Lactation Counselor
| 1. | Basic description —Lactation consultants and breast-feeding counselors work closely together when a mother is experiencing a breast-feeding problem. They assess the mother and baby, take a history, observe the mother and baby while breast-feeding, problem solve, develop a plan of care, work with and report to the mother’s and baby’s primary care providers, and arrange for follow-up. | ||||||
| 2. | Educational requirements—The term “lactation consultant” refers to anyone who is working in the field of lactation, either as a volunteer or as a professional. However, certification to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is considered the gold standard for lactation consultant. This exam is held once a year worldwide. Criteria that must be met for certification are bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree—or 4 years of post-secondary education; a minimum of 2,500 hours of practice as a breastfeeding consultant; and a minimum of education specific to breast-feeding within the 3 years prior to the exam. | ||||||
| 3. | Core competencies/skills needed:
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| 4. | Compensation—Varies with place of employment and geographic location. | ||||||
| 5. | Employment outlook—Moderate | ||||||
| 6. | Related Web sites and professional organizations:
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Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: 101 Careers in Nursing.
Contributors: Jeanne M. Novotny - Editor, Doris T. Lippman - Editor, Nicole K. Sanders - Editor, Joyce J. Fitzpatrick - Editor.
Publisher: Springer.
Place of publication: New York.
Publication year: 2003.
Page number: 91.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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