Lactation consultant
Encyclopedia
A lactation consultant is a healthcare provider recognized as an expert in the fields of human
lactation
and breastfeeding
. The USLCA, United States Lactation Consultant Association, is the presiding organization in the United States of America and the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) is the professional association for lactation consultants international
ly. An International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) will have the initials IBCLC and/or RLC after her/his name, as a physician would have MD or DO, or a registered nurse would have RN. Lactation Consultants can be found in private practice, on staff in hospitals, and in the public health arena.
Candidates for the IBCLC boards can choose various pathways to qualify. There are certain college-level classes required plus a minimum number of hours working with breastfeeding mothers under the direction of an IBCLC. If you are able to shadow an IBCLC who has re-certified by exam (every 10 years this is required), you can speed up the process of becoming a lactation consultant. You must take a 40+ hour Breastfeeding course no more than 5 years before sitting for the exam.
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
lactation
Lactation
Lactation describes the secretion of milk from the mammary glands and the period of time that a mother lactates to feed her young. The process occurs in all female mammals, however it predates mammals. In humans the process of feeding milk is called breastfeeding or nursing...
and breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or...
. The USLCA, United States Lactation Consultant Association, is the presiding organization in the United States of America and the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) is the professional association for lactation consultants international
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
ly. An International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) will have the initials IBCLC and/or RLC after her/his name, as a physician would have MD or DO, or a registered nurse would have RN. Lactation Consultants can be found in private practice, on staff in hospitals, and in the public health arena.
Candidates for the IBCLC boards can choose various pathways to qualify. There are certain college-level classes required plus a minimum number of hours working with breastfeeding mothers under the direction of an IBCLC. If you are able to shadow an IBCLC who has re-certified by exam (every 10 years this is required), you can speed up the process of becoming a lactation consultant. You must take a 40+ hour Breastfeeding course no more than 5 years before sitting for the exam.
External links
- La Leche League International
- Breastfeeding Conferences Find local breastfeeding conferences.