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getting paid to help breastfeeding moms?  

post #1 of 33
10/25/07 at 8:31am
Thread Starter 
Are there ways to get paid helping moms who breastfeed? How does being a lactation consultant work? How do you become a lactation consultant?

I am trying to come up with ideas that I am actually passionate about for future income. (Just a little bit-not looking to get rich )

Jenny
post #2 of 33
10/25/07 at 9:15am
Do you participate in your area's WIC program? I know that some WIC offices hire people as Peer Counselors, but you have to be on WIC I believe.
post #3 of 33
10/25/07 at 2:59pm
Jenny, I will myspace you about being a peer counselor, but it may take me a while to write it all out, so go ahead and call your WIC office and tell either their lactation consultant or their peer counselor what you want to do, and they can direct you from there. Becoming an IBCLC is a tough path from what I understand, so I am going the peer counselor route first.


And no, you don't have to be on WIC to be one.
post #4 of 33
10/25/07 at 4:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrs.Bufford View Post

And no, you don't have to be on WIC to be one.
I live in MA and you do have to be on WIC to be a peer counselor. You also need to EBF for 6 months prior to training.
post #5 of 33
10/25/07 at 4:34pm
I'm interested in talking to someone who is a lactation consultant to see if this is the route I want to take as well so if there are any out there, PM me!

Ally
post #6 of 33
10/25/07 at 7:03pm
I guess it differs from state to state, because here in AR you don't have to be one wic, however you do have to have EBF'd for 6 months.
post #7 of 33
10/25/07 at 10:19pm
in nm you have to be or have been on WIC to be a peer councilor. The pay is small, but it is a very rewarding job.
post #8 of 33
10/25/07 at 10:21pm
I had called WIC a few months back (Montana) and they had never heard of the peer counselor. I'd really like to be one out here, we're in a rural area and over an hour from the nearest LC. Any advice?
post #9 of 33
10/25/07 at 10:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PixieAlly View Post
I'm interested in talking to someone who is a lactation consultant to see if this is the route I want to take as well so if there are any out there, PM me!

Ally
I am an LC, it is a very rewarding and sometimes frustrating career. Fortunately, one successful breastfeeder can undo the frustration of 20 who quit too easily. Let me know what questions you have, i'd be happy to answer them
post #10 of 33
10/27/07 at 8:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Livviesmom0207 View Post
I live in MA and you do have to be on WIC to be a peer counselor. You also need to EBF for 6 months prior to training.
I live in MA and I am a WIC peer counselor. I was never on WIC. They prefer that you have been a WIC mom, but it's not a requirement.
post #11 of 33
10/27/07 at 8:26am
Did you call your local WIC office? You might try calling the state's main office, and asking for the breastfeeding coordinator.
post #12 of 33
10/27/07 at 1:37pm
Becoming a Lactation Consultant
post #13 of 33
10/27/07 at 4:28pm
I am in the process of becoming an LC, hoping to test next year.
It's alot of work but I'm so happy I chose this path. I started out as a volunteer counselor with my local BFing organization - Nursing mothers alliance. This also required a long training class and you become a "certified counselor". You may want to look into something like this to get you started. Counseling gives you hours you need to qualify for the exam.
post #14 of 33
10/27/07 at 6:08pm
You can also be a CLC - Certiffffied Lactation Councelor
I used to work at my local birth center as one in the Education Dept.
http://www.healthychildren.cc/CLC.HTM
for inormation.
post #15 of 33
10/27/07 at 7:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rupiezum View Post
I live in MA and I am a WIC peer counselor. I was never on WIC. They prefer that you have been a WIC mom, but it's not a requirement.
Well then it varies by area because in my local area you do have to be a WIC mom.
post #16 of 33
10/27/07 at 7:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Livviesmom0207 View Post
Well then it varies by area because in my local area you do have to be a WIC mom.
I think the most recent I have heard is that they prefer that you were wic eligible at some point in your life.
post #17 of 33
10/27/07 at 7:48pm
Thread Starter 
:

Forgot to sub to my own thread aagain.
post #18 of 33
10/27/07 at 7:49pm
Thread Starter 
I have blown off my wic, I should probably rectify the situation.
post #19 of 33
10/27/07 at 7:50pm
Here is some info on becoming an IBCLC, I would reccomend to anyone interested, get started now earning BC (breastfeeding counseling)hours, bc at minimum you need 2500 in order to be eligible to sit for the exam.

Also there is a book by Linda Smith called "The Lactation Consultant in Private Practice" that I would highly recommend to anyone who is serious, bc it starts off with just having an interest in becoming an IBCLC and goes through the process, the testing, all the way to becoming certified, starting a practice, etc. Linda Smith also has a review book for those getting ready to sit for their exam that I highly recommend.

Anyway, here are the links:

Becoming a Lactation Consultant: Where to begin?

http://www.ilca.org/education/ibclcsteps.php

http://iblce.org/pathways.htm

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/LC.html
post #20 of 33
10/27/07 at 7:52pm
Thread Starter 
hmmmm I go to LLL meetings to talk with young mothers, wouild that count?
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