What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)?
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant is an allied health care professional who has extensive experience working with breastfeeding women and their babies in normal and unusual situations. Lactation consultants work in many settings—hospitals, private practice, physicians’ offices, home care services, health agencies, etc. They assess the mother and baby, take a history, observe the mother and baby while breastfeeding, write care plans, report to the mother’s and baby’s primary care providers, and arrange for follow-up. The lactation consultant field began in 1985 with a certifying examination. Prerequisite breastfeeding knowledge, experience, and skills are required to qualify to sit for the exam to become International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. Professional lactation consultants receive payment for their services. Many lactation consultants also provide educational programs and updated resources for health care professionals. Breastfeeding counselors and
