MamaRose

Great info everyone. I sooo wish I lived in CA so I could take the LC program. But MN is a long ways away. Maybe I can convince hubby and baby to move there for a year? :)

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

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.

I second the school nurse. You will be able to spend time with children and teach them and give them advice on how to take care of themselves. I'm sure you could speak to the classes about health/safety too which would satisfy your need to be in front of the classroom as well.

There are a lot of options now to make NS more flexible with your schedule so you can work while go to school. Don't rely on school loans to get your through school, I agree you need to work too. I just wanted to chime in though that I am also a Graphic Designer transitioning into the nursing world :) I am doing well financially in my design business but I'm sick of being at the computer all day and not making a difference in the world. I'm going to keep doing design to pay myself through NS. It will be very tough but we can do it!

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~

I've been lurking for awhile but this post represents me so well I just had to join and reply finally. I also just had a baby girl (13 months) and am a maternity/postpartum junkie now too. I've been really bored in my graphic design job for the past year and have really wanted to get a more hands on, on my feet, service job and it never hit me until now that a PP nurse would be perfect! I don't have ANY experience with nursing or healthcare though so I hope I am doing the right thing. I also will have to postpone more children until after school and I have been the breadwinner so far so cutting back on work for me will make it financially tight for our family. Like you, it's going to be a lot of sacrifices for something that is hopefully the right fit for us! It's good to hear that other people found to love other specialties. I really, really want to start in PP but I am already worried about being able to get a job right away in it, and if I don't will I be miserable somewhere else? I would also be very open to be a Community Health Nurse or Lactation Consultant, since it's not about the money for me, but I realize those jobs come along even less often maybe. I would love to be a Midwife someday too since I am personally more holistic. I think the great thing about a health care degree is that there are several options for you when you are ready to get out there. And hopefully in a few years when we have our licenses the economy will be better.