What does it really take to become an IBCLC?

People see the credential. They see the expertise and confidence.

But they rarely see the transformation behind the journey.

In this special IBCLC Day episode, registered nurse and IBCLC Leslie Owens shares the personal story behind her path to becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and why she believes the future of lactation care cannot be gatekept.

Drawing inspiration from Maya Angelou’s words and her own experiences navigating the lactation profession, Leslie opens up about the hidden challenges aspiring lactation consultants often face including confusing pathways, lack of mentorship, and professional barriers.

She also shares why she created Lactation Consultant Launchpad, a mentorship program designed to help aspiring IBCLCs gain clinical hours, build confidence, and step into leadership in maternal and infant health.

If you have ever wondered:

• How do I become an IBCLC? • Where do aspiring lactation consultants get clinical hours? • Is mentorship necessary to succeed in the lactation field?

This episode will inspire you to begin your own transformation.

Because while gatekeeping may have shaped the past of this profession, mentorship will shape its future.

check out www.tinyurl.com/ibclcpath for our 4 episode podcast series Unlocking The IBCLC Path: A Secret Podcast for Birth Workers & Breastfeeding Advocates

Are RN IBCLCs less qualified… or just misunderstood?

After a spicyl post about hospital IBCLCs deserving an apology sparked debate, we’re talking about the growing RN vs. non RN tension inside the lactation field.

In this episode, we cover:

• The reality of hospital lactation support

• Why RN training strengthens IBCLC practice

• Clinical reasoning in breastfeeding care

• And how pathway shaming is damaging the profession

Whether you’re an aspiring IBCLC, a birth worker, or currently practicing in hospital or private practice settings, this conversation is about standards, collaboration, and protecting families.

If you’re exploring how to become an IBCLC and want clarity on the pathways, mentorship, and earning clinical hours without confusion, start here:

👉 www.tinyurl.com/ibclcpath

The future of lactation belongs to clinicians who can hold both compassion and complexity. Let’s build that.

Hospital IBCLCs are getting dragged.

“They didn’t help.” “They pushed formula.” “They missed the tie.” “They were in the room five minutes.”

But what if we’re blaming the wrong person?

In this episode, I’m calling out the growing frustration and misinformation surrounding hospital lactation consultants. We’re unpacking what a hospital IBCLC shift actually looks like, the structural constraints they work under, and why six-week breastfeeding struggles often get pinned on someone who had ten minutes inside a discharge timeline.

If you are a birth worker, nurse, private practice IBCLC, or aspiring lactation consultant, this is a needed mindset shift.

We’re talking about: • Hospital lactation consultant realities • Why early newborn physiology is different from a two-week visit • System pressures that families never see • The difference between individual care and structural barriers • And how to think critically instead of react emotionally

If you want to become an IBCLC who understands systems, settings, and power dynamics instead of just latch mechanics, this episode is for you.

Because the future of lactation leadership requires nuance.

Press play.