ALCI are delighted to announce that renowned Irish journalist Victoria White will be officially opening the All Ireland Breastfeeding Conference, and launching ALCI’s new logo and website. Victoria, a writer and journalist, was born in Dublin. Educated at Trinity College Dublin, she has published Raving Autumn (short stories) and Mother Ireland. Victoria’s career in journalism with The Irish Times culminated in five years as arts editor.  She resigned from that newspaper in 2002 to concentrate on writing and raising her four children.  She is an activist for action against climate change and a founder member of Dublin Friends of the Earth. Victoria has written many recent features about breastfeeding including “The truth about formula saving babies’ live “, “The health system and the baby formula firms are feeding off mums’ guilt” and “Breast is best and it’s time we embraced that“. There are still spaces available at the Conference so book now!

25 years ago, the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI) was founded, concurrent with the qualification of the first Irish International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). ALCI are delighted to be celebrating this anniversary with an All Ireland Breastfeeding Conference themed “Celebrating 25 Years of IBCLCs Making A Difference”. The conference takes place on Friday 3^rd and Saturday 4^th October, in the middle of National Breastfeeding Week (October 1^st to 7^th), in the Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley. Dublin. The timetable is available here.

The Keynote Speaker will be Denise Altman IBCLC, owner of All The Best in Columbia, South Carolina. She has worked in a variety of roles in the healthcare system from staff nurse to clinical educator, with experience in Maternal/Child Health since 1992. She has authored numerous articles for parents and healthcare professionals, as well as two medical textbooks, “History and Assessment: It’s All in the Details” and “Mentoring Our Future”. Denise has served on the Editorial Review Board for Clinical Lactation since the first issue in 2010. At the ALCI Conference, Denise will speak on topics including “History and Assessment”, “The Complicated Mother”, “Passion to Ashes: Burning Out and Burning Up”’, “Baby Issues that Impact Breastfeeding” and “Mentoring Our Future”.

Other speakers will include Prof. Roy Philips, Lorraine O’Hagan IBCLC and Siobhán Hourigan (National Breastfeeding Coordinator). Sue Jameson IBCLC and Genevieve Becker IBCLC, both of whom became IBCLCs 25 years ago, will also speak. There will be three workshops on Saturday, facilitated by Nicola O’Byrne IBCLC, Denise Altman IBCLC and Ger Cahill IBCLC, and each delegate will partake in each one. The Conference will once again be a venue for the Quintessence Challenge, and any breastfeeding mothers present are welcome to partake.

As part of ALCI’s 25^th anniversary celebrations, this new website and logo have been designed.  The website will be officially launched at the conference, and this year for the first time, conference bookings can be made online. Be sure to book by Wednesday 24^th September 2014 to avail of Early Bird Rates. Handouts, lunch and refreshments are included in the registration fee which is €110 for ALCI members (for both days) or €70 (for one day) and €160 for non-members (for both days) and €120 for non-members (for one day). Why not join ALCI now to avail of the discount? Full-time undergraduate students in relevant professions may register for a fee of €45. IBCLE CERPs and An Bord Altranais CMUs have been applied for.

As part of ALCI’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, an annual Scholarship has been launched to help first-time IBCLCs. Conference participants are invited to submit research and practice posters  for display, discussion, and award.

All delegates, members of ALCI, past members of ALCI, and family members are welcome to a social event on Friday 3^rd October in the Clarion Hotel at 8pm.  This evening will be a lovely opportunity to mingle and relax and to celebrate 25 years of IBCLCs Making A Difference! The event is free, but please RSVP (either via the website if you are attending the conference, or email info@alcireland.ie if you wish to attend the social event without attending the conference).

With 8 plenary presentations and 3 workshops, over 2 days, plus research posters, networking, new product information and much more, the ALCI Annual Conference is the premier event for health workers involved in assisting breastfeeding in Ireland.

Book online today!

ALCI are currently seeking tenders for a new website.

