Many people get into lactation support because of their own breastfeeding experience. However, previously breastfeeding is not a requirement to be a wonderful certified breastfeeding counselor. You can be a breastfeeding counselor even if you never breastfed.

How? Simply put, a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC) is a professional trained in evidenced-based curriculum. Just as a doctor need not give birth becoming an OB/GYN, your training can prepare you to provide adequate support.

How Can I Be a Breastfeeding Counselor If I Never Breastfed?

Being able to support parents comes from proper training. Regardless of your own experience or lack of with lactating, our training equips you to provide evidenced-based and empathetic support.

You do not need to have personally breastfed to provide proper CBC support in the community. In fact, if you have never breastfed you have the advantage of never comparing your experience with a client’s.

Some people have easy breastfeeding experiences. This is simply because their baby may have been born with an excellent latch and they had an abundant supply. In these situations, it can be hard to remember that not everyone has such an easy breastfeeding experience.

In other situations, some have incredibly challenging experiences and can inadvertently scare new parents with how difficult breastfeeding can be.

With your training, and no personal lactation experience, you can provide your clients with the unique perspective of purely evidence-based information.

While there can be an advantage to personal experience and empathy, it is not at all a requirement.

Will Clients Care If I Never Breastfed?

Generally, clients should not care about your personal breastfeeding journey. You are a professional equipped to provide professional support.

That said, in the same way one may feel a midwife or doctor is a better fit for them for one reason or another, there may be some clients who feel you are not a great fit.

However, this is often the exception and far from the rule. When asked if you breastfed you can simply reply with something such as, “While I do not have a personal breastfeeding experience to share with you, I do have all the best practice information to support you. How can I best help you reach your goals?”

You want to make the appointment all about them and not about your personal feeding experiences. Whether you are childfree or you formula fed for any number of reasons, as a CBC you will be equipped to provide support to many families.

Is CBC Training Truly All I Need?

Yes! With the comprehensive training at the International Doula Institute, you will be equipped to provide CBC services to families in your community. In fact, our training can be used towards IBCLC education if you desire to go even further in your lactation profession.

There are no requirements to have breastfed in the past to complete our training. What you need to complete training is to demonstrate understanding of evidenced based information and how to apply that to supporting families.

This can be done in a professional way regardless of your personal feeding history. At IDI, we believe everyone with a passion to support families can become an amazing professional with proper training. With evidenced-based curriculum, a diverse body of instructors and curriculum developers, you will have all the information and skills necessary to be a professional CBC.

Simply having breastfed does not mean someone has the skills to support others. Even with having breastfed, it is common for people to believe a variety of myths about feeding. This can negatively impact new parents trying to navigate lactation. As a professional, you can ensure clients have the information and support they need to reach their breastfeeding goals.