BF question...

[SarahMcKay]

Okay, so I'm looking to expand my knowledge base! I've been looking at BF, because like most of you, I feel very strongly about it. What is the difference betweek a CLC, IBCLC, a breastfeeding counselor, lactation counselor, lactation counsultant, I'm so confused! I've looked at the IBCLC site, and that's a ton of hours! Not that I don't want to do the work, but I just think there has to be a faster and easier way to get there.

[fearlessbirth]

I THINK (and this is just my take/opinion on it) that all of the above, with the exception of IBCLC, are basically the same thing. These are women who are trained to assist with BF and any issues that come along with it, it just depends on who you are training/certifying through what they call it. The IBCLC's are held to the highest standard and it's an international organization who puts these women through a lot of hard work and training and an exam. The IBCLC is supposedly much more knowledgable than any of the other titles. However (and I warned you I may have no idea what I am speaking about )it could be a case like the doulas...a certified doula (even though DONA is the 'premier international doula organization') is not necessarily any better than one who goes through CAPPA or chooses not to certify.

I am on pain meds so you have to excuse me. Lol I think I rambled and was no help at all

[Jilian]

I know that an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) has to have at least 1000 (I think that is what it was?) hours of training and has to sit for the board exam (crazy long exam). I started my training hours for IBCLC when DS was just a baby but then decided to move towards doula-ing.

CLC is a certified LC and LC is just an LC.

[heathenmamaof5]

LC's are IBCLC's and they don't like people calling themselves an Lactation Consultent unless they have passed the IBCLC exam. A CLE is a Certified Lactation Educator. As a CLE I can do breastfeeding support and education. I do not do anything clinical, like checking a babies suck or suck training. An IBCLC is like an MD of breastfeeding. Their training is much more advanced then any of the other breastfeeding specialist titles. In fact in the lactation feild there is a lot of controversy over whether any of these other organizations should be certifying bf specialists. Many feel that the IBCLE should govern all certifying bf education. But IBCLE hasn't done that so there are many orgs that have certification programs. Cappa has a great Certified Lactation Educator program. I'm not sure who else does. I think the Seatle School of Midwiferey does.

Did that help at all?

[DoulaYvonne]

Ya, Jill pretty much summed it up!

[emmabella]

The only international certification option for this field is the IBCLC. There is no official certification for "certified lactation educators" or "certified lactation counselors". You can take coursework through CAPPA and others that will give you the info you need to be a service to your clients. They may even give you a certificate of completion. However, the only official certification is the IBCLC which DOES require quite a bit of clinical work to complete.

I have been through a lactation educator course (at Seattle Midwifery School) but only refer to myself as a breastfeeding mentor as I do not want to be misleading to my clients. Does that make sense?

[heathenmamaof5]

I beleive Cappa purchased the rights to the title Certified Lactation Educator. This is why I decided to do their program.

[MothertheMother]

There is another thread about the CLC course. I believe if you are already a nurse this course will give you the ability to work with moms in the hospital with breastfeeding support etc. I don't think any other cert does that (besides IBCLC of course). In my opinion, (only opinion here) being a La Leche League Leader would give you the most hands on with breastfeeding support short of IBCLC (if you're not a nurse).

As someone else has said, you do not have to be certified to teach lactation education. I have heard the same thing Jill said, though, that CAPPA does have the rights to that cert title. Like anything else we do, cert if completely up to you. I do want to certify as a CLE, though because I do believe it is something that will be more recognized in the future. And maybe those of us who go through the program now could have some impact on getting it more recognized with IBCLC's etc.

[emmabella]

When I took the Breastfeeding Educator Course at Seattle Midwifery School this year Molly Pessl (former president of the IBLCE) was very clear that the only standardized & internationally recognized certification in the lactation field is the IBCLC. We talked about it for quite a long time. CAPPA's "CLE" is no different than if I were to teach a class, hand around a test and proclaim them all CLE's. At it's most basic level it is a certificate of completion of that particular program. If you were to walk into a hospital and apply to be hired as a "Breastfeeding Educator" that CLE would not qualify you for the position. The medical field only recognizes the IBCLC.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing CAPPA but I do think they are a little misleading about what their "certification" means. Molly was crystal clear that you need to be VERY careful how you use the CLE title and it is probably safer for you to refer to yourself as a breastfeeding "mentor" or "peer counselor" and notate on your resume the training you have received. This will protect you if something bad were to happen with a client. Just like as doulas... we stick with our scope of practice and don't blur the line between emotional/physical/educational support & medical intervention. "CLE's" aren't qualified to be prescribing anything or managing care of breastfeeding mothers, they should be purely limited to encouragement, basic guidance and referrals to IBCLCs.

On a positive note, she said that IBLCE is considering offering some kind of a basic certification. A kind of stepping stone to a IBCLC, or something that would officially recognize the important role (albeit less technical) that breastfeeding educators, RN's, midwives and doulas fill for bfing moms. That would be cool!

[DL]

CAPPA's CLE program is for Certified Lactation Educators and means exactly as it sounds. IMO, it's basically the same a being a Certified Childbirth Educator. One can certify to do this, and the role of the educator is very different than the role of the midwife, nurse, or physician. The same goes for Lactations Educators. Their role of educator is very different from that of the IBCLC. The educator does not NEED to be held up to the same standards as the IBCLC, midwife, nurse, or physician, as they are definitely lower on the totum pole.

