Q: I am very interested in finding out how to become a lactation consultant. I am a former elementary school teacher, but choose to stay at home with my two young children. I am currently breastfeeding one of them. Do I have to have a nursing background to become a lactation consultant and to work with new moms? Thanks!
A: First, congratulations on giving your children the best start in life by breastfeeding! Breastfeeding moms often make wonderful breastfeeding counselors—you’ve “been there, done that” and want to help others do the same. There are a number of possibilities for you to consider, based on whether you are looking for a career or are interested in volunteering your time:
- Peer counselor. Many health departments hire breastfeeding moms to help encourage and support other breastfeeding moms. There is usually some training involved, and often funds to provide that training for you. This is a good way to get your feet wet in helping moms breastfeed.
- Volunteer La Leche League Leader. La Leche League is an international mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group — perhaps you’ve already discovered them in your area. Accredited Leaders are moms who have nursed at least one mom for at least a year, have been active in their local group, and go through a training process that includes reading and working with other Leaders and practicing the necessary counseling skills. La Leche League has its own set of guiding principles that all Leaders are expected to embrace and model, and so is not for everyone. (Moms who turn to LLL for help or to attend meetings don’t have to embrace these principles.) There are other breastfeeding support organizations as well that are always looking for counselors.
- International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). An IBCLC is an allied health professional. You do not have to be a nurse to become an IBCLC, but you do have to have extensive practice hours in breastfeeding counseling and continuing education units in breastfeeding (which you can earn by attending conferences and seminars). And you must pass a rigorous exam that tests both clinical and “book” knowledge. There are a number of pathways to become eligible to sit for the exam.
In the meantime, look for ways to support breastfeeding in your area. Smile at nursing moms in the malls and strike up conversations with pregnant women you meet. Working with breastfeeding moms is so rewarding!”
By Melissa Clark Vickers
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Moms & Babies Huntingdon, Tenn.
