Finding an IBCLC Mentorship Is Harder Than Anyone Warns You

If you are an aspiring IBCLC, you have probably already discovered the most frustrating part of the certification process: finding a mentor willing to take you on.

Many students reach out to dozens of practices—sometimes more—before receiving a single response. Others are told there is no time, no capacity, or no interest in mentoring. The reality is that high-quality mentorship requires significant time, structure, and emotional investment, and many practices simply cannot offer that.

That is exactly why the Natural Beginnings IBCLC Mentorship Program exists.

What Students Are Actually Looking for in a Mentorship

As a student, you are not just trying to collect hours. You are trying to become competent, confident, and employable. You want to pass the IBCLC exam, yes—but more importantly, you want to finish your hours knowing how to:

• Walk into a lactation consult with confidence

• Identify root causes, not just symptoms

• Document appropriately and efficiently

• Communicate clearly with families and other providers

• Step into private practice or an established role without extensive retraining

At Natural Beginnings, the goal is not to churn out IBCLCs. The goal is to mentor well-rounded, knowledgeable clinicians who are prepared to practice independently or integrate seamlessly into another practice.

A Structured Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 Mentorship

Natural Beginnings offers supervised clinical hours for IBLCE Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 students throughout the DFW area, including Dallas County and Collin County.

Students gain hands-on experience through:

• In-home and in-office lactation consultations

• Breastfeeding and prenatal classes

• Support groups and follow-up care

• Case discussions and documentation review

• Weekly mentor meetings

Unlike many mentorships that rely on a single perspective, students work alongside multiple IBCLCs, gaining exposure to different clinical styles, specialties, and problem-solving approaches. This breadth of experience is intentional and mirrors the realities of private practice lactation care.

Most students complete their required hours in approximately one year, though timelines vary based on pathway, availability, and individual pace.

Why This Program Is Different

One of the most common concerns students have is finishing their hours and still feeling unprepared. Natural Beginnings was built to address that gap.

This mentorship emphasizes:

• Clinical reasoning over checklists

• Depth of understanding rather than speed

• Professional boundaries, ethics, and communication

• Real-world private practice workflows

By the end of the program, students are not just exam-ready—they are practice-ready.

Meet Your Mentors

A defining strength of the Natural Beginnings program is the depth and diversity of its mentorship team.

Sharon, IBCLC – Founder, Natural Beginnings

With nearly four decades of experience as an IBCLC and perinatal educator, Sharon brings a foundational depth of knowledge to the program. Her work spans prenatal through postpartum care, professional education, and corporate lactation support across the DFW area. Sharon is deeply committed to evidence-based practice, maternal confidence, and resolving complex breastfeeding challenges through experience, creativity, and mentorship.

Diana, IBCLC

Diana has supported Dallas-area families since 2004 and earned her IBCLC in 2011. With more than 21 years as a La Leche League Leader and extensive private practice experience, she is especially skilled in milk supply challenges, breast and nipple pain, and hands-on techniques such as therapeutic hand expression. Diana’s compassionate approach and fluency in Spanish allow her to support a wide range of families with confidence and cultural sensitivity.

Thelma, IBCLC, RDN

Thelma is both an IBCLC and a registered dietitian specializing in maternal and infant nutrition. Her experience spans clinical, community, academic, private practice, and international settings. She brings a holistic, individualized lens to lactation care and now focuses much of her work in a virtual practice model. Her mentorship emphasizes integrated physical, emotional, and nutritional support for families.

Abi, IBCLC, RN

Abi brings over 20 years of nursing experience in labor and delivery, newborn nursery, and postpartum care. After transitioning from bedside nursing to private practice lactation, she now supports families in their homes through Natural Beginnings. Abi is particularly passionate about helping new parents navigate feeding challenges, return-to-work planning, sleep optimization, and confidence building in the early postpartum period.

Emily, IBCLC, LCCE

Founder of Baby Latch Love and mentorship director

Emily has more than 15 years of experience supporting families across home, hospital, and virtual settings. As a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and IBCLC, she brings a strong prenatal and educational foundation to mentorship. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience as a mother, Emily focuses on informed decision-making and continuity of care from pregnancy through postpartum.

For Students Still Searching

If you have emailed multiple practices without success, you are not alone—and you are not doing anything wrong. Quality mentorship is scarce, and that scarcity is exactly why this program exists.

The Natural Beginnings IBCLC Mentorship Program is designed for students who are serious about becoming skilled, ethical, confident lactation consultants—not just meeting minimum requirements.

If you are ready to invest in your education and your future practice, this program was built with you in mind. Contact us today! We Welcome inquiries and questions! mentorship@naturalbeginnings.info 972-302-9313 office (call or text)