could not find a clear list of requirements for certification. I did, however, find a consultant in a neighboring town. I have emailed her to get some guidance on how involved this process is!