About Me:
My name is Laura and I am the proud mother of a toddler. Breastfeeding did not come easily to me, and I remember the feelings of despair in those first few weeks, wondering if I would be able to continue. After overcoming my breastfeeding hump, I became active in offering breastfeeding support and advice to others, and became an active member of La Leche League International. In 2013 I completed my certification in Lactation Education and Counseling at the University of San Diego. Being a CLEC allows me to work with breastfeeding mothers one on one as well as teach prenatal breastfeeding classes.
In May of 2013 I was given the opportunity to attend the La Leche League Southern California/Nevada Breastfeeding Conference. It was at that conference that I became inspired by many of the conference attendees and speakers and decided the ultimately pursue becoming an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). I hope to sit for the exam in July of 2015.
I am currently working on my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree.
What a CLEC is:
A CLEC (also known by other acronyms such as CLE, LEC, depending on the 3rd party certifying body) is a knowledgeable person, usually another mother, who provides support and advice to other breastfeeding mothers. A CLEC is qualified to:
1. Teach breastfeeding classes
2. Perform phone "triage" of breastfeeding issues
3. Work one-on-one with mothers to resolve *simple* breastfeeding problems, such as latching and positioning
4. Offer encouragement and support to enable mothers to make their own informed decisions about breastfeeding/infant feeding
*A CLEC is not a Lactation Consultant and should never take the place of a consultation by an IBCLC. As a CLEC, I will always refer women to an IBCLC or other knowledgeable professional if I feel their situation is outside my scope of practice.*
What an IBCLC is:
An IBCLC is an "Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant". It is the only universally recognized certification in lactation. While many 3rd party organizations exist that give out certificates in lactation education and/or counseling and consulting, the IBCLC is the only one that is certified under the US National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
An IBCLC specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding, and is qualified to work in a scope well beyond what a CLEC/CLE/LEC is allowed to do. This can include performing before and after feed weights, assessing for tongue tie, dealing with low supply issues, and working with a wide range of special breastfeeding situations (prematurity, neurological disorders, sucking deficits, birth defects, etc.)
Limited availability of IBCLC's in many areas has overwhelmed the system, so a "tiered" approach to breastfeeding that incorporates the skill sets of many different individuals is not only appropriate, but beneficial. Women with difficult breastfeeding situations should always be seen by an IBCLC. But women struggling with smaller problems, such as difficulty latching or positioning, or who simply need to talk to someone about some of their concerns without receiving an in-depth consultation and assessment will benefit from seeing a Lactation Educator/Counselor, La Leche League Leader, or other person.
In my role as a CLEC, I act as an "intermediary" between a mother and an IBCLC. I always refer mothers to an IBCLC for situations that are outside my scope of practice, and also provide follow-ups with women who have been previously seen by an IBCLC and may need some extra reassurance and guidance outside the realm of direct clinical management.
My Qualifications:
Certificated Lactation Educator Counselor UCSD Extension
Family Herbalist School of Natural Healing, Springville Utah
Additional Conferences/Seminars:
Bottle, Breast, and childhood Obesity Nancy Mohrbacher
Concerns about Low Milk Production Nancy Mohrbacher
Hazelbaker Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function Allison Hazelbaker
Classifying Infant Sucking Deficits Allison Hazelbaker
What's NOT a Posterior Tongue Tie? Allison Hazelbaker
The Importance of Skin to Skin Contact Louise Dumas
No comments:
Post a Comment