What is a Lactation Consultant
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) is a healthcare professional who specializes 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.
(http://www.ilca.org/main/why-
When to Call a Lactation Consultant
If baby:
- is jaundiced
- refuses to latch-on
- is not gaining weight quickly (1/2 – 1 oz per day)
- cries a lot and is fussy at the breast
- feeds “all of the time”
- is premature or a “late preterm” baby
- is spitting up “a lot”
If mother:
- has flat or inverted, sore, cracked or bleeding nipples is engorged
- has a low milk supply
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had previous breast surgeries
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is returning to work
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experience mastitis (breast infection) or plugged ducts
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experiencing stress around feedings
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needs advice about selecting an appropriate breast pump
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is receiving conflicting advice about or becoming discouraged with breastfeeding
