Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This is the third term of practicum seminar for students completing the Lactation Consultant Certificate. Participants will have the opportunity to review more advanced topics in preparation for taking the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) Exam required for certification. Students will also be developing job search skills. The IBLCE Exam Blueprint is a guide for the curriculum utilized in this course.

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

1. Develop and deliver evidence-based educational presentations, acting as an informed advocate for breastfeeding as the child-feeding norm.
2. Utilize research skills to access and evaluate breastfeeding protocols from a variety of sources.
3. Develop a professional resume and demonstrate the ability to search for employment as an IBCLC.
4. Use self-reflection skills to identify areas for improvement, implementing and evaluating improvement strategies.
5. Abide by professional ethics and standards, practicing within the framework defined by the IBLCE Code of Professional Conduct for IBCLCs.

This course is a hybrid course that includes some distance learning classes and some in-person classes. Course learning activities will include a distance learning seminar, readings, group discussion, quizzes, reflective writing, case studies, research, written assignments, student presentations, interviews and observations.

Multiple choice tests
Presentations and/or projects
Written assignments
Course activities and discussion

Themes
Evidence-based lactation practices
Concepts
Adult education
Client/family uniqueness
Clinical assessment
Collaboration
Counseling
Communication
Contraindications
Family-centered care
Observation
Problem-solving
Professional ethics
Public health
Resources
Issues
Client confidence
Processing students own personal or familial experience of breastfeeding
Sharing personal or familial experience of breastfeeding
Recognizing the importance of basing lactation practice on evidence-informed
information
Skills

• Promote, support and protect breastfeeding through the support of international breastfeeding initiatives such as the Baby Friendly Hospital  Initiative and the WHO Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding
• Demonstrate knowledge of the maternal or pediatric contraindications to breastfeeding or the provision of human milk
• Demonstrate a knowledge of laws/legal issues that support or act as a barrier to breastfeeding and the provision of human milk
• Demonstrate knowledge of how to report to IBLCE concerning a personal criminal offence, or an IBCLC who is functioning outside the IBLCE Scope of Practice, violating the IBLCE Code of Professional Conduct or not following the ILCA Standards of Practice
• Provide information and strategies to prevent and resolve common breastfeeding challenges.
• Demonstrate effective written and oral communications/presentation skills.
• Demonstrate job search and career advancement skills.
• Identify costs and benefits of resource options for lactation care.