RN IBCLC advice

[TexRN]

Hello all,

Just wondering if any of you RN's are Lactation Consultants as well. I am doing things a bit backwards and getting my IBCLC first and then going to BSN school. My long term plan is to work in a birth center, not a hospital. Any tips or advice? Experiences? TIA.

[walkingrock, ADN]

No I don't know if I want to be a midwife. I know for sure I want to help women breastfeed... How was the test? Which pathway did you take?[/quote']

Since I am already an RN, I went that route, as I have opportunity to assist with breastfeeding at work also. I would say in the hospital, postpartum probably has the most opportunity to assist with breastfeeding. The reason I mentioned midwifery, is that if you want to work in a birthing center, that is who works there.

[DalekRN]

Honestly, I'm natural birth oriented too and I feel the natural birth community has misled me as to the "horrors" of hospital birth care. It's not as bad as it is made to sound. They save lives, and a high survival rate is expected in maternity care these days. Also don't work on l&d if you want to avoid inductions and stuff. Postpartum will give you a ton more breastfeeding experience anyway.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We can always use nurses who are now consultants...especially in the NICU!!! Our hospital hired one gal who is not a nurse but she can only work with full term kids, so we only have one that can work with us, and our unit is 50 some beds! And we have to share her with the nursery! Sucks!! We just don't have the time to properly spend with these poor moms

[jennylouwho]

I was an IBCLC and just recently finished nursing school and passed NCLEX. I did pathway 3. :)

[TexRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks guys!!

[mommy2boysaz]

I am a nurse, looking at possibly Pathway 1. Any suggestions for reputable programs to use (preferably online) to get the 90 hours of lactation specific education?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Yes, look at the Breast Ed courses through Health E Learning (you should be able to find it by googling). They are reputable, and very easy to complete. All online.

[DalekRN]

Lactation education resources is an online program I used to get the 90 hours in for pathway 1.,

[RunBabyRN]

I agree about working in postpartum as an RN. I'm currently precepting there (final semester of my BSN program), and I've been doing a TON of BF work (I was a lactation specialist before this). It's looking good for me to get a job there, and I plan to pursue my IBCLC at that point (easier once I have my RN, but brushing up my skills now). The hospital where I'm precepting has a level III NICU, so we get a lot of complicated cases, which is good for me developing my skills. I DO want to pull my hair out over unnecessary inductions that all too often lead to unnecessary c-sections, but my job is to support mama and baby. When (yes when!) I get to L&D, my job will be to support the families and the mom's decisions surround her birth, and to keep her safe. I am a HUGE proponent of natural birth and avoiding unnecessary interventions, and I'd like to be a home birth/freestanding birth center CNM at some point, but it's not my job to place judgment. I think the hardest thing for me being in PP is being there for circumcisions. But again, it's not my place to judge or to push my own beliefs on parents, but rather, to support their decisions and to make sure that everyone is safe and healthy.

Lactation work is very rewarding- I practically jump for joy when we FINALLY get mama and baby breastfeeding like pros! But there isn't much money to be made in doing ONLY lactation work, nor are there many positions if you don't work for yourself. You're better off getting your RN and working somewhere, and doing some of your own lactation work on the side (which I may do until I go for my CNM).