Reflecting on some big events

My classmates

In the past  month, I have attended my first ILCA (International Lactation Consultants Association) conference, graduated from my 8-month lactation consultant prep course, and took the exam that will certify me as an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.) Whew! As I recover, I’ve been reflecting on these events and the profession of lactation consulting.

ILCA

What an awesome experience. In mid-July, my mom, 2 1/2 year old son and I drove down to San Diego, CA for my first ILCA conference. Despite carrying a brain saturated with IBLCE test preparation, I learned new and amazing things that have already improved the work I do with moms. I met cool people, ate good food, and came home refreshed and inspired. A few things that struck me about the field of lactation consultants:

• I am so impressed by the leaders in this field. The presentations I attended were strongly research-based, yet many esteemed authors and educators also shared wisdom from their decades of experience… stuff that you can’t find in books and science journals yet.
• This is a profession with high ethical standards. There were statements everywhere about compliance with the WHO code and presentations about ethical issues in lactation consulting. These ethical standards are far more respectable than those of my other professional nutrition organization I belong to as a Registered Dietitian, which accepts sponsorship dollars from fast food, soda, and candy companies.
• The face of the profession is changing. You wouldn’t know it from attending ILCA, where Katherine Shealy from CDC described an aging profession full of  peachy white faces. In her powerful and informative presentation, she challenged the profession to draw in a new workforce of young, racially diverse lactation professionals. Great message, however I think she missed the wonderful fact that it’s already happening. I see it in my classes, at WIC events, and at my IBCLC exam. Take a look at the beautiful photo above of my class of lactation consultants - what do you think?

Displaying my diploma

Graduation

Graduation was extra special for me because it fell on my birthday! We had a lovely dinner and ceremony where graduates were awarded with beautiful plaques and gifts of breastfeeding reference books. It was a great way to celebrate all the work we’ve done to become lactation consultants. This class wasn’t a requirement for me to qualify for the IBCLC exam – I already had enough education and practice hours. A year ago, I really agonized about the decision to take it: the sacrifice of work vacation hours to attend classes, the studying, homework, and projects to squeeze in on top of my full-time job and mothering. It was worth it! It prepared me well for the exam, but more importantly, I will be a better lactation consultant as a result of the course.

IBLCE Exam

That exam was hard. I prepared well, knew my facts, but the exam took the facts and asked candidates to apply them to gray areas drawing on clinical judgment, counseling skills, areas where lactation is more of an art than a science. It left me feeling unsettled, unsure, unlike exams I’ve taken where I leave knowing I nailed it. But since I took a bunch of practice tests with good results, I’m assuming I passed. Results will be out October 28th. . . wait for my announcement.

Thanks for your patience with me during these couple of months with no blogging action. I’ve been pretty busy, but gradually I’m feeling the weight lift. I am thrilled to be formally entering the field of lactation consulting. I’ve enjoyed working with moms and babies for years, but the new skills, knowledge, and growth I’ve gained over the past year have been huge!