Becoming an IBCLC

My journey

It isn't a quick one. 2012 through to now.

It's not something you wake up one morning and think "Oh yes I quite fancy that, let's do that!"

My journey started after my first child was born back in 2012. There was a course locally, with my health board, training up some "Mother Supporters". These trainees would then go out, help a bit at support groups, and be an educated friend that every new parent needs! (This course has changed now, it is all online, and referred to as a Peer Supporter)

After that I found the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. I quickly whipped through their Mother Supporter training so that I could start training as a breastfeeding counsellor, in October 2013.

This training usually takes about 2 years. But I took a little longer! It took me 4 years, 3 babies and pregnant with another, to completing in October 2017. This then started my journey on the National Breastfeeding Helpline, supporting families over the phone from all over the country!

During this time I was still supporting breastfeeding support groups locally, which moved location several times but never stopped!

In 2019 I decided that it was time to push for my IBCLC credential. So I spent some time getting all the education I needed:

• 90 hours lactation education

• 14 health sciences (thankfully I already had a few of these from my degrees)

• 1000 hours experience (my time on the helpline was invaluable here)

I was scheduled to take the exam in March 2020.

And we all know what happened then. Covid.

So my exam was suspended and then rescheduled for September that year instead (which was probably for the best, as I had a youngest baby in January 2020, so my head probably wasn't in the right place!). All the while I was still supporting families online when the local breastfeeding groups went online, and on the phone as a breastfeeding counsellor.

The exam in September was remotely proctored. I did it from my living room. I had to move out a lot of the furniture and take things off the wall - it was a surreal experience!

It then took 3 months for the results, which were a welcome relief after all that time! (Scored 92%!)

That was when the private business took off properly. I started seeing parents online and then soon after, in their own homes.

Business evolved from there - including baby wearing in 2023 and soon to include Antenatal education and hypnobirthing in 2024.

My passion is supporting new and soon-to-be parents and hopefully I will do this for some time to come!

Naturally Nurture was born in February 2024, after some rebranding.