It Goes Together Like Peanut Butter & Jelly: Birth Work + Lactation Certification

In this transparent 'Hello Chime In' conversation, Yuvelca Magdalena sits down with Leslie Owens, RN, IBCLC, to unpack why birth work and lactation certification truly go together “like peanut butter and jelly.”Together, they explore the real barriers that keep doulas and birth workers from pursuing the IBCLC pathway — including myths about needing to be a nurse, going back to college, or rearranging your entire life to gain clinical hours. Leslie breaks down the differences between CLCs and IBCLCs, the realities of insurance coverage, and how representation in lactation care directly impacts maternal and infant health outcomes.The conversation moves beyond technique and into deeper layers: racial bias in healthcare, trauma and nervous system activation during breastfeeding, public health implications, and the urgent need for more Black and Brown IBCLCs in the field.This episode is not just about certification — it’s about access, advocacy, excellence, and building sustainable, community-rooted leadership in birth work.If you’ve ever considered expanding your impact through lactation support, this conversation may shift what you thought was possible.