Embarking on a career as a lactation consultant offers a unique opportunity to truly impact the lives of new mothers and their infants. This rewarding profession is not just about assisting with breastfeeding; it’s about providing support, education, and guidance during one of the most crucial and intimate periods in a family’s life.
As a lactation consultant, you’ll become an advocate for maternal and child health, empowering parents with the knowledge and confidence they need to nurture their newborns.
One of the greatest gifts a mother can bring to herself and her baby is breastfeeding. The child’s benefits are incomparable to any other supplement, and it also provides a foundation for better nutrition that no other diet can provide. However, breastfeeding can be quite troublesome for many mothers. So, having someone to guide and support them is valuable.
Training to Become a Lactation Consultant
The training to become a lactation consultant is comprehensive and multifaceted, designed to equip aspiring professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to support breastfeeding mothers and their infants effectively.
It typically involves a combination of formal education, hands-on clinical experience, and self-directed learning. Candidates are required to complete a certain number of hours in lactation-specific education, covering topics such as anatomy and physiology of the breast, nutrition, lactation management, and counseling techniques.
Additionally, practical experience is gained through supervised clinical practice, where trainees work directly with breastfeeding families under the guidance of experienced lactation consultants. This hands-on approach ensures that future lactation consultants are well-prepared to address a wide range of breastfeeding challenges and provide empathetic, evidence-based care.
After completing the training, candidates must pass a rigorous certification exam to be recognized as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), the gold standard in lactation consultancy.
Job Prospects for a Lactation Consultant
Professionals in this field may work independently or may be hired by offices, hospitals, or lactation centers of physicians. Many health care practitioners, such as nurses, physicians, and midwives, prepare to become lactation counselors in order to better meet their breastfeeding patients’ needs. However, to become a consultant, it is not necessary to have an existing career as a healthcare professional.
In 2013, 76.5% of American women attempted to nurse their children, a drop of approximately three percentage points over 2007, but a much higher percentage than the 58% who tried to breastfeed in 1985.
If you’re interested in working as a freelance lactation consultant, you need to market your services in your community and make connections. You can get customer referrals from healthcare providers such as nurses, doctors, or midwives, so it is important to build a network of providers that can recommend your services with confidence. I
f you want to work in a hospital, doctor’s office, or lactation center, additional qualifications may be required beyond the certification of a lactation consultant. For example, many employers are seeking lactation consultants who are also registered nurses.
Average Salary as a Lactation Consultant
According to Payscale, the average pay for this job is $29.53 per hour. However, the amount will vary with your expertise and the population that you serve.
Conclusion
Depending on your circumstances, the time it takes to become a lactation consultant can vary. If you already have a healthcare background, the process can be quite easy. If you want to know more about careers in healthcare, click here.
Also read – How to Provide Childcare Services at Home