You have a passion for supporting new families on their breastfeeding journey. Being able to turn that passion into a career sounds amazing, right? But what does a career as a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC) actually look like? Are there career options for certified breastfeeding counselors?
Yes! There are many career options for CBCs. In fact, earning your CBC opens up the possibility for self-employment, contract work, employment, and more. It even provides you with the base education for future certifications if so desired.
At the International Breastfeeding Institute at IDI we do not just certify birth workers. We are invested in helping you understand how to build a birth work career.
There are many ways to use your CBC certificate. Here are a few career options for Certified Breastfeeding Counselors:
#1: Provide Private Lactation Support and Education
As a CBC, you have the skills to support breastfeeding families. Many CBCs offer private services as a self-employed individual. Your skillset and certification allow you to support new families with:
- Typical breastfeeding initiation
- Prenatal lactation education
- Back-to-work pumping planning sessions
- Common lactation questions related to infant sleep patterns, normal newborn behavior, busier infants and toddlers, and more
- Typical lactation support through weaning
- Referrals to IBCLCs, healthcare providers, etc. as needed
As a CBC, you have a vital role in typical lactation support. Your work as a private non-medical support provider is an important part of helping families reach their breastfeeding goals.
#2: Community Breastfeeding Counselor
While breastfeeding is unique in each family, breastfeeding rates are a public health concern. There are a variety of organizations, both private and government funded, which provide breastfeeding support. These organizations hire a variety of lactation professionals to provide lactation support to women in the community.
This may look like employment at nutrition organizations such as Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) which provides nutrition support; or it may look like employment through a hospital, health clinic, or other community-based companies.
As a community breastfeeding counselor, you will likely provide prenatal education and ongoing postpartum support. This may look like one-on-one counseling or group-based support.
#3: Support Group or Class Facilitator
As a CBC, you have the skills to provide ongoing support and education. As an individual or as an employee, you will have the credentials and skills to facilitate support groups and breastfeeding classes.
This may look like providing group prenatal breastfeeding classes to help pregnant parents prepare for their new baby. You might also be employed by an organization or company which provides prenatal and postpartum services.
Postpartum support groups can play a vital role in helping new parents meet their breastfeeding goals. It is important families have access to peer support alongside professional support. Facilitated support groups offer both things.
Peer support provides empathetic individuals experiencing the same season of life. Your professional guidance as the facilitator helps ensure they get evidenced-based answers to common questions. Facilitating groups is often a favorite career option among many birth workers. You get the opportunity to not just provide support but also help encourage peer connections.
#4: Online Resource and Professional
As a CBC, you have evidenced-based lactation knowledge. Some CBCs find blogging, vlogging, virtual consults, and more a sustainable way to build their career. You can earn money via monetizing your blogs and vlogs, as well as through providing consultations.
As you become more experienced, you might also have the opportunity for speaking engagements.
#5: As a Stepping Stone to Becoming an IBCLC
The International Breastfeeding Institute is not a generic online certification. Our programs are qualified and created by true IBCLC lactation professionals. Our CBC certification and our Advanced Lactation Certification are credentialed to be a stepping stone towards an IBCLC.
Many CBCs work just as that, a CBC, long-term, and have a wonderful career. Becoming an IBCLC is not a requirement. However, some have long-term goals to become an IBCLC and a CBC training is an excellent pathway.
As you can see, there are many career options for Certified Breastfeeding Counselors. From self-employment to contract work, to furthering your career as an IBCLC, the options are almost endless. At the International Breastfeeding Institute, we are here to help you train and thrive in your career.