On this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Sarah Quigley, IBCLC, about the rewarding and sometimes challenging process of mentoring IBCLC students. They discuss what makes a great mentee, how to provide hands-on training, and practical advice for IBCLCs considering taking on interns.

Sarah’s Journey into Lactation Consulting

Sarah shares her path to becoming an IBCLC, including:

• Transitioning from a career in teaching English as a second language
• How her experience as a La Leche League Leader influenced her journey
• The role her mother, also an IBCLC, played in inspiring her career
• How she built her private practice before moving into a full-time hospital-based IBCLC role

What Makes a Great Mentee?

Sarah breaks down the qualities that make a lactation intern successful, including:

• Kindness and a strong desire to learn
• The ability to read the room and adjust to client needs
• Solid communication and writing skills for charting and patient education
• Quick math skills for calculating weight gain and supplementation plans

The Hands-On Learning Process

Sarah explains how she gradually introduces interns to clinical work:

• Starting with observing visits and assisting with positioning and weight checks
• Teaching interns a basic script for initiating consultations
• Slowly increasing their involvement in latch adjustments and problem-solving
• Providing constructive feedback after visits to build confidence and refine skills

The Challenges of Being a Preceptor

Margaret and Sarah discuss some of the biggest challenges of mentoring interns:

• The mental and emotional exhaustion of supervising students while managing a full caseload
• The struggle of stepping back and allowing interns to take the lead
• The time-consuming process of teaching charting and documentation
• Finding a balance between guiding interns and allowing them to develop independence

Navigating Scope and Professional Boundaries

Sarah emphasizes the importance of staying within scope as an IBCLC and teaching students to do the same. They discuss:

• The growing trend of IBCLCs overstepping into medical roles, such as diagnosing tongue ties or interpreting lab results
• How to work collaboratively with healthcare providers rather than trying to replace them
• The need for IBCLCs to focus on their core skills—feeding the baby and protecting the milk supply
• Why building strong referral networks is essential for providing ethical and comprehensive care

The Value of Mentorship for IBCLCs

Sarah highlights why mentoring interns benefits not only the students but also the preceptors themselves:

• How teaching forces IBCLCs to reflect on and refine their own clinical reasoning
• The opportunity to stay engaged with new research and evolving lactation practices
• The long-term impact of growing the next generation of IBCLCs and expanding access to quality lactation care

Advice for IBCLCs Considering Mentoring

For IBCLCs who want to take on interns, Sarah offers the following advice:

• You don’t have to commit to a full-time mentorship—offering partial hours is still valuable
• Be clear on your expectations and set firm boundaries with interns
• Use hospital templates or structured forms to teach effective charting
• Remember that you don’t have to have all the answers—mentoring is a learning process for both parties

Guest Info:

Sarah Quigley, IBCLC, is a hospital-based lactation consultant in San Francisco, California. She has mentored multiple IBCLC students and is passionate about training the next generation of lactation professionals.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

📌 La Leche League – Volunteer opportunities for those interested in lactation work

📌 Pathway 2 and Pathway 3 IBCLC Programs – Understanding different training pathways for IBCLCs

📌 Research on lactation mentorship and hands-on training for IBCLCs

Connect with Me:

Have questions or suggestions for future episodes? Reach out to Margaret at [email protected] or connect on social media:

📸 Instagram: @margaretsalty

📘 Facebook: Margaret Salty

Credits:

🎙 Hosted by: Margaret Salty

🎧 Guest: Sarah Quigley, IBCLC

🎵 Music by: The Magnifiers, My Time Traveling Machine

Hashtags & Keywords:

#IBCLC #LactationTraining #Mentorship #LactationConsultant #BreastfeedingSupport #LactationEducation

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