Lactation Consultant Pathway 1

Pathway 1: Providers of Lactation Care
These courses are not available on-line.

You must have previous experience as a health care professional working in maternal-child health or as a breastfeeding support counselor as defined by IBLCE to qualify via this pathway.

Who would benefit? Licensed health care providers, including midwives, and peer counselors such as LLLI Leaders would probably be the primary beneficiaries of this pathway. Students in the Birthingway midwifery program would take Breastfeeding I, II and III and document their hours providing lactation counseling. People who are already LLLI leaders or Nursing Mother’s Council Peer Counselors could also utilize our coursework for this pathway. Students who use Birthingway’s Breastfeeding Center for their clinical hours could also qualify for this pathway.

Required Minimum Lactation Specific Clinical Hours
1000 hours, obtained through paid or volunteer employment within a supervised setting and accumulated within the 5 years immediately prior to exam application - self reported.

Students choosing this pathway could accumulate hours while practicing midwifery or as peer counselors. Students could also register for the Birthingway LC Practicum and we would help facilitate accumulation of hours via the Breastfeeding Center.

Education in Human Lactation and Breastfeeding
90 hours minimum required based on the IBLCE Exam Blueprint and completed within the 5 years immediately prior to exam application.

Birthingway’s AARC approved Lactation Consultant Course (Breastfeeding I, II, III and Skills sequence) meets the 90 hour requirement. We also offer many additional lactation specific courses.

Breastfeeding Course Work

Breastfeeding I (BRF211q) 1 credit hour
Using lecture, discussion, visual aids, and small group activities, this course provides students with basic information about topics including the normal breastfeeding physiology of mother and baby, properties of human milk, risks of formula feeding, recommendations regarding breastfeeding initiation, duration and normal parameters of nursing in the first two weeks, politics of breastfeeding, and influences of culture and birth practices on breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding II (BRF222q) 2 credit hours
Prerequisite: Breastfeeding I (BRF211q)
Students expand on their knowledge from BRF211 to assess and treat breastfeeding problems. Students utilize case studies and research projects to develop skills such as how to take a breastfeeding history of mother and baby, identification of presenting problems, and integrating counseling and education strategies into their breastfeeding support.

Breastfeeding III (BRF313q) 1 credit hour
Prerequisite: Breastfeeding II (BRF222q)
Case studies and development of protocols deepen students' knowledge of breastfeeding counseling. Students focus on more complex situations including failure to thrive and infant hypoglycemia, as well as professional issues such as scope of practice, ethics, and credentials.

Breastfeeding Skills (BFS411q) 1 credit hour
Prerequisite: Breastfeeding II (BRF222q)
Students have an opportunity to develop their hands-on skills by working with nursing women and their babies to demonstrate breast exams, practice supporting a successful latch, and how to use a variety of equipment such as breast pumps and nipple shields.

If you intend to utilize Pathway 1 for your IBLCE exam eligibility, and are not a health professional as defined by IBLCE, you must complete higher education courses in each of 8 health science subjects. When applying for the exam, candidates must demonstrate completion of these courses by submitting transcripts from accredited colleges or universities.

We offer courses in each of these disciplines; they do not have to be lactation specific.