The History of the IBLCE and Why You Need a Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
You’ve just had a baby. You are thrilled and excited! You’ve made the decision to breastfeed and you know you’ve made the right choice.
But have you thought about hiring a lactation consultant? And if so, have you considered why a certified lactation consultant is the best option?
First, it’s important to understand the history of the IBLCE to understand why you need a certified lactation consultant to be sure you get the best breastfeeding advice.
What is the IBLCE?
IBCLE stands for the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners®. It is the, “…independent international certification body conferring the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) credential.” (https://iblce.org/about-iblce/)
The IBLCE was founded by a group of La Leche League leaders who recognized the need for a professionalized field that could provide skilled support for breastfeeding families.
What is an IBCLC?
IBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. These breastfeeding experts, “…function and contribute as members of the maternal-child health team.”
A certified lactation consultant can provide their assistance in various settings—even virtually—and can also make referrals to other health professionals or support resources when necessary.
According to the IBCLE website, “IBCLC certificants provide expert breastfeeding and lactation care, promote changes that support breastfeeding and help reduce the risks of not breastfeeding.”[1]
Why Choose An IBCLC?
Many new mothers don’t know there is a difference between an IBCLC and other breastfeeding experts. As such, this means they don’t understand the wide range of breastfeeding help and resources available to them either.
The IBCLC designation is the only official professional breastfeeding qualification. There are extensive requirements to acquire the IBCLC title and to keep it as well. For example, most IBCLCs have attained 1,000 clinical hours of education on average and a minimum of 90 hours in advanced lactation education. There is also an initial certification exam that must be re-certified every five years.
Therefore, when you need a breastfeeding expert, choosing an IBCLC is almost always your best choice.
Not only does a certified breastfeeding consultant have immense education on research-based breastfeeding best practices, but almost must stay up-to-date on all new information on breastfeeding as well. Remembering too, that an IBCLC is also, “…trained to assist mothers and babies in continuing breastfeeding despite complications and high-risk situations.”[1]
Breastfeeding can almost always be a beautiful experience between a mother and a new baby. But sometimes help is needed for that experience to be as positive as possible.
When you or someone you love needs that extra support, the best thing you can do is reach out for assistance from a qualified professional. An IBCLC is just such a professional who can make this journey enjoyable from birth to whenever you decide the time is right for you to stop breastfeeding. Even then, a certified lactation consultant can help you make that transition as smoothly as possible.
[1] https://www.virtua.org/articles/why-would-you-need-an-ibclc#:~:text=Prenatal%20breastfeeding%20education%3A%20An%20IBCLC,concerns%20that%20you%20may%20have.&text=3.,%2C%20milk%20storage%2C%20and%20more.
