?? about becoming LC/bf consultant...

butterfly · 11-13-2006, 01:30 AM

This might be a real silly question but I'm totally new to this so please forgive me...LOL...but how do you become a lactation consultant or a certified breastfeeding consultant? Are these the same? I went on the LLL site and found that they offer a Peer Counselor course. Would that be the right course to take? I'm not interested in becoming a leader at this time...just someone who is trained to provide lactation info and support.

I'm currently training to be a doula through CBI and apparently they will be offering a lactation course soon. I'm wondering if I took that course whether or not I would be considered an LC. I will asked them but if someone can point me to the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated!!

TIA!

doulamomma · 11-13-2006, 06:09 AM

http://www.iblce.org/pathways.htm

That page will tell you what you need to do to become a IBCLC. You may be thinking certified breastfeeding counselor not consultant. Becoming a peer counselor would be a good step in becoming a IBCLC, as it would definitely count for hours that you need to do to sit for the IBCLC exam.

sacredma · 11-13-2006, 08:41 AM

another way to go is to become a CAPPA certified lactation educator. i just did the training and it was very good.

MothertheMother · 11-13-2006, 09:50 AM

Breastfeeding support

Lactation educator training

CLC course through Healthy Children Project

Here are a few links where we've discussed this in some detail. There are quite a few options with helping breastfeeding women so you'll probably be researching this for a while!