Yes, you CAN certify through CAPPA to be an educator; there are required certification steps, so it's not just attending a weekend course. Whether a hospital will hire that lactation educator with the CAPPA credential is up to that specific hospital (I've heard that some have). Some will, some won't.... It's just like cbe's; it's up to the hospital if they will hire someone with a particular certification through a particular organization or not. IBCLE should not be worried about the CLEs (it sounds like they are too me), but to embrace them. It seems to me that there is PLENTY of room for educated women to help others on differing levels. Just my

[heathenmamaof5]

Lori, your right, it's just that having one governing body would be nice. My understanding is that IBCLE decided not to pursue the CLE program and the rights to the name went to Cappa. I could very well be wrong as I haven't looked any of it up in my Cappa CLE stuff. I've had a horrid melt/down day with my kids. Anyway, the point is that there are many organizations that have certification programs for bf and call them different things. This is confusing to us in the birth feild let alone our clients and the health care establishments we work with.

One thing I'd like to add here is for everyone to remember where we were just 20 years ago. There was no IBCLE. Hospitals wouldn't hire a BF educator, let alon an LC. There was no such thing. If it wasn't for LLL we wouldn't be where we are today. Discovering every day how superior human milk is for our baby's. Or that hospitals now have LC's on staff. If you truly look at how far we've come in 20 years it is phenomenal!

My oldest is almost 16, I accredited nearly 15 years ago and I've watched an explosion happen and it's been awesome to watch.

[Stacie]

Emma has it right, and how awesome you got to meet and be taught by Molly Pessl!

"The International Lactation Association (ILCA) has determined that only the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) is authorized to certify professionals in lactation." This is why the CLC and CLE programs kind of faded away -- and CAPPA bought rights to "Certified Lactation Educator." It was up for grabs, since ILCA and IBLCE would no longer use it or acknowledge it.

CLEs, even in the past when there were programs available in many places, including SMS, were never meant to do anything but educate -- they were not meant to provide hands-on care like an IBCLC.

1000 hours is really nothing, as far as an IBCLC goes -- Here is a breakdown of "pathways":

Quote:

You should determine which of the five standard path-ways A, B, C, D or E is applicable to you. You must also read the information about BC hours and about how to calculate your BC hours in the Candidate Information Guide. Pathway A* – 2500 BC hours required. This pathway is available only if you have successfully completed at least 4 full years (120 semester hours) of post-secondary education, OR you have a bachelor or higher degree (in any field). Pathway B* – 4000 BC hours required. This pathway is available if you have successfully completed at least 2 full years (60 semester hours) of post-secondary academic credit OR you have an associate degree OR you are a diploma RN. Pathway C – 900 precepted clinical hours in human lactation required (ie directly supervised by a recertified IBCLC). This pathway is available only if you have a bachelor or higher degree with a concentration in human lactation from an accredited institution. Pathway D – 900 BC hours required. This pathway is available only if you are a medical practitioner (MD, DO or equivalent degree from an accredited school of medicine or osteopathy). Pathway E* – 6000 BC hours required. This pathway is available if you have completed less than two full years of post-secondary academic credit.

From http://www.iblce.org/become.htm

This link is more specific to LLL Leaders: http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/LC.html

In another two years, I think I will be ready to sit for the exam.

[leticia]

though this post has expired, I must bump bc this is exactly what I need to know. I see the distinct difference between an IBCLC and educator, but what exactly is the role of a bf counselor? is it similar to IBCLC without the credential? what does it entail?

[FLLucinda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leticia though this post has expired, I must bump bc this is exactly what I need to know. I see the distinct difference between an IBCLC and educator, but what exactly is the role of a bf counselor? is it similar to IBCLC without the credential? what does it entail?

I am a CLC = Certified Lactation Counselor. I am trained to work hands on...have taken a 40hr course and taken and passed a 2hr exam from The Academy of Lactation Practice and Policy. My course was through Healthy Children and the Center for Breastfeeding.
It's not similar. An IBCLC has much more education and experience than a CLC. A bachelors in breastfeeding pretty much.
What does CLC entail? Here is the Healthy Children Center for Breastfeeding website. http://www.healthychildren.cc/ It's 40hrs of in classroom instruction followed by a 2 hour exam. $650.00 plus cost of exam, plus books and any travel costs. I took the course in Tampa, FL. Only 80% pass this exam and you are given one year to re-attend (free) another course and take the exam again. They also have strict guidlines that if you miss more than a half day of instruction you are not allowed to sit for the exam until it's made up within one year. Travel to such course is on your nickel. We had everyone from doula's, midwives, (one from Jamaica) nurses, (two came from an AF base in Italy) WIC Counselor's, one MD... there were 60 of us in my class. The exam was nerve wracking but as I had no other responsibilities that week I studied my butt off, was done in an hour and passed with flying colors!! I was first done in my class and was terrified for the 5 weeks it took to hear I had passed that I had either totally aced it or totally bombed it! LOL!
It was hard work, I learned so much and I'm glad I took the course as it enables me to be a great help to my clients and other breastfeeding moms in general! I have a IBCLC I refer to for what I'm not trained to handle...and it helps take a load off her also! She is contracted with a local military hospital. After mama delivers the nurses have loved it that I can help mom get started bfing because they are so busy!
I don't know if I've answered your questions but I've sure rambled a bit! (have not had my 2nd cup of coffee yet!)

[DoulaYvonne]

Just to piggyback a bit on Lucinda's post. I, too, took the Healthy Children's CLC course. I posted about it here.

The course is a very solid one and I'm glad I took it. I still stand by my statements from that older post that I was so well prepared by LLL that the CLC course was informative, but didn't floor me.

In answer to your question, leticia, a breastfeeding counselor can be a catch-all term for many different providers. I would look into education through some means, whether that be through CAPPA, CBI, Healthy Children's, a midwifery school, peer counselor program, WIC, etc. See what their course entails and what your SOP would be upon completion. Then you can decide what you would like to undertake!