How can I find a Lactation Professional to mentor me?

Once you have a Lactation Professional Certification, what must be your next step? This question is most pertinent for someone who is just starting on this career path. The goal is to gain initial clinical experience and that is where mentorship comes in as a crucial bridge; to take you from theoretical coursework to actual practice. 

Mentorship can be achieved in many ways, both in-person and virtually. You can reach out and connect to a Lactation Professional or Consultant to mentor you via these channels:

1.  Virtual Mentorships: Virtual mentorships are excellent as one isn’t geographically restricted and can access a vast pool of expertise from across the country and beyond. These offer more flexibility to both the mentor and the mentee. Virtual mentorship can include guidance, counseling or clinical case discussions.
2. In-person Mentorships: In-person mentorships can be quite impactful as live cases and interaction with a seasoned Lactation Professional/ Consultant will allow in-depth knowledge sharing. Such mentorships can be sought at:
   • Hospitals
   • Nursing Homes
   • Private Clinics
   • Anganwadis

Be prepared to volunteer your services or work as an intern. The goal is to work with an experienced professional and gain valuable clinical hours and guidance.

The lactation profession is still considered a niche in India, therefore it is not always easy to find possible mentors in every city. You need access to a database of such Lactation Professionals who would be open to offering mentorship. Here are some places where you can start looking for one.

1. ALPI Service Directory: The service directory of ALPI or the Association of Lactation Professionals India is a comprehensive list of practicing Lactation Professionals and Lactation Consultants in the country. You will find contact details of the registered members listed state-wise. 
2. ALPI Mentorship group: As the only professional association that connects Lactation Professionals in India, ALPI is proactive in various member benefit initiatives. The recently launched ALPI Mentorship program aims to connect professionals from same cities to meet and collaborate offline.
3. Begin Ed India Connect groups: All students and graduates of Begin Ed India get membership to connect groups at several levels where they can reach out for mentorship programs. With over 825+ graduates, BEI has a vast database of Lactation Professionals for students to access.

Categorised in: Career Path

This post was written by Begin Ed India