Are you a nurse, doula, or birth worker thinking about becoming an IBCLC but wondering what your career could actually look like?

In this episode, I’m sharing my real story...from labor & delivery nurse and hospital IBCLC to building my own private practice and scaling a mentorship program for aspiring lactation consultants. I’m talking about workplace challenges, imposter syndrome, and the moment I realized I could create more freedom, flexibility, and income on my own terms.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, undervalued, or curious about starting your own lactation practice, this episode will open your eyes to what’s possible.

🎧 Ready to explore your own IBCLC path? Download my free secret podcast here: www.tinyurl.com/ibclcpath

What if becoming an IBCLC didn’t mean waiting years to start making an impact?

In this episode, I’m sharing the heart behind the Lactation Consultant Launchpad and how we are transforming lactation support by training the next generation of IBCLCs while simultaneously serving families in real time.

After receiving a powerful message from a family who was supported by a student still in training, I break down what it truly means to make a difference in this field and why impact doesn’t start after certification… it starts now.

We’ll talk about: • How aspiring IBCLCs can begin supporting families while gaining clinical hours • Why the traditional pathway to becoming an IBCLC feels inaccessible and what needs to change • The importance of mentorship, hands-on experience, and community in developing confident lactation consultants • How increasing the number of IBCLCs directly improves breastfeeding outcomes and maternal-child health

This episode is for aspiring lactation consultants, doulas, nurses, and birth workers who feel called to support families—but aren’t sure how to get started.

Because the truth is... we don’t just need more IBCLCs.

We need more support. More access. More people willing to show up.

And that change happens one dyad at a time.

🎙️ Ready to start your journey toward becoming an IBCLC? http://www.lactationconsultantlaunchpad.com

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