WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME AN IBCLC?

Kellie Eason RN, RM, IBCLC

Kellie is a Nurse, Midwife & International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with over 25 years experience in supporting families with Breast, Bottle Feeding & Sleep/Settling Issues. She works in private practice at Osteo 4 Kids & Adults, Preston Vic 3072 & Family Tree Health, Greensborough VIC 3088.  Kellie is also an expert contributor to FIT FOR 2 PRO, alongside a group of other healthcare professionals supporting families.  Kellie provides in home, clinic based and Skype/FaceTime consultations via MILK...early parenting support

THE ROAD TO BECOMING AN IBCLC (INTERNATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED LACTATION CONSULTANT):

• Is incredibly complicated, stressful and challenging to maintain, which is why most don't maintain their accreditation
• For a brief insight, have a look at this link iblce.org/certify/preparing-for-ibclc-certification/

IBCLC'S NEED TO STUDY:

• Biology
• Human Anatomy & Physiology 
• Infant Child Growth and Development

• Introduction to Clinical Research 

• Nutrition 
• Psychology or Counselling Skills or Communication Skills 
• Sociology or Cultural Sensitivity or Cultural Anthropolog
• Basic Life Support
• Medical Documentation & Terminology
• Occupational Safety & Security for Health Professionals
• Professional Ethics for Health Professionals
• Universal Safety Precautions & Infection Control

IBCLC'S NEED TO:

• Certify and then recertify every 5 years - an IBCLC is not permitted to call themselves an IBCLC or "Lactation Consultant" unless they are certified & current in their accreditation (however many do call themselves a Lactation Consultant when they sat the exam 20 years ago and haven't recertified)
• Recertification involves either submission of evidence of 75 hours of lactation specific education or re-sitting the IBCLC exam

NOT ALL IBCLC'S ARE MIDWIVES OR NURSES, SOME ARE:

• ABA counsellors
• GP's
• Scientists
• Paediatricians
• Obstetricians

THE VALUE OF PAYING TO SEE AN IBCLC: 

• Your investment goes towards ensuring that you & your baby receive the gold standard of care when it comes to infant feeding & lactation
• You are investing in the health & wellbeing of other mothers & babies in ensuring that your IBCLC can continue to deliver the care that you have received
• You receive a personal experience that requires gentle & skilled assistance. 
• Feeding can be a very difficult challenge for some mums, help at the right time can be amazingly helpful
• Your IBCLC has done a minimum of 4 years undergraduate study & training, 10+ years of post graduate experience within hospitals & community settings, hundreds of hours & thousand's of dollars spent on educational conferences, workshops & exams
• Your IBCLC has spent thousands of hours supporting families through their often turbulent journey through early parenthood

​So all this expertise is available in a 60 - 120 minute personal session to assist families with the first daunting challenge of parenting.  We even provide follow up support & are on-call for you to address your early parenting concerns.  

If you were to:
Estimate the cost of formula feeding (approx. $3k) for 12 months versus paying an IBCLC (approx. $100-$200)

Compare the value to a plumber visit for a leaky tap with its $90 call out fee & $100 or so per hour

Compare the cost of your baby furniture to that of the fee to see an IBCLC

If your baby needed to see a paediatrician, you wouldn't think twice about paying their set fee as they are the expert that your baby needs to see, so why begrudge paying an IBCLC??

WHEN IT COMES TO FEEDING DIFFICULTIES:

• IBCLC's are the specialists to go to
• Basic Midwifery, Maternal & Child Health Nursing, Paediatric & Obstetric training covers the bare minimum about infant feeding (to my horror, the last documented sighting of such education was 4 power point slides!)
• Hospital based breastfeeding clinics require IBCLC's to staff them, free community based drop in clinics do not

If you want the best for your baby, see the experts afterall, you wouldn't take your car for a service to a plumber.....

If you can't afford to pay an IBCLC, speak to them about a financial plan, we would rather you have our support, than not have it at all...

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