ALCI Website Tender June 2014

Wednesday 21st of May marks the 33rd anniversary of the signing of the World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. The Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland upholds the Code in all of its actions, and joined in the worldwide celebration of the anniversary using social media.

Occasionally, health workers receive invitations to attend a conference outside of Ireland, with a formula company paying all expenses. Here is the response of Genevieve Becker, National Coordinator of the Baby Friendly Initiative in Ireland, to this issue.

Tongue tie is growing in awareness as an important breastfeeding issue, but did you know that there are many ways of approaching it and babies may have a variety of oral issues that may impact on breastfeeding? Are you interested in attending a Lactation Education Study Day, to learn about recent research and personal experiences with oral and physical issues of the breastfeeding baby? If so, consider attending the upcoming ALCI Members Only Spring Study Day 2014.

Assessing The Breastfeeding Baby With A Focus On Sucking Skills, CST Evaluation And Treatment Of Feeding-Bonding And Beyond, A Procedural Approach To Resolving Breastfeeding Difficulties and Personal Experience with Neonatal Tongue Tie are the topics which will be covered by three speakers on the day; Nicola O’Byrne IBCLC, Deirdre Kennedy Cranio-Sacral Therapist and Prof. Fenton ENT Specialist with experience in treating tongue tie.

The Study Day is taking place on Saturday March 29^th 2014 in the Parent Education Centre, University Maternity Hospital, Ennis Road, Limerick. This is an ALCI Members Only Event, and anyone interested in attending is welcome to join ALCI.

ALCI promotes the professional development, advancement and recognition of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) for the benefit of breastfeeding infants and children, mothers, families, and the wider community. IBCLCs have extensive training through coursework and clinical practice hours, and they have passed an internationally recognised exam. Because of their training and required continuing education programmes, education and in research, IBCLCs are knowledgeable about evidence-based practices and experienced in managing a wide variety of complex breastfeeding situations.

Today (Wednesday March 5^th 2014) is the annual IBCLC Day, and the membership of the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI) is delighted to celebrate this event with friends and colleagues worldwide.

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are healthcare professionals with expertise related to breastfeeding. The first IBCLC Day was celebrated in August 2002 and was started by the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) to recognise and celebrate the value of IBCLCs. Each year, a different theme is chosen to celebrate the many and varied ways that IBCLCs support breastfeeding babies and mothers. This year’s theme is “Honouring the Ways that IBCLCs Help Families” encourages everyone to take a moment to share their gratitude for IBCLCs.

In order to become certified, all IBCLCs have extensive training through coursework and clinical practice hours, and they have passed an internationally recognised exam. Because of their training and required continuing education, IBCLCs are knowledgeable about evidence-based practices and experienced in managing a wide variety of complex breastfeeding situations. They provide information and discuss queries during pregnancy, help mothers establish breastfeeding, and provide assistance with any challenges that may occur. IBCLCs also train other health workers, educators, policy makers and others so that they may support breastfeeding.

According to Megs Murphy IBCLC, President of ALCI, “Parents can be overwhelmed by the many sources of information on breastfeeding, some of which may be conflicting. An IBCLC has the expertise to provide parents with accurate, evidence-based information specific to their needs.”

As allied health care professionals with the only internationally-recognised credential for professional lactation services, IBCLCs work in hospitals, clinics, private practice, community settings, health promotion programmes, education and in research. Pregnant women, parents and health workers can find an IBCLC who is working in Private Practice in Ireland here.

There are nearly 200 IBCLCs currently certified in Ireland and more than 26,000 IBCLC certificants in 94 countries worldwide. The IBCLC is certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®), which is accredited by the U.S. National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

The Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI) is an affiliate of The International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), and promotes the professional development, advancement and recognition of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) for the benefit of breastfeeding infants and children, mothers, families and the wider community. Contact ALCI at info@alcireland.ie

As part of ALCI’s celebrations this March, there will be a study day for members in Limerick entitled “Oral & Physical Assessment – A Team Approach”. Anyone interested in attending is welcome to join ALCI and attend.