What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant?
An International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a health care professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. IBCLCs are certified by the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLE)
IBCLC's are:
- Recognized the world over as possessing the only standardized, board-certified lactation credential available
- Knowledgeable about up-to-date evidence-based practices in lactation as demonstrated through a rigorous exam process
- Experienced in a wide variety of complex breastfeeding situations
- Competent to assist mothers with establishing and sustaining breastfeeding, even in the midst of difficulties and high-risk situations that can arise
- Sensitive to the needs of both mothers and children as they work to help mothers meet their breastfeeding goals
- Ethical in their practice, abiding by Standards of Practice and a Code of Ethics and working within a defined Scope of Practice
IBCLC's help mothers and families with:
- Prenatal breastfeeding assessment and counselling
- Positioning and latch of an infant
- Prevention and management of maternal concerns such as breast pain and engorgement
- Establishing and increasing milk production
- Premature babies
- Infants with neurological deficits or physical disabilities
- Suck difficulties that interfere with breastfeeding
- Confidence to breastfeed for as long as mother and baby want
- Breastfeeding-supportive measures when mother and baby are separated due to work, medical or educational issues
When to book an appointment with the Lactation Consultant? (this list is not inclusive)
A Lactation Consultant can provide you with information, offer you support and a care plan to address concerns.
We can also:
As an IBCLC, my practices include evidence-based, current practices and I am always working on continuing education. Anatomical variances such as "tongue ties" and "lip ties" are an area of particular interest with several years of experience. I work closely with other health care professionals and have a good team of other providers that are also beneficial to improving breastfeeding.
- you and/or your baby are having a hard time with breastfeeding
- your breasts or nipples hurt (engorgement, mastitis, thrush, cracks, bleeding, blisters)
- your baby is not gaining weight very well or at all
- your baby is jaundiced
- baby is not having the expected pees and poops
- you are worried about how your baby acts during or after breastfeeding
- you are worried you might have too much or too little milk
- baby is fussy a lot of the time
- baby is sleepy at the breast or challenging to wake up
- your baby has a tongue tie (even if it has been "clipped")
- your baby has a cleft lip or palate or other medical concerns
- you are on medications or have health concerns you think may impact breastfeeding
A Lactation Consultant can provide you with information, offer you support and a care plan to address concerns.
We can also:
- explain what may have caused the problems you are experiencing
- suggest choices to help you correct a problem
- work with you to decide on a care of plan
- suggest supplies or tools you can use
- give you instructions to take home
- tell you how to know signs of improvement or signs that you need to come back
- tell you when and how to follow up or check in
- send reports to your other care providers as requested
As an IBCLC, my practices include evidence-based, current practices and I am always working on continuing education. Anatomical variances such as "tongue ties" and "lip ties" are an area of particular interest with several years of experience. I work closely with other health care professionals and have a good team of other providers that are also beneficial to improving breastfeeding.