What is an IBCLC?

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a specialist in lactation management. The letters IBCLC signify a Health Care Provider who possesses the skills, knowledge and attitude to provide substantive breastfeeding assistance and skilled technical management of lactation-related problems.

Breastfeeding is important to women and their infants. Most women attempt to breastfeed, but many wean earlier than they wish, due to problems that are either avoidable or manageable. IBCLC's have the knowledge and skills to meet these women's needs. IBCLC's support mothers to prevent and solve their breastfeeding problems and to encourage a social environment that supports breastfeeding families.

With a focus on preventive health care, IBCLC's encourage self-care, empowering parents to make their own decisions, prenatally and postnatally. IBCLC's use a problem solving approach to provide appropriate information, recommendations and referrals. They work in a variety of settings:

• hospitals,
• including maternity units,
• domiciliary services and paediatric units,
• neonatal intensive care units and special care nurseries,
• lactation clinics, maternal and child health services,
• parenting centres,
• private practice as a Lactation Consultant,
• general medical practice, and paediatric and obstetric practices.

IBCLC's are members of a health care team who have a specialist knowledge of, and primary focus on, breastfeeding. They are the consultants whom mothers and other Health Professionals turn to when skilled assistance is required. The IBLCE Competency Statements identify and summarise the special knowledge and skills included in the role of the IBCLC.

Experience has shown that IBCLC's contribute to improved breastfeeding practices and success rates and that that they have the ideal qualifications to help their hospitals become Baby Friendly. By supporting and educating their colleagues, the overall standard of breastfeeding care is improved amongst all staff.

The IBCLC credential is primarily an additional qualification which brings together Health Professionals from different disciplines, who share a common knowledge base in human lactation. Among those who become IBCLC's are Midwives, Nurses, Health Visitors, Child Health Nurses, General Practitioners, Paediatricians, Obstetricians, Educators, Dieticians, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists. Typically, they have spent at least four years acquiring the experience and education which are the necessary pre-requisites for certification.

The IBCLC credential is widely recognised by employers, colleagues and consumers as the gold standard in breastfeeding expertise. IBCLC's have passed a rigorous certification exam and keep their knowledge and skills up to date through a compulsory recertification program. They are required to practice within a Code of Professional Conduct. The certification exam is an independent means of evaluating whether a candidate has reached the required level of competence to practice as a Lactation Consultant. Because of the standard and reputation of IBLCE certification, IBCLC's are the only Lactation Consultants recognised by the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), and all national professional associations for Lactation Consultants, throughout the world.

Benefits for mothers and babies
The primary purpose of International Board Certification is to benefit the public by setting standards for entry into the Lactation Consultant profession. Mothers can be assured that the designation IBCLC identifies a member of the health care team who can provide substantive breastfeeding assistance and skilled technical management of breastfeeding problems.

Benefits for specialists in lactation
IBCLC's find recognition and career opportunities that may not be available to others who have studied lactation, but are not Board Certified. There are now many designated positions for IBCLC's and the credential is being increasingly recognised at professional and government level.

Benefits for health facilities
Many facilities are now making a commitment to improving their breastfeeding practices and success rates. Education of staff has been identified as a crucial step in this procedure. Board Certification, as a goal, has consistently motivated staff to extend their study and skills. IBCLC's have the ideal qualifications to help their facility:

• provide quality breastfeeding care
• develop and implement a breastfeeding protocol
• improve the lactation knowledge and skills of other staff
• offer a day-stay or outpatient lactation clinic
• become accredited under the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)