Hello
I am an RN with nearly 20 years experience at the bedsides of Laboring Mothers and NICU babies. I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with 17 years of experience providing inpatient and out patient lactation consultations. I have also been teaching prenatal classes for 17 years and I am an Internationally Certified Childbirth Educator (ICCE). I would love to help you with any part of your child birth journey!
My Story
I started my nursing career in high school as a Certified Nursing Assistant. I finished my Nursing degree 3 years after graduating high school and started working on a Labor and Delivery unit as an RN. I fell in love with my laboring patients and found that I especially loved helping families make their birth plans a reality. I realized very early on that I had knack for helping mothers with breastfeeding and quickly developed a passion for Lactation. I became a Certified Lactation Counselor 2 years after starting my career on Labor and Delivery. As I grew in my career I found that I was also drawn to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and cross trained so that I could work in both areas. I continued work in the NICU and on Labor and Delivery and spent almost 20 years at the bedside as an RN and Lactation Counselor.
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What is the advantage of this experience? I have a deep understanding of the medical world that you will encounter. I have learned ways to work cooperatively the healthcare team to optimize your patient experience and realize your breastfeeding and birthing goals while also collaborating with your healthcare team to provide safe and optimal care for you and your baby.
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What is the benefit of an IBCLC?
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IBCLC requirements:
Several university-level health science courses
90 hours of human lactation courses
5 hours of communication/ethics courses
Hundreds of supervised clinical experience hours
A rigorous, high-level board exam that has been compared to the RN board exams in complexity and difficulty.
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To maintain my certification I must also prove 75 hours of continuing education every 5 years and retake the board exam every 10 years
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Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) Requirements:
A 4.5-day course (40 hours) of Lactation education followed by a test.
Education Requirement: None
Breastfeeding Experience requirement: None
CLC Credential Maintenance: 18 hours of continuing education every 3 years. No additional testing required.
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A CLC may be very helpful but the IBCLC is equipped to handle more complex breastfeeding problems. Additionally many CLC's work in a clinic or hospital environment where resources are stretched thin and time to spend with clients is limited.
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When you are a client at Labor of Love you are the priority! You will receive undivided, unrushed, individualized attention and specialized care!