Lactation Specialist
(On-Site Program)

Description:

This basic program trains participants to be Lactation Specialists and to obtain the most up-to-date information in the lactation field. The number one complaint that patients have about the field of lactation is the inconsistency of information and recommendations. This program uses criteria research based information to substantiate the information and training the student receives and therefore gives consistency to patient education and recommendations.

This training is an excellent opportunity for front line staff such as postpartum nurses, labor & delivery nurses, or WIC personnel to obtain consistent and clinically appropriate information for basic patient education.

Nurses who work with mothers, babies, and families often extend their skills by becoming lactation specialists. This 2 day training program may meet the requirement for staff training for the baby friendly applicant hospital.

On-site programs:

The Lactation Specialist and Lactation Educator-Counselor on-site programs offered by UCSD Extension can come to your location. These programs are tailored to the audience or area that makes the request and joint ventures with UCSD Extension. The requirements of the hosting facility or organization are simply to provide meeting space, audio-visual support, assistance with clinical placement for student observations of a lactation consultant or lactation specialist, and assist with marketing the Lactation Educator-Counselor program.

What about certification?

Lactation Specialist is not a certification or certificated program.

Employment or job opportunities and pay scale:

Generally Lactation Specialists are already employed by a facility, hospital, clinic, or WIC agency. This program is brought to an area for specific training. Occasionally, a WIC agency will contract with UCSD Extension for the Lactation Specialist and the Lactation Educator-Counselor program. All participants would take the first 2 days of class and then those wanting to be Lactation Educator-Counselors would take the second half of the training.

Course requirements for lactation specialist:

Class attendance is mandatory.
Assignments include but may not be limited to:

• Counseling problems (4-6 total)
• Common Myths Assignment
• Baby Friendly Hospital criteria requires a minimum of 3 hours of clinical for mother baby staff.

Time requirements:

• Class didactic: 16 hours (2 days)

Textbooks:

Click here for listing of textbooks.

Costs:

Sliding Scale depending on number of days of training.

Credits and CEU's:

Available.

For more information:

Contact Nicole Mitchell at (858) 964-1069.

Program coordinator:

Gini Baker, RN, MPH, FACCE, IBCLC
Program Coordinator and Primary Teaching Faculty UCSD Perinatal Programs
College of Extension
Lactation Consultant at Sharp Health Care System