Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I find out more about NMC before signing up?

A. We conduct phone and/or email screenings with all potential NMC volunteers to determine whether the organization is a good fit for you. You can ask questions at that time, and you may also email our Membership Chair at any time.

Q. $300 seems like a lot of money to pay for training to become a volunteer!

A. We realize that this may seem expensive. As a nonprofit, we need to cover our expenses, which include compensating instructors, rental space fees, and providing materials. We have a limited number of scholarships available for financial hardship.  Email your training coordinator for more information about scholarships, or email our Membership Chair.

Q. What if I sign and later find out I can’t attend the training?

A. We offer partial refunds before training begins. We regret that we cannot offer refunds after the start of training. See our refund policy.  If you cannot complete the training at that time, you may become an affiliate member and complete a future training.  Arrangements would be made with our Membership Chair.

Q. I am already an IBCLC. Do I still need to take your training to become a counselor?

A. The short answer is yes, but we have adapted our training for IBCLCs so that you may skip certain training sessions that cover basic breast/chestfeeding knowledge (such as anatomy and physiology and milk supply). We feel it is important for IBCLCs to attend sessions on counseling techniques, related areas such as postpartum mood issues, and information specific to Nursing Mothers Counsel, as well as to clearly understand NMC's scope of practice.

Q. You keep saying "counselor." What exactly does that mean? 

A. We call our volunteer members COUNSELORS and our organization Nursing Mothers COUNSEL because we offer COUNSEL (offer advice and support) to nursing parents. We also refer to our counselors as "full members" of Nursing Mothers Counsel. Our "affiliate members" are members who have taken our training but who do not counsel mothers, or trainees who cannot, or do not, complete the training.

Q. Do I need any special skills to become an NMC counselor?

A. No, nothing beyond six months of nursing your baby! Even if you don't consider yourself a "people person" or have never offered support before, we help give you the tools and support YOU need so you can become successful at working with other nursing parents. 

Q. My own kids are all grown up so it has been many years since I nursed them. Can I still become a counselor?

A. Yes, as long as you previously nursed for at least 6 months. We love having mothers of grown children join us because they often have more time and energy to devote to the community compared to new parents--plus a wealth of experience. 

Q. Is there a limit on the number of trainees in each annual training session?

A. Due to space and resource constraints, we limit enrollment to 15 volunteer and 5 professional members.

A. The most time-intensive part of becoming a volunteer counselor is the initial training (20 hours of in-person training sessions) and the provisional period (6 months after the training). 

The time required TO BECOME a counseling member is approximately 40 hours as follows: 

• 20 hours for training sessions.
• 8 hours of reading
• 6-8 hours working with parents & your advisor
• 2-3 hours of observation of our breastfeeding class
• 2 hours of either: shadowing a lactation consultant, accompanying a current NMC Full Member on a home visit, OR attending a hands on breastfeeding support group.

Approximate time annually to Maintain Membership is 16-30 hours per year depending on how many parents you counsel, the extent of help they may need, and how many continuing ed events you attend.

* Amount of time can vary greatly depending on needs of the nursing parents.  Some parents may require daily calls for a short time if it is a challenging situation. If you have small children or work full time, you will need to think about when you will be able to communicate.  You can designate certain hours of availability in our online scheduling system (Acuity)

Q. When will you hold your next training session?

A. We usually hold sessions once every 18-24 months. We started a training March 20, 2024 in Capitola, CA for our Santa Cruz county area which is now underway and closed.  For Bay Area counties, a training in Redwood City may be held in the Fall of 2024 or Spring of 2025.