Lactation consultants work in hospitals,
birthing centers and outpatient clinics to assist new mothers who choose
to breastfeed their babies. Online education options are available for
those who wish to become certified lactation consultants and counselors.
Online Pre-Certification Programs for Lactation Consultants
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)
offers the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
credential. To become an IBCLC, candidates must meet specific
educational and experiential standards. Beginning in 2012, IBCLCs must
complete at least 90 hours of education in areas specified by the IBLCE,
including infant and
child development, anatomy, physiology, nutrition and pharmacology.
The Accreditation and Approval Review Committee on Education in Human
Lactation and Breastfeeding accredits programs that prepare lactation
consultants for the IBLCE exam. To enroll in an online lactation
consultant program, applicants often are required to have completed some
form of higher education.
Online lactation consultant educational programs require students to
complete in-person components in clinical settings. Students must adhere
to assignment deadlines, but the length of each course and time allowed
vary by program. Courses typically involve reading and online
discussions, and students generally submit essays and assessments via
the Internet.
Common Courses in an Online Lactation Consultant Pre-Certification Program
The coursework in online lactation consultant programs teaches
students to recognize and solve breastfeeding problems. Students learn
about the anatomy of the breast, the process of lactation and social
issues surrounding breastfeeding.
Anatomy and Physiology for Lactation Consultants Course
In this course, students learn the makeup of a woman's breast,
including how it develops over her lifetime and how lactation is
regulated. Students also explore factors that can influence breast milk
production.
Breastfeeding Initiation Course
The breastfeeding initiation course teaches students to provide
guidance to mothers, both prenatally and during the first week after a
baby's birth. Encouraging mothers to choose breastfeeding and helping
them and their babies learn to breastfeed are focuses of this course.
High-Risk Infants Course
Specialized approaches for preterm and other high-risk babies are the
focus of this course. Students learn about the positive effects of
breast milk in babies with developmental issues. They also learn to
teach mothers to initiate lactation through the use of pumps and to help
mothers who have lost an infant.
Those who complete online lactation consultant courses and the IBCLE
certification process can work independently or as part of a maternity
care team at a hospital or
pediatric
center. Depending on where a lactation consultant worked, the middle
50% earned between $61,934 and $76,916 annually in 2010, according to
Salary.com. Additionally,
Payscale.com reported that the middle 50% of IBCLCs earned between $22.81 and $34.10 hourly in 2010.
In addition to the IBCLE, lactation consultants can earn
certification through the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice
(ALPP). The IBCLE requires lactation consultants to recertify every five
years; certified lactation consultants must earn continuing education
credits during the interim to qualify for recertification.
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