Advanced Lactation Consultant ✅

Since May, I have been taking the Advanced Lactation Consultant classes and attending weekly Office Hour trainings. Recently I sat for the proctored exam and last week received the amazing news that I passed. I am now thrilled to be an ALC.

What does this mean to be an ALC? Personally, it means that I can continue to counsel and educate families about infant feeding, which is my passion. Notice I said infant feeding, rather than breastfeeding. Every family feeds their baby in the way that works for them, and I want to support all families. If a mom wants to breastfeed, I want to help her feel confident and happy and comfortable with this choice. If she doesn’t want to breastfeed her baby, I want her to feel confident and happy and comfortable with this choice.

In my experience, many moms want to breastfeed, but struggle in one way or another. Those are the moms I really want to encourage and help.

The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP) offers this definition - “ CLCs or IBCLCs can earn advanced certification in lactation management by completing 95 hours of advanced level education. The Advanced Lactation Consultant possesses the insight, knowledge, and skills essential to the development and implementation of management strategies for complex problems related to breastfeeding and human lactation. ALC candidates undergo rigorous competency verification before they are able to sit for the certification examination with ALPP.”