An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) is a healthcare professional who specialises in the clinical management of breastfeeding.
An IBCLC is certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®), independently accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE).
An IBCLC works in a wide variety of settings, providing leadership, advocacy, professional development, and research in the lactation field.
More here: https://ilca.org/resources/
WHY A FAMILY MIGHT NEED AN IBCLC
A board-certified lactation consultant is an invaluable asset to breastfeeding families, reassuring you when breastfeeding and lactation are going well, and by providing information and support to help prevent and manage common concerns. IBCLCs help with:
- ✔ Prenatal counseling about the factors that may affect breastfeeding and lactation
- ✔ Basic position and latch of the infant
- ✔ Information about practices that promote successful breastfeeding and lactation
- ✔ Preventing and managing common concerns such as poor latch, inadequate milk transfer or supply, nipple or breast pain, and calming a fussy baby
- ✔ Milk expression and storage for parents who must be separated from their babies
- ✔ Strategies for breastfeeding and lactation after returning to work
- ✔ Breastfeeding and lactation in challenging situations, such as feeding twins or triplets, a premature or sick infant, or infants in special medical situations.
