Pain Meds and Breastfeeding

[SmilingBluEyes]

I know all that Alison. I was planning on studying for mine. Decided against it, as my chances of finding a position as an IBCLC that make it worth all those hoops to jump and money spent to do it, not worth it. And my heart is in L and D, not in fulltime LC work. So I am pursuing certification in inpatient OB nursing, which in itself is not a cakewalk, either. :) I hope I do pass, as it's 300.00 to take it!

[FrumDoula]

I know all that Alison. I was planning on studying for mine. Decided against it, as my chances of finding a position as an IBCLC that make it worth all those hoops to jump and money spent to do it, not worth it. And my heart is in L and D, not in fulltime LC work. So I am pursuing certification in inpatient OB nursing, which in itself is not a cakewalk, either. :) I hope I do pass, as it's 300.00 to take it!

I'm certifying as a Certified Lactation Educator through CAPPA, but birth is where my heart is. Still, I like the thought of getting a good grounding in nursing. There's just too much misinformation out there. I'm not sure, like you, that I could due full time LC work, either. A little more focused than I care to be. What is involved in certification for inpatient OB nursing? I'm curious.

Alison

[BETSRN]

I'm certifying as a Certified Lactation Educator through CAPPA, but birth is where my heart is. Still, I like the thought of getting a good grounding in nursing. There's just too much misinformation out there. I'm not sure, like you, that I could due full time LC work, either. A little more focused than I care to be. What is involved in certification for inpatient OB nursing? I'm curious.

Alison

Go to the NCC website and you can get a good feel for what is involved. Basically it is an exam one takes on the computer. It is a good idea to have many years of OB (including L&D) under your belt before you sit for the exam. That way, it is not as necessary to study that much. I have to say that other than taking a 2 day refresher/prep course (which was a wonderful review of systems), I did NOT study at all. But I have many years of clinical experience on which to draw.

Now, on the other hand, I DID study (long and hard) for the IBCLC (Lactation Consultant board exam).

They are very different types of tests. I am very glad I did both of them. They are "feathers in my cap" so to speak and I am glad I took the time to do them.

Good luck to any of you who decide to pursue either of these certifications.

[mitchsmom]

...

Now, on the other hand, I DID study (long and hard) for the IBCLC (Lactation Consultant board exam).

My application for the IBCLC exam will hopefully be in the mail in the next couple of weeks... you're making me nervous!!

[SmilingBluEyes]

I guess it depends on the person you ask as to how "easy" it is. The prep classes were constantly getting cancelled here, so we have had to study on our own to sit for the exam.

Some of the nurses I know took it said it was fairly hard, even though they have in in excess of 10 to 20 years' OB experience (one has 23, I believe). Neither of the two who took it last fall is a shlump in OB nursing capability and both have lots of prior Level-3 experience (which I do not.).

I agree w/you though, Betsy, that it helps to have some years of experience before sitting for the exam. I believe they (NCC) require 2 years and 2000 hours anyhow, before you can even attempt to test. I would recommend more like 5 as a minimum.

I would like to have some day LC cert but not necessarily IBCLC....will see. First, RN,C in inpatient ob and FHM then go from there. I have NO plans to be an LC as a fulltimer anyhow, as I said before. The knowledge our CLC is very comprehensive, as well as the IBCLC's is. I admire both of these women.

[klone, MSN, RN]

My application for the IBCLC exam will hopefully be in the mail in the next couple of weeks... you're making me nervous!!

Eh, you'll be fine! If you've earned the consultancy hours the way I think you have, then I don't think you should have any problem passing. Good luck! I'll be taking mine in two more years! Although, I might get ambitious and try to do it next summer, right after I take the NCLEX.

[mitchsmom]

Eh, you'll be fine! If you've earned the consultancy hours the way I think you have, then I don't think you should have any problem passing. Good luck! I'll be taking mine in two more years! Although, I might get ambitious and try to do it next summer, right after I take the NCLEX.

Thanks!

Oy, that's one reason I'm taking it this summer... so it doesn't coincide with the NCLEX... plus it's been a goal of mine since I became a counselor anyway so I knew I'd try to do it asap. I took Jan Riordan's lactation course this Fall and I'm doing a bunch of Health-e-learning modules right now for LCERPS so hopefully all that will help. Actually a paper I wrote for Dr. Riordan's class is going to be in the next issue of LLL's magazine as an article... it's called "Anatomy of a Working Breast", check it out if you get it! I have a lot of goals for my future nursing career, but I think lactation will always be close to my heart/ be a specialty of mine. :redbeathe

Sorry to hijack, back to the regularly scheduled thread topic

[klone, MSN, RN]

Actually a paper I wrote for Dr. Riordan's class is going to be in the next issue of LLL's magazine as an article... it's called "Anatomy of a Working Breast", check it out if you get it!

Very cool! Leaven or New Beginnings?

How are you liking the Health E-Learning? That is the one that used to be called BreastEd, right? I was thinking of taking those to get my L-CERPs.

[celle507]

Thank you everyone for the great information! The website and the book are both great resources to know about. I wish they told us about them in our class.

I reallly appreciate all the help...I knew that they had to be safe for the babies but at least now I know how safe they really are!

C

[SmilingBluEyes]

The key is "relative" safety. Nothing, as you know, is 100%. Mostly the METABOLITES of these medications are found in breast milk, not the meds in their original compounds/chemical states. Good luck in your studies!!!!

[mitchsmom]

Very cool! Leaven or New Beginnings?

How are you liking the Health E-Learning? That is the one that used to be called BreastEd, right? I was thinking of taking those to get my L-CERPs.

NB.

I am liking Health-e-Learning alot - nice format, good info, much easier than ordering and sending via snail mail. You do it and they email your certificate for the LCERPS right away :) I am having to do a ton b/c I'm using one of the alternate pathways from the IBLCE to cut hours off my time so I can sit the board this year instead of next - I have done 4 modules and I am about to do 3 more, so I'll have done almost all of them by the time I'm done. They also have a review thing that is a complete practice test for the exam, I will probably do that if I have the money.

[klone, MSN, RN]

NB.

I am liking Health-e-Learning alot - nice format, good info, much easier than ordering and sending via snail mail. You do it and they email your certificate for the LCERPS right away :) I am having to do a ton b/c I'm using one of the alternate pathways from the IBLCE to cut hours off my time so I can sit the board this year instead of next - I have done 4 modules and I am about to do 3 more, so I'll have done almost all of them by the time I'm done. They also have a review thing that is a complete practice test for the exam, I will probably do that if I have the money.

I assume you're doing alternate pathway G? What are you doing to get the other 30 LCERPs (since the BreastEd only gives 120 max)? I was looking into that, I would have to do it if I wanted to test next year. If I wait until 2007, I'll have all 4000 hours on my own.