studying for IBCLC exam

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2011

I am hoping to take the exam next July to become an IBCLC. I am trying to figure out what the best resources will be for studying. I have pretty good knowlege of basics and have a fair amount of hands-on experience helping moms with problems (latch, positioning, high/low supply, sore nipples, hypotonia, etc). What did you find most helpful in studying for the exam?
Also, starting this year, 90 CEU are required to take the exam. I have done and am scheduled to do workshops but will have to supplement with online courses. Any you would recommend?

I've got nothing to give in the way of study advice, just wanted to say GL to you. The IBCLC's that helped my son and I were INVALUABLE and I know that it takes a lot to become one. It irks me when hospitals/nurses tout that they have/are "lactation consultants" when in reality they are not board certified. A great IBCLC can make all the difference in a successful breastfeeding relationship between child and Momma =)

anurseatlast · Oct 16, 2011

Thanks Colleen. I currently work with teen moms in their homes and helping moms figure out breastfeeding is one of the joys of my job. I am fortunate to be backed up by some great IBCLCs who can give me advice and/or see moms who need their expertise. Getting certified is the next thing on my list. I am excited about learning more so I can better support the moms I work with.

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 16, 2011

I would check out Health E-Learning/Breast Ed courses (online). They have an IBCLC prep course that provides mock exams that were quite helpful. For completing your lactation specific education/CERPS, I also recommend the Health E-Learning courses. I completed all my required CERPS through them - they were relatively easy to complete and provided a lot of information, while following the exam blueprint.

failtoprogress · Oct 16, 2011

Hi, I am not a nurse (am applying for May 2012 ABSN start date), but I am an IBCLC. I went the peer counselor route (I am a LLL Leader) and sat for the exam in 2009. I found Linda Smith's exam prep guide to be invaluable. There is also a study guide that went with a previous edition of Riordan's book, but I am not sure if it was updated after the new edition came out.

That being said, my understanding is that LLL Leaders tended to have more challenges around the immediate postpartum, and nurses tend to have more challenges along the later months/years of bf. If you have long term bf experience yourself, or if you've worked as a counselor for older babies, you'll probably not need to worry about this. But if you mostly help moms in the hospital right after delivery, you may need to focus on this. The exam is divided not only into subject areas (A/P, norms, patho, etc.) it is also divided up into ages and stages. So expect some questions for every age up until preschool nursing.

Also, if you're not subscribed to Lactnet, I would do that right away. I find the discussions on that list to be very helpful and also useful for considering ethical issues (know your WHO Code for example).

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions!

Gina

anurseatlast · Oct 17, 2011

I would check out Health E-Learning/Breast Ed courses (online). They have an IBCLC prep course that provides mock exams that were quite helpful. For completing your lactation specific education/CERPS, I also recommend the Health E-Learning courses. I completed all my required CERPS through them - they were relatively easy to complete and provided a lot of information, while following the exam blueprint.

Thanks klone. I will definitely look into those. It is just hard to know which courses will be beneficial and I do not want to waste time and money. Thanks for your help.

anurseatlast · Oct 17, 2011

Hi, I am not a nurse (am applying for May 2012 ABSN start date), but I am an IBCLC. I went the peer counselor route (I am a LLL Leader) and sat for the exam in 2009. I found Linda Smith's exam prep guide to be invaluable. There is also a study guide that went with a previous edition of Riordan's book, but I am not sure if it was updated after the new edition came out.
That being said, my understanding is that LLL Leaders tended to have more challenges around the immediate postpartum, and nurses tend to have more challenges along the later months/years of bf. If you have long term bf experience yourself, or if you've worked as a counselor for older babies, you'll probably not need to worry about this. But if you mostly help moms in the hospital right after delivery, you may need to focus on this. The exam is divided not only into subject areas (A/P, norms, patho, etc.) it is also divided up into ages and stages. So expect some questions for every age up until preschool nursing.
Also, if you're not subscribed to Lactnet, I would do that right away. I find the discussions on that list to be very helpful and also useful for considering ethical issues (know your WHO Code for example).
Gina,
Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely look into them. I have Riordan's book but didn't know there was a study guide.
I was fortunate to sit in on a informal test prep review one of the IBCLC I work with ran for women taking the exam this year (I learned a lot going to that, especially the pictures.) I think what you said about nurses who work only in the hospital is true. Those who did said that the older ages were hard for them because they did not really know the developmental milestones for older babes.
I have a wide range of experience. I was a doula for a long time (would still love it but my life is too busy to be on call) so helped with initiation and follow-up in the first couple weeks. Now I work with teens in community health. I see them in their home from pregnancy til the baby is about 1 yr old so I get to see a wide variety. It is great because I really develop a relationship with them and can see them as often as needed in the first couple weeks home. I think seeing various ages is definitely helpful in studying for the exam and you learn a lot when you see them in their home that you might not learn in other ways. For instance, one mom did not have any pillows in the home to use for positioning so we went around the house figuring out what she could use. Her bed was not safe for laying down to nurse because it was so saggy. We figured out what she could do to safely nurse laying down. She wanted to pump but only had the bottles that came with the pump and no money to buy any. They only had a very small freezer so we had to be creative. It really is interesting seeing them long-term and helping them when they hit snags (some of which seem simple to us but are real challnges for them) along the way. I recently had a former client text me to say she is still nursing her 18 month old. It made my day.:)
Thanks again for the resources.

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 17, 2011

Yes, there are quite a few photos in the exam (at least, there was when I took it). I would recommend the Breastfeeding Atlas.

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 17, 2011

Do you work for Nurse-Family Partnership?

anurseatlast · Oct 18, 2011

Do you work for Nurse-Family Partnership?

No. I work for a non-profit public health agency. Our program is similar to Nurse-Family in many ways. Ours is a holistic multi-disciplinary team approach with each mom having both a nurse and a social worker involved. We address everything from health (pregnancy, infant development, STD, contraception, etc) to barriers to going back to school, healthy relationships, housing, how to access community resources, short- and long-term goals....... It is an interesting and challenging program. Every day and every visit is different. We recently became part of a partnership and can now refer them for many services such as tutoring and counseling which are free to the moms (and dads if they are involved).

I love my job and I work with an amazing team.