While many mothers want to try and breastfeed their babies, the practice doesn’t always come easily. Lactation consultant nurses educate and support new mothers before and after birth to set them up for breastfeeding success. After birth, lactation consultant nurses visit mothers and babies in the hospital or home to answer any questions and provide hands-on teaching.
Lactation consultants don’t have to be nurses, but with medical training and experience, nurses can often bypass certain educational requirements to earn their lactation consultant certifications. Nurses can open lactation consulting businesses or work for a healthcare organization. Many women continue to need assistance and encouragement even months after birth, and lactation consultants offer actionable expertise.
Where Do Lactation Consultant Nurses Work?
Breastfeeding babies can eat anywhere their mother is. As a result, lactation nurses can work in a variety of settings:
Hospitals
Patients’ homes
Physician offices
Lactation centers
Many lactation consultant nurses work in hospitals and work with mothers in the days after birth. Hospitals assign patients to lactation consultants who then see patients in their hospital rooms. In physician offices, like those of an OBGYN, lactation consultant nurses see women in exam rooms to provide education and counseling before the big day.
In a lactation center, nurses can see women by appointment in an outpatient setting. Many also offer breastfeeding classes. Some women prefer to have a home visit, and some lactation consultant nurses establish small businesses with this service.
Wherever they work, lactation consultants can help their patients through these common breastfeeding issues:
Cluster feeding
Concerns over breast and nipple size/shape
Engorgement
Emotional vulnerability
Exhaustion
Fungal infections
Low milk supply
Mastitis
Nursing strikes
Plugged ducts
Sore nipples
What Does a Lactation Consultant Nurse Do?
Breastfeeding can be frustrating at first, and lactation consultants relay the many tips and tricks they’ve learned through their experience. Through their assistance and teaching, mothers learn how to help the baby latch well and get the necessary nourishment. During a consultation, nurses:
Assess the baby for tight tongue and lip ties
Check for tongue range of motion, jaw alignment, and suck strength
Examine the mother’s breasts for engorgement or plugged ducts
Inspect nipples for sores or redness
Measure the baby’s weight before and after feeding
Lactation consultant nurses typically stay with their patients for a full feeding, which can be anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes on average. They check the baby’s latch and watch for a good swallow throughout the feeding. During and after a nursing session, lactation consultants educate their clients about methods to:
Ensure a deep, comfortable latch
Fully empty each breast
Maximize how much milk the baby gets
Keep baby awake during feeds
It can be hard to read a new baby’s cues, especially when the newborn is still learning what they need. Lactation consultant nurses have the experience and knowledge to promote breastfeeding success.
They also often teach women how to use a breast pump effectively. They must be familiar with all pump brands and types so they can offer advice on the use and care of their equipment.
How Do I Become a Lactation Consultant Nurse?
Lactation consultants are not required to be nurses, but nurses in this field have the advantage of experience and medical knowledge. For aspiring lactation consultant nurses, the first step is to graduate from an accredited nursing program with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). An ADN typically takes two years to complete, while a BSN takes four. However, many nursing programs offer an accelerated program that can be finished in as little as a year.
Before nurses pursue lactation consulting, they can gain some experience and credibility by working in labor and delivery or postpartum care. After obtaining their degree, nurses can apply for positions in these units as graduate nurses (GNs), where they train under a nurse preceptor. Once GNs pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), their state licensing exam, they become registered nurses (RNs). After they complete their facility or unit’s orientation period, new RNs can practice nursing independently.
Even with nursing experience, most lactation consultant positions require certification through the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). This exam has no eligibility requirements and the IBLCE offers a practice exam on their website. Nurses in this specialty may also find it helpful to become members of a professional lactation consultant organization.
How Much Does a Lactation Consultant Nurse Make Per Year?
Lactation consultant nurses’ annual salary is comparable to that of registered nurses when they are employed by a medical organization. RNs make an average of $81,220 per year as of 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salary can differ by location and experience, from the low-end average of $61,250 to the high-end of $129,400. Depending on your workplace, your employer may be able to offer higher or lower compensation:
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $90,600
Offices of Physicians: $79,810
Outpatient Care Centers: $97,200
Lactation nurses who establish private businesses may earn a higher salary but must take business operation time into account. Earnings also vary depending on which state a lactation consultant nurse practices. The West Coast, New England states, and Alaska pay nurses the best, but the cost of living in these areas can also be high. The lowest paying states are in the Midwest and some southeastern states.
The top paying areas for lactation consultant nurses include:
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
Napa, CA
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Yuba City, CA
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA
Are Lactation Consultant Nurses in High Demand?
According to the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, 83% of mothers breastfeed at birth, and almost 25% are still breastfeeding at six months. In 2021, 3,664,292 babies were born, which equals a large number of mothers who needed breastfeeding support. Nurses are in short supply all over the United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 24% of U.S. hospitals have reported critical staffing shortages. Between the nursing shortage and the number of births, lactation consultant nurses will stay in high demand for some time.
Additional Resources for Lactation Consultant Nurses
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