Lactation Peer Counselor

Spectrum Health

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America

Part-time

About the Unit

6 and 8 Center at Butterworth Hospital are secure units with 20 private beds on each that specialize in Women and Infant Services, specifically postpartum care of Mother Baby couplets, after labor and delivery.

The average length of postpartum patient stay here is 2-3 days. The excellent care provided by the 110 members of our Nursing and Support Team within Postpartum, provides team members and patients with memories that last a lifetime.

We're here to guide parents through this transitional period, offering assistance, education, and support every step of the way.

We even have Lactation Peer Counselors and Consultants available during your inpatient stay and a lactation warmline for continued assistance.

About Butterworth Hospital

Right in the heart of Grand Rapids, you’ll find a nationally recognized hospital for patient quality and safety and the regional leader in full-service hospitals.

Since 1873, we have been growing and building a reputation of excellence in care, diagnostics, treatment, prevention and education.

It is the flagship hospital for Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals.

Scope of work

The Lactation Peer Counselor is a support role, which is different from the Lactation Peer Consultant (RN) they work closely with.

Handles incoming and outgoing communications to breastfeeding mothers. Provides information, counsels, and supports breastfeeding mothers.

Uses evaluation tools to measure the effectiveness of teaching. Responsible for maintaining records regarding educational programs and equipment rentals.

Provide information to prenatal women interested in breastfeeding, the benefits, reasons to breast feed, latching on, getting started in the hospital, supply and demand, preventing problems, growth spurts, and to discourage bottles and pacifiers in the hospital.
Provide information and support to postpartum mothers to encourage the continuance of successful breastfeeding and to respond to concerns or problems and / or on the expression and storage of breast milk, and pumping.
Accept and coordinate phones calls related to breastfeeding issues. Organize accurate records of all contacts and follow-up phone calls.
Teaches how breast pump works, handles question by telephone on how to work equipment, and follows up with mothers to see how they are functioning 24 / 48 hours after discharge.

Refer breastfeeding problems to Lactation Consultants if immediate attention is required or if the problem is beyond his / her level of knowledge and / or skills.

Core Schedule

Night shift Lactation Peers work 4pm-4 : 30am, and will have a set schedule that will require flexibility to work variable weeknights and rotate in weekends.

Qualifications

Required High School Diploma or equivalent upon hire and completion of a lactation counselor course within 1 year of start date
Preferred Associate's Degree or equivalent
CERT - Lactation Peer Counselor - ALPP Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice Grand Rapids Hospitals Required Within 1 Year
1 year of relevant work experience is preferred

Physical Demands

Pallet to Waist (6" from floor) >