The Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland recently joined colleagues worldwide in celebrating IBCLC Day. This year’s theme “IBCLCs Make an Impact” highlighted how the expertise of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) can make a difference in the health and well being of children and their mothers.

According to Margaret Hynes, President of the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland, “How an infant is fed can have a lifelong impact on their health. Mother’s milk helps develop a strong immune system that can respond to fight off infections. The rising incidence of obesity and diabetes will have a major impact on health and both these conditions are more likely to develop in children and in mothers when babies are not breastfed. IBCLCs make an impact on the quality of breastfeeding care provided by health services and thus an impact for children and mothers.”

IBCLCs have years of training and continuing study to enable them to inform, assist and support women during pregnancy, early days after birth and as the baby grows including: getting off to a good start with breastfeeding, continuing to breastfeed after returning to work or education, nursing a premature or sick infant, and preventing and managing challenges that might occur. IBCLCs work in hospitals, community services, private practice, voluntary organisations, education and in research. The 197 IBCLCs in Ireland are part of the 22,000 IBCLCs in 88 countries worldwide who are certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (www.iblce.org) with.

The Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI) is the professional association for IBCLCs and other health care professionals who care for breastfeeding families. ALCI’s goal is to advance the profession of lactation consulting through leadership, advocacy, professional development, and research. ALCI provides members with numerous resources and professional development opportunities that enhance their ability to provide optimal care to breastfeeding families.

For more information about ALCI email alci@ireland.com. To find an IBCLC in private practice, visit the link above.