I am interested in becoming a lactation consultant--unfortunately I have 
absolutely no background or exposure to a clinical setting. I have been 
studying on my own, lurking on LactNet for a year, and taking some 
courses through community college, online, etc. 

My understanding of the route I need to follow is to complete a 45-hour 
lactation management course, complete four hours of training in each of 
the 6 related health disciplines as described on the IBCLE website, and 
accumulate 2500 hours of working with breastfeeding mothers and babies ( 
(as I hold a non-health-related 4 year degree).

I've been wondering for a while now how to actually get started--as I am 
already employed fulltime in the IT industry. Taking a position as a WIC 
counselor or getting involved in LLL are not particularly feasible. I 
thought perhaps I could volunteer a few hours a week (or month?) at my 
local hospital, but I'm not sure how much I really have to offer, given 
the little experience I have -- other than nursing my own son, which 
certainly WAS a learning experience!

So I came across this clinical internship in lactation management 
program offered by Inova hospital in Fairfax:

http://www.inova.org/inovapublic.srt/education/lactation/internship.jsp?tStatus=81

And I wondered if there may be other similar programs, perhaps closer to 
me. I'm in western North Carolina, near Asheville. I could probably 
commit the time/money to taking a week-long course, followed by a 
100-hour internship, as long as each could be done without being away 
from my job for more than a week or two at a time.

After the training program and the internship I think I could offer 
myself as a volunteer to the local hospital or pediatric practice, to 
continue accumulating hours. Is this a reasonable strategy? I know it 
will still take a really long time, but I am very committed and persistent!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice!

Deborah Ellington

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