Lactation Consultant Programs

These courses are not available on-line.

Birthingway has developed a model of caring for women and families during the childbearing year. We refer to this as the biodynamic model, in which birth is not only a natural part of human life, it is a necessary part, and one that is intimately connected with what it is to be human. The “bio” in biodynamic reflects the centrality of biological processes while “dynamic” refers to the energy of relationships that ensures our model is very woman-centered and individual. A biodynamic birth will be one with the least amount of intervention while still protecting the well-being of mother and baby. Intervention takes on different meanings depending upon the type of care provider; therefore, each of our programs develops specific tools for the various types of services our students will be providing.

Taking the biodynamic model of birth to its natural next step, Birthingway's Breastfeeding Educator and Lactation Consultant Training Programs approach breastfeeding support with the same emphasis on physiologic processes and low intervention.

The most up do date information about qualifying for the IBLCE certification exam is here.

Birthingway offers two options for those interested in supporting breastfeeding:

• Breastfeeding Counselor, in which a student takes classes with some skills elements but does not go on to sit for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) exam, administered by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). Students seeking this Birthingway credential may be interested in adding more breastfeeding knowledge to their labor or postpartum doula or childbirth educator business, or may want to teach breastfeeding classes or become a peer counselor for WIC or Le Leche League. No financial aid available for this program.
  
• Lactation Consultant Program, which prepares students to sit for the IBLCE exam via one of three pathways ( Pathway 1, Pathway 2, Pathway 3), including coursework, academic counseling, and facilitation of accumulating lactation-specific clinical hours. The Pathway 2 Program Application for Spring 2012 will be available by June, 2011. Financial Aid is available for those who qualify.
  

To support both of these programs, we offer an AARC approved course, containing 57 hours of breastfeeding education for 5 college quarter credits. This means that in addition to the 57 contact hours, students will be doing approximately 100 hours of homework, including extensive reading, research, and case studies, covering all of the topics on the IBLCE Exam Blueprint. Our Breastfeeding series meets IBLCE's 90 hours in lactation specific education requirement for the 2012 exam.

• Registration Fee (non-refundable) $ 50 per term
• Tuition – Academic Credit – $369 per quarter credit hour
• 5 Quarter Credits for AARC approved course

Scholarship opportunity for students taking the IBLCE exam: MILCC Website