{{Short description|Health professional}} {{distinguish|Lactation counselor}} [[File:Teaching the importance of breastfeeding in India (8806268443).jpg|thumb|Teaching the importance of breastfeeding in a nutrition rehabilitation clinic in Madhya Pradesh, India]]
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iblce.org/|title=IBLCE|website=Iblce.org|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref>
==Description== Lactation consultants are trained to assist parents in preventing and solving [[breastfeeding difficulties]]{{sfn|Lawrence | 2016| p= 749}} 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 practitioner]]s, and dieticians who have obtained additional certification.{{sfn|Lawrence | 2016| p= 749}}
The IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners) committee is the only entity authorized to accredit IBCLC Lactation Consultants<ref>{{cite book|language=English|author1=Elaine Webber, Amanda L. Watkins|title=Evolution of a Profession: The Role of Accreditation in Lactation Education|publisher=Journal of Human Lactation|date= 2017-08-16|doi=10.1177/0890334417711893}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.genuinelactation.com/blog-for-breastfeeding-families/mcair1review |title=Professional knowledge of lactation consultants |work=|access-date=}}</ref>.
==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 individuals.<ref name="The LLL Leader and the IBCLC--A Partnership in Breastfeeding History">{{cite web|url=http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/lv/lvjunjul00p52.html|title=LLLI - The LLL Leader and the IBCLC - A Partnership in Breastfeeding History|work=www.llli.org|access-date=19 January 2018}}</ref>{{sfn|Lawrence | 2016| p= 749}} Candidates can choose various pathways to qualify, including options for current health professionals and volunteers, through college or university academic programs, or through mentoring. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://iblce.org/continuing-education-review/application-information/|title=IBLCE Continuing Education Review / Application Information|website=Iblce.org|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-date=6 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206060604/http://iblce.org/continuing-education-review/application-information/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) may use the [[post nominals]] IBCLC and/or RLC after their name. The International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) is the [[professional association]] for lactation consultants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilca.org/home|title=ILCA Home|website=Ilca.org|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116004524/http://www.ilca.org/home|url-status=dead}}</ref>
IBCLCs undergo specialized training to assist families with breastfeeding, milk production issues, and pump management issues. IBCLCs must meet certification requirements for education and clinical experience, and pass an examination. IBCLCs must also re-certify every five years with 75 continuing education hours every five years or take an examination.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IBLCE|url=https://iblce.org/|access-date=2021-03-05|website=IBLCE|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Outcomes== Exclusive and partial breastfeeding are more common among individuals who gave birth in IBCLC-equipped hospitals.<ref name=ussg>{{cite web|url=http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/breastfeeding/executivesummary.pdf|title=US Surgeon General Breastfeeding Executive Summary|website=surgeongeneral.gov|access-date=6 September 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513032923/https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/breastfeeding/executivesummary.pdf|archive-date=13 May 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In [[maternity hospital]]s, a ratio of one IBCLC for every 15 [[postpartum period|postpartum individuals]] is suggested.{{sfn|Lawrence|2016|p=246}} The [[U.S. Surgeon General]] recommends that all communities ensure access to services provided by IBCLCs.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Office of the Surgeon General (US)|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52679/|title=Actions to Improve Breastfeeding|last2=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)|last3=Office on Women's Health (US)|publisher=Office of the Surgeon General (US)|year=2011|language=en}}</ref> Evidence found that breastfeeding interventions including lactation consultants and [[Lactation counselor|counselors]] increased the number of individuals initiating breastfeeding.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Patel|first1=Sanjay|last2=Patel|first2=Shveta|date=August 2016|title=The Effectiveness of Lactation Consultants and Lactation Counselors on Breastfeeding Outcomes|journal=Journal of Human Lactation|volume=32|issue=3|pages=530–541|doi=10.1177/0890334415618668|issn=1552-5732|pmid=26644419|s2cid=26056972 }}</ref> A systematic review on characteristics and outcomes of postpartum care found that when individuals receive care from a lactation consultant they are more likely to present higher rates of any breastfeeding at six months (but not at one or three months), and higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding at one or three months.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Postpartum Care up to 1 Year After Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis |url=https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/postpartum-care-one-year/research |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov |date=2023 |language=en |doi=10.23970/ahrqepccer261 |last1=Saldanha |first1=Ian J. |last2=Adam |first2=Gaelen P. |last3=Kanaan |first3=Ghid |last4=Zahradnik |first4=Michael L. |last5=Steele |first5=Dale W. |last6=Danilack |first6=Valery A. |last7=Peahl |first7=Alex Friedman |last8=Chen |first8=Kenneth K. |last9=Stuebe |first9=Alison M. |last10=Balk |first10=Ethan M. |pmid=37315166 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==See also== *[[Lactation counselor]] *[[Postpartum confinement]], the period after childbirth when the new parents rests and bonds with their newborn, as they both learn to breastfeed *[[Wet nurse]], a woman paid to nurse another individual's baby *[[Nanny#Maternity nurse / newborn care specialists / confinement nanny|Newborn care specialists]], a type of nanny
==References== {{Reflist}}
===Cited works=== * {{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=Ruth |title=Breastfeeding : a guide for the medical profession, 8th edition |publisher=Elsevier |publication-place=Philadelphia, PA |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-323-35776-0}}
==External links== {{Commonscat|Lactation consultants}} *[http://www.ilca.org International Lactation Consultant Association] *[https://www.iblce.org International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners]
{{Pregnancy}}
[[Category:Breastfeeding]] [[Category:Consulting occupations]] [[Category:Health care occupations]] [[Category:Gendered occupations]]