If you are a nurse or healthcare professional who provides care for pregnant and lactating women, a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor training is an ideal certificate for you.
As you have probably experienced, you can become an L&D nurse, NICU nurse, obstetrician and more with little to no lactation training. You are well skilled in clinical care but have more informal lactation education.
Pursuing a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC) certificate benefits both you and your patients. The more knowledge and skills you have, the better you are as a practitioner.
Find out why taking the International Breastfeeding Institute at IDI’s CBC course is an important part of expanding your professional skills.
The International Breastfeeding Institute’s Courses Are Created By Experts
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), the gold standard in lactation, oversaw the creation of our CBC and Advanced Lactation certificate programs. In addition to our IBCLC, the International Breastfeeding Institute and International Doula Institute work with top professionals including but not limited to: physicians, nurses, and nutritionists.
Our certifications are recognized by several organizations and is accepted as a stepping stone to IBCLC training. This means your certification will be recognized by your colleagues and your employers.
Becoming a CBC Could Increase Your Salary
Many healthcare employers reward employees for expanding their skillset. Depending on your employment contract, additional certifications could increase your salary. It can also improve your resume should you decide to pursue new employment.
Completing continuing education is often required to maintain your healthcare licenses. However, when you choose continuing education which provides a new certificate, you are going above and beyond. This shows current and potential employers you value education.
In some cases, your continuing education costs are covered or reimbursed (partial or in full) by your employer. Even if that is not the case, the continuing education you receive is an important part of remaining an up-to-date professional.
Completing Your CBC Can Improve Patient Satisfaction
Many new parents struggle with initiating breastfeeding and reaching their breastfeeding goals. From conflicting advice from different providers to outdated breastfeeding advice, patients face many obstacles.
When you take the time to learn evidenced based information you can provide proper lactation support you will have improved patient satisfaction. More than just improving your patients’ satisfaction, you will be making a big difference in breastfeeding support.
Breastfeeding rates are a public health concern. You will have the opportunity to improve not just your patient satisfaction but overall breastfeeding rates within in your community.
You Can Improve Infant Feeding Culture Within Maternity Care
Whether you’re an L&D nurse, midwife, OB, or other professional, you have the power to influence the culture in your place of employment. When you become a lactation professional, on top of your other credentials, you can help provide evidenced based feeding information.
If you work in a hospital, you can assist in helping more families initiate breastfeeding. You can help educate fellow colleagues in up-to-date breastfeeding information. Creating a breastfeeding friendly atmosphere is an important part of helping families reach their breastfeeding goal.
You can take your passion for lactation and truly make a difference in maternity care.
You Can Become an Expert and Resource Where You Work
Rather than patients continuing to receive conflicting lactation advice and education, you can become to go-to resource for patients. Your colleagues will know you have the credentials available to help support patients.
If your hospital or office has an IBCLC, often their availability can be limited. There are not always IBCLCs at the hospital outside traditional business hours. When L&D nurses, who work a variety of shifts, are qualified to provide lactation support, they fill a huge gap in care. They ensure patients are given evidenced based support even when an IBCLC is unavailable.
Most mother baby pairs will face typical breastfeeding initiation challenges. As a CBC you can support them through it. For those needing additional support from an IBCLC, you can provide vital support until that visit can happen.
If you work in a maternity care provider’s office, you can provide vital prenatal education about lactation. When parents have evidenced based information and understanding of lactation in the prenatal period, they are more likely to initiate breastfeeding. Should they have difficulty, they will know who to reach out to for more support.
Ready to get started? Be sure to learn more about registering for our Certified Breastfeeding Counselor training.