An IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) is a qualified healthcare professional who focuses on the assessment, management, and support of breastfeeding and lactation. This credential is the highest accreditation in breastfeeding knowledge.

 

IBCLCs earn their credential through an international certification process overseen by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® and are the only kind of lactation specialist that can provide clinical care. You can find IBCLCs working in many settings—such as hospitals, paediatric practices, in the community, and private practice—where visits may happen in your home or in the consultant’s local office.

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Why a family may seek an IBCLC

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Breastfeeding may be natural but it is a skill and anyone who wishes to breastfeed their baby deserves access to good support! A board-certified lactation consultant can be a tremendous support for breastfeeding families—offering reassurance when things are going smoothly, and providing evidence-based guidance to help address or prevent common breastfeeding challenges. IBCLCs can help with topics such as:

• Prenatal guidance on factors that may influence breastfeeding and lactation

• How to position and latch your baby effectively

• Education on breastfeeding-friendly practices that support milk production and successful feeding

• Support for common concerns, including latch difficulties, low milk transfer or supply, nipple or breast pain, and soothing a fussy baby

• Milk pumping, expression, and storage for times when a parent and baby are apart

• Breastfeeding support after returning to work

• Help in more complex situations, such as feeding multiples, supporting a premature or medically unwell infant, or navigating special medical circumstances

• Weaning your baby or toddler 

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You can even see an IBCLC before you give birth! A prenatal consultation can set you up for success if you're hoping to breastfeed your baby and help to create a plan of action for you in the early days and weeks postpartum. 

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While all International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) hold the same high-level certification, they are not all the same in terms of experience, background, practice, or philosophy. 

IBCLC is considered the "gold standard" in lactation care, requiring specific education, 300–1000 clinical hours, and a rigorous board exam. However, their individual approaches and expertise vary. 

Here is how they differ:

1. Different Professional Backgrounds
IBCLCs come from diverse backgrounds. Some are nurses, midwives, or doctors, while others come from non-medical backgrounds, such as teachers, or doulas. 

Medical background: Often familiar with clinical settings, hospital policies, and complex medical cases.
Non-medical background: May focus more on holistic, emotional, or long-term support. 

2. Different Practice Settings
Hospital-based IBCLCs: Focus on immediate postpartum care, often handling many patients in short visits, and working within institutional protocols.
Private Practice IBCLCs: Often offer in-home visits, providing more in-depth, personalized, and longer consultations.

3. Different Specialties and Expertise
While all are trained in basic breastfeeding support, individual IBCLCs often develop specific interests or passions. 

• Some specialise in tongue-tie assessment, premature babies, or slow weight gain.

• Some may be more focused on pumping, exclusively pumping and bottle feeding.

• Others specialise in multiples, complex feeding issues. or supply issues.

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Whatever your feeding journey, we're here to help! If you're expecting or have a baby, reach out for an IBCLC consultation and receive the care you deserve.

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*Our IBCLC consultations can be covered by insurance, so do check with your insurance provider.