Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC

Lactation consultants come from many different educational and experience backgrounds. Some get interested in breastfeeding through their work as health care providers - doctors, nurses, midwives, social workers, dietitians, and therapists who realize that their formal training did not provide enough information on breastfeeding management. Others want to help other mothers avoid the mistakes they made, or share in the joys they found with their children, or change the "system" to be more friendly to breastfeeding.The Lactation Consultant profession developed out of dual roots of mothers' experiences and professional interest. Professionals tend to see the mother-baby dyad as the "other" and provide objective "advice." Mothers view breastfeeding from the "inside" with all the feelings and emotions associated with this relationship. To effectively help mothers breastfeed, a thorough knowledge of both roots and philosophies is needed. Both aspects are interwoven into the international certifying exam sponsored by IBLCE because research shows that both aspects are necessary to adequately assist and support breastfeeding. For more information on the exam, contact IBLCE at 703-560-7330 or http://www.IBLCE.org.

Most people interested in becoming lactation professionals have gaps in their knowledge or skills regardless of their prior formal education or personal experiences. So, the first step is to identify and FILL IN YOUR GAPS. One way is to test yourself by taking one or more of the practice exams in my book Comprehensive Lactation Consultant Exam Review.  Select experiences and educational tools to broaden your view of breastfeeding.

	If you are a licensed health care professional, spend many hours listening to breastfeeding-support group discussions. Attend meetings of a local La Leche League group or other breastfeeding support groups in your area.
	If you are a mother who breastfed her children, seek formal education in the biological and social sciences. Take some college courses in human biology, sociology, family theory, counseling, maternal reproduction, infant health and development, etc.
	If you work mostly with illness in a hospital or clinic, spend time with healthy mothers and babies at the mall, parks, homes, and other informal settings.
	If you are knowledgeable in nutrition, become comfortable with the physical aspects of breastfeeding. <
	If you have not breastfed a child or did so for less than a year, seek out with mothers who breastfeed their children longer than a year and really listen to them.
	If you work mainly with birthing and early postpartum or initiating breastfeeding, learn more about nursing toddlers. <
	If you are a LLL Leader or breastfeeding peer counselor with experience in normal breastfeeding and well babies, seek more knowledge about mother and infant illnesses and hospital settings.
	If you want to promote breastfeeding but not necessarily be a provider of direct care, join an advocacy organization or coalition such as NABA and WABA. There's always something more to be learned!

In addition to all of the above:

	Take a Course on Breastfeeding from recognized experts. Breastfeeding conferences and lactation management courses are an excellent way to begin your education and experience, whether or not you plan to take the International Board certifying exam. Realize that "what you pay is what you get."  See ILCA for more information.
	Avoid any course, conference, or educational experience sponsored by a formula company. This is a clear conflict of interest. Longer courses tend to be more useful than short courses because the material can be presented in more depth. Check out the faculty credentials and look for substantial experience as a practicing lactation consultant in more than one setting.
	Attend meetings of and join a local lactation consultant association such as OLCA in Ohio and ILCA (http://www.ilca.org).
	Distance learning experiences may also be useful. See ILCA for suggestions.
	Conferences and seminars provide education on specific breastfeeding topics.
	Plan enough time to soak up "what breastfeeding is about." Most people are surprised to learn how much there is to know about breastfeeding!

And finally, take breastfeeding seriously enough to invest your time, energy and money in adequate and broad preparation to practice as a lactation consultant.