Career Opportunities for IBCLCs: Expanding Your Practice, Skills, and Income Streams

Becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) opens up a wide array of career opportunities. While many people associate IBCLCs with hospital work or private practice, there’s a world of potential for career growth, especially if you’re creative and open to expanding your skills. This article explores some of the lesser-known career paths for IBCLCs and how you can diversify your income streams and impact in the lactation field.

1. Private Lactation Consulting

Private practice is one of the most common career paths for IBCLCs, and it offers flexibility, autonomy, and the ability to build meaningful relationships with clients. Many IBCLCs choose private consulting because they can set their own schedules and rates while providing personalized care.

• How to get started: You’ll need to establish a business, secure professional liability insurance, and develop a client base. Networking with local pediatricians, OB-GYNs, and midwives can be a great way to grow your referrals. Additionally, ensure you have an efficient EHR (Electronic Health Records) system in place to manage client information and charting (systems like PracticeQ, Jane, or Milk Notes are popular choices).

Income Tip:

Offer package deals for prenatal and postpartum consults to encourage longer-term engagement and diversify services (e.g., virtual consults, in-home visits, and group classes).

2. Corporate Lactation Consultant

Did you know that some companies now invest in lactation support for their employees? As a corporate lactation consultant, you can partner with businesses to help support breastfeeding employees by offering educational workshops, setting up lactation rooms, and providing one-on-one consultations for employees returning to work.

• How to get started: Contact local companies, especially those with large workforces or those recognized for progressive family-friendly policies. Many companies are eager to offer breastfeeding support programs to increase employee satisfaction and retention.

Income Tip:

Create corporate lactation packages that include workshops, consults, and resources tailored to employees transitioning back to work. These services can be contracted for ongoing support, adding a steady income stream to your practice.

3. Teaching and Educating

As an IBCLC, you have the expertise that many people in healthcare, education, and childcare are eager to learn from. Offering educational workshops for new parents, daycare providers, healthcare professionals, or even peer supporters can be a rewarding and lucrative option.

• How to get started: Partner with hospitals, birthing centers, or community groups to offer workshops. You can also teach at universities or community colleges that offer nursing, midwifery, or doula training programs.

Income Tip:

Consider offering virtual courses or webinars that allow you to reach a broader audience. Once the content is created, you can sell recordings or offer recurring live classes.

4. Lactation Consultant for Healthcare Settings

While working in hospitals remains a core role for many IBCLCs, you can also find roles in smaller clinics, pediatric offices, or community health centers. Many healthcare facilities appreciate having an IBCLC on staff to provide direct breastfeeding support and education.

• How to get started: Reach out to smaller clinics or pediatricians who might not yet have a lactation consultant on staff. Offer to provide training for nurses or direct consultations for their patients.

Income Tip:

Offer regular contract-based services to clinics or pediatric offices where you can provide lactation consultations one or two days a week.

5. Creating Online Courses and Digital Products

Online education is booming, and IBCLCs are perfectly positioned to offer digital products that cater to expectant and new parents. Creating online courses on breastfeeding topics can not only reach a global audience but also offer passive income.

• How to get started: Identify key areas where parents often seek guidance—such as latching techniques, milk supply issues, or pumping strategies. Develop video content, PDF guides, or e-books that address these pain points. Platforms like Teachable or Kajabi make it easy to create, market, and sell your courses.

Income Tip:

Bundle your online course with live Q&A sessions or private consultations for an added fee. Offering tiered pricing allows you to engage a wide range of clients.

6. Writing and Content Creation

If you have a knack for writing, you can create content related to breastfeeding and lactation for blogs, websites, or educational publications. Many health-focused websites are looking for expert writers who can create reliable and research-based content on breastfeeding topics.

• How to get started: Start by creating a blog or submitting articles to popular parenting websites like Motherly or The Bump. You can also write for medical journals or collaborate on lactation-related publications.

Income Tip:

Offer sponsored content, affiliate marketing for breastfeeding products, or collaborate with lactation-related brands. Writing e-books or guides can also be an additional source of income.

7. Mentorship for Aspiring IBCLCs

As an experienced IBCLC, you can offer mentorship and guidance to others on their path to certification. Becoming a mentor is not only fulfilling but can also be a source of income if you create structured mentoring programs for students.

• How to get started: Offer to mentor through ILCA (International Lactation Consultant Association) or create your own mentorship packages, where you provide guidance, feedback, and resources to IBCLCs in training.

Income Tip:

Create a membership or subscription-based community for aspiring IBCLCs that includes webinars, resources, and ongoing mentorship.

8. Developing Lactation Products or Tools

If you’re an inventive IBCLC, consider developing tools or products that can make breastfeeding easier for mothers. Whether it’s creating breastfeeding aids, pumping accessories, or innovative nursing bras, there’s always room for new solutions in the lactation space.

• How to get started: Identify gaps in the market based on your experience with clients, and partner with designers or manufacturers to bring your product idea to life. Alternatively, you can sell curated breastfeeding products through online platforms.

Income Tip:

Sell your products via an e-commerce website, or consider creating a subscription box for new mothers filled with lactation-related items like snacks, supplements, and breastfeeding gear.

9. Expanding into Holistic Health Services

As an IBCLC, you are already deeply connected to maternal and infant health. Expanding into complementary health services such as infant massage, babywearing instruction, or even postpartum doula services can add valuable dimensions to your practice.

• How to get started: Look into certification programs for these complementary services. Offering packages that include breastfeeding support along with other services can set you apart from other IBCLCs in your area.

Income Tip:

Offer bundled services, such as breastfeeding support plus postpartum care or babywearing consultations, to create a one-stop shop for your clients’ needs.

10. Insurance Billing and Expanding Accessibility

One often-overlooked opportunity is becoming a lactation consultant who bills directly to insurance, allowing you to serve a broader range of clients. While this can involve additional paperwork and understanding insurance codes, it opens the door for more families to access lactation services, and increases your client base.

• How to get started: Familiarize yourself with insurance billing for lactation services through organizations like Lactation Billing Partners. Offering insurance-based services can make your care more accessible, especially in areas where out-of-pocket services might limit clientele.

Income Tip:

Once you are set up to bill insurance, you may find that offering sliding scale fees or insurance-covered consults brings in a larger, more consistent client base.

Final Thoughts

The field of lactation consulting is filled with diverse career paths and opportunities for growth. Whether you’re just starting out or are an established IBCLC looking to expand your practice, there are numerous ways to increase your impact and income. By thinking creatively, offering a wide range of services, and embracing new technologies and platforms, you can build a thriving, sustainable career as an IBCLC.

The sky’s the limit—so don’t be afraid to explore new avenues, expand your knowledge, and create a practice that reflects your passions and goals!