A lactation consultant is a health professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) certifies lactation consultants who meet its criteria and have passed its exam.
Description
How to Become a Lactation Consultant - The process to becoming an IBCLC can be overwhelming! This video will help outline the steps required to becoming a Lactation Consultant, as well as ...
Lactation consultants are trained to assist mothers in preventing and solving breastfeeding difficulties such as sore nipples and low milk supply. They commonly work in hospitals, physician or midwife practices, public health programs, and private practice. In the United States, lactation consultants are often nurses, midwives, nurse practitioners, and dieticians who have obtained additional certification.
History and organization
The IBLCE was founded by a group of La Leche League leaders who wanted to professionalize the skills they had developed while working with breastfeeding mothers in their communities. Candidates can choose various pathways to qualify to sit for the exam. These pathways include options for current health professionals and volunteers, through college or university academic programs, or through mentoring.
A person who meets IBLCE qualifications is known as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and may use the post nominals IBCLC and/or RLC after her name. The International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) is the professional association for lactation consultants.
Outcomes
Exclusive and partial breastfeeding are more common among mothers who gave birth in IBCLC-equipped hospitals. In maternity hospitals, a ratio of one IBCLC for every 15 postpartum mothers is suggested. The U.S. Surgeon General recommends that all communities ensure access to services provided by IBCLC lactation consultants.
See also
- Postpartum confinement, the period after childbirth when the new mother rests and bonds with her newborn, as they both learn to breastfeed
- Wet nurse, a woman paid to nurse another's baby
- Newborn care specialists, a type of nanny
References
Cited works
- Lawrence, Ruth A.; Lawrence, Robert M. (13 October 2015). Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Professional. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 227â€"8. ISBN 978-0-323-39420-8.Â
External links
- International Lactation Consultant Association
- International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners
