A lactation consultant is a professional who has specialized training in helping breastfeeding women and their babies. Lactation consultants can provide breastfeeding education as well as help if problems arise. Lactation consultants are often nurses, but this is not a requirement. Other health professionals such as physicians, nutritionists, and speech therapists may also provide this service.

Consider seeking advice from a lactation consultant when you experience the following common breastfeeding difficulties:

• Unable to latch
• Painful latching
• Low milk supply / too much milk supply
• Feeding schedule
• Engorged breasts
• Infant weight loss (more than 10% loss from birth weight) or inadequate weight gain after two weeks post-birth
• Fussiness at the breast, refusing the breast
• Breast / nipple pain
• Babies with special needs such as premature infants; twins and multiples; infants with medical issues that make latching and sucking difficult; or newborns with hyperbilirubinemia, (jaundice, yellow skin from too much bilirubin in the blood)

It is important to realize there are various titles for breastfeeding specialists out there, but a “lactation consultant” is a formal title. For example, someone may call themselves a breastfeeding educator, a certified lactation counselor, or a breastfeeding specialist. These titles are not centrally regulated and so the amount of training each person has may vary.

You can book a qualified lactation consultant and get access to all the help you need from the comfort of your home, book here At-Home Lactation Consultation

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, or IBCLC, is the only board-certified credential that exists (you can read more about what that certification means here.) In short, it is best to seek care from a qualified lactation consultant as you can be certain they have adequate training and have passed a rigorous exam and are well-suited to help you and your baby.

Many women wonder if they should wait to see an IBCLC until a problem occurs, such as a painful latch or a perceived low milk supply. While this may be fine, it can definitely be helpful to make a connection with one during your pregnancy so that if something does come up, you already know who to contact. You can also find out ahead of time who is covered under your insurance so that you aren’t scrambling at the last minute.

Many IBCLC’s offer prenatal breastfeeding consultations or classes. This can be invaluable as they help you prepare for breastfeeding, and it is a nice way to “interview” a potential IBCLC for when you deliver. You may also want to ask your hospital where you are delivering or a potential IBCLC the following questions:

• “Is there a lactation support provider on staff at the hospital who will see me after I deliver, even if I’m not having problems?”
• “Do you offer outpatient postpartum appointments if I need one?”
• “Are home visits available?”
• “If I need a pump or supplies, can I buy or rent them directly from the clinic or hospital?”
• “If any issues arise, can you help me communicate with my pediatrician to ensure we are all on the same page?”

If you are planning to breastfeed, rest reassured that involving a lactation consultant has been shown to increase success with breastfeeding initiation and duration. You can search here to find an IBCLC near you.

Sources:

• J Riordan and K Wambach
• Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, 4th edition.

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