Hi all,

I've been lurking for a few weeks and thought I should introduce 
myself. My name is Jennifer, I live on Long Island (New York, USA) and 
I have two daughters, ages 4 and 6. I am in the process of a career 
change, from web designer to lactation professional. My ultimate goal 
is to become an IBCLC, but without a healthcare background, it's going 
to be a very looooooong process for me. I've been following the threads 
about IBLCE/IBCLC requirements with great interest.

Currently I am a Leader Applicant with La Leche League and I also did a 
Certified Lactation Educator training with CAPPA (Childbirth and 
Postpartum Professionals Association) last summer. I'm still finishing 
up some reading and other requirements for that before I can officially 
be a CLE. I don't know the general opinion on Lactnet about 
certifications other than IBCLC, but as a complete beginner and a 
newcomer to the lactation field, the CAPPA course seemed much more 
well-defined, structured, and *achievable* than the IBCLC exam. And 
throughout the course, the instructor emphasized that she was not 
teaching us to be lactation consultants and that we should always refer 
clients to an IBCLC for anything beyond the scope of a lactation 
educator's mandate. I intend to sit for the IBCLC exam eventually (when 
I finally rack up enough BC hours!), but the CLE seemed like a good 
beginning and introduction to the lactation field.

Unofficially, I've gotten a reputation in my community as the local 
"breastfeeding fanatic" so people call me about pumping, increasing 
their milk supply, etc. It was when this started happening more and 
more frequently that I realized that this should be my career. I'm 
reading voraciously to stay one step ahead of the questions I get. 
Again, I always refer to La Leche League or a lactation consultant if 
the question is beyond what I feel comfortable answering, but it's so 
gratifying to disseminate even small pieces of accurate information, 
such as, no, you don't have to throw away that bottle of pumped milk 
because you forgot to put it in the fridge for 2 hours, because freshly 
expressed milk can stay out much longer than that!

Anyway, in reading Lactnet, I have been amazed at the dedication, 
knowledge, and passion of lactation professionals around the world. I'm 
learning so much from all of you--thank you for sharing your thoughts 
and expertise! I hope someday I can make a small contribution.

Jennifer Sokolow
(hoping to add some letters after my name eventually!)

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