Tag Archives: ALCI

New Membership Year For ALCI

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February 28th sees the start of the next membership year for ALCI. If you are interested in joining ALCI, please fill out our online form here. If you are an existing member of ALCI, you can fill out our membership renewal form here by selecting “Renewal”.

 

As part of your ALCI membership:

 

 

If you are an IBCLC, or become one:

 

  • you can be listed in the Private Practice Directory, available on the website for mothers who are seeking Lactation Consultancy.
  • be listed in the ‘Speakers Directory’, which is available to members of the public who are seeking a speaker on breastfeeding topics,
  • advertise any course or class for those who wish to become Lactation Consultants in ALCI’s ‘Directory of Education’.

 

ALCI’s Spring Event (Saturday March 29th, University Maternity Hospital) is for ALCI members only – yet another benefit of joining or renewing your membership.

ALCI Conference Hailed A Great Success

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The recent Annual Conference of the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland was opened  by Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., and Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, pictured here with  (from left to right) ALCI President Margaret Murphy IBCLC, Keynote Speaker Barbara Wilson Clay, IBCLC, Minister Frances Fitzgerald and ALCI Vice President Meabh Anne McNamara IBCLC.

ALCI Conference Hailed A Great Success

In her opening address Minister Fitzgerald thanked the International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) community for the work they do in supporting breastfeeding in Ireland. She highlighted the valuable contribution Lactation Consultants make to the health of the nation’s children. She cited in particular the emerging evidence from the Growing Up in Ireland Survey and the benefits of breastfeeding in combating childhood obesity. She encouraged IBCLCs (as strategic, key stakeholders) to become involved in government policy development, particularly in formulating the Early Childhood Strategy.

 

With 10 plenary presentations and 3 workshops, over 2 days, plus research posters, networking, new product information and much more, the ALCI Annual Conference proved to be the premier event for health workers involved in assisting and promoting breastfeeding in Ireland.

 

See Barbara Wilson Clay and ALCI President Margaret Murphy speaking on Ireland AM 3rd Oct 2013.

 Twitter: #2013ALCI

Register before Friday Sept 20th to SAVE €20 at the Annual ALCI Conference

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Creating Realistic Breastfeeding Expectations”

Annual Conference of the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland.

Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October 2013 in the Green Isle Hotel, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

 

EARLY BIRD RATE EXTENDED UNTIL 20TH SEPTEMBER 2013!

 

Workshops are filling fast – register NOW to get your first choices

 

Special rate B& B in the hotel with triple rooms for an even better deal.

 

Conference is about networking too. After the sessions on Friday enjoy a chat in the special interest groups:

 

CMS-Lactation, IBCLCs in Private Practice, Primary Care, Paediatric, Education and others, or spend some time in the leisure centre.

 

Sign up for adinnertable to continue networking .

rose-henderson

 

Then attend the free Friday social evening: Comedienne Rose Henderson (pictured here on the right) on mothers and breastfeeding plus Fit to Bust talent, silly games and plenty of time to meet new colleagues and catch up with old friends.

 

With 10 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.

 

Register NOW and don’t miss out
Click here for a Booking Form, and further information is available from info@alcireland.ie or text 089 441 6497

“Creating Realistic Breastfeeding Expectations”

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Annual Conference of the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland

 

Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October 2013

 

Green Isle Hotel, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

 

The use of appropriate language for promoting and supporting breastfeeding and creating realistic breastfeeding expectations for both parents and health workers are the focus for the upcoming Annual ALCI Conference. 

 

With 10 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.

 

– The Conference will be opened by Ms Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Children & Youth Affairs.

 

– Barbara Wilson Clay, IBCLC, world renowned presenter, will speak on Guilt and Infant Feeding Choices; How Language Affects Expectations; Assessing Lactation Acuity: big problem or little problem?; Why is the Baby Sleepy?; and Why No Milk?

 

– Siobhan Hourigan, National Breastfeeding Coordinator and Mary O’Connor, IBCLC, will discuss Community breastfeeding initiatives for change and the introduction of a pilot community support programme in Kerry.

 

– Aileen Doyle, IBCLC and Mary O’Rourke will present findings from their recent research studies on practice related issues with breastfeeding in Ireland.

 

– Workshops on Saturday 5th October include topics such as the private IBCLC interacting with other health service providers (Nicola O Byrne, IBCLC); ending free formula in hospital (Dr. Genevieve Becker, IBCLC); choosing and using breast pumps (Ger Cahill, IBCLC); and assessing a feed/taking a history (facilitator to be confirmed), and Mary Mahon, IBCLC will facilitate a workshop on achieving and sustaining change in practice.

 

Conference participants are invited to submit research and practice posters for display, discussion and publication in the conference abstract book and awards.

 

The conference is approved for 12.25 (L & E) IBLCE CERPs and 5.5 Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais) CEUs (Category 1, Course Groupings 4 and 9). INDI CPD Approval has been sought.

 

Handouts, lunch and refreshments are included in the registration fee.

 

Early Bird rate (before Friday September 13th 2013) is €100 for members (for both days) or €60 (for one day) and €140 and €100 for non-members. There is a discount rate available for full-time students in relevant professions.

World Breastfeeding Week 2013 – Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers

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World Breastfeeding Week took place recently, and this year’s theme “Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers”, highlighted the importance of providing support to breastfeeding families.

 

Infant feeding is one of the most important decisions that new families make. Evidence is clear that breastfeeding is the ideal way to feed an infant. Research shows that infants who are not exclusively breastfed for their first six months of life are more likely to develop a wide range of chronic and acute diseases, including ear infections, diarrhoeal diseases, asthma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, obesity and respiratory illnesses. Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding with a decreased risk for breast and ovarian cancers.

 

Despite most mothers wanting to breastfeed, many are met with multiple and complex barriers that keep them from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals. Support and encouragement from all angles can make success possible for mothers who wish to breastfeed. Negative attitudes and practices of the mother’s closest support network can pose a sizeable barrier, making it difficult for mothers and babies to successfully breastfeed. “Learning how to breastfeed takes time and patience for new mothers and infants. It is important to remember that families, friends, healthcare providers, employers, childcare providers, communities, and even the media play a crucial role in mother’s overall success with breastfeeding,” said Margaret Murphy, President of the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland.

 

Appropriate breastfeeding support can build a mother’s confidence with breastfeeding. It is critical that breastfeeding families be supported by their community. This support can be expressed by healthcare providers adopting policies and practices that assume breastfeeding as the normal feeding method for infants, by employers providing a private place and flexible work options to express breastmilk during the work day, or by childcare providers talking to new families about how they support breastfeeding. Breastfeeding peer counsellors, mother-to-mother support groups, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) certificants work in communities and can provide a wealth of knowledge to breastfeeding families.

World Breastfeeding Week 2013 – Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers

 

An IBCLC is a certified healthcare professional with special knowledge and experience assisting breastfeeding families. The IBCLC can work in a variety of environments from hospitals to private practice to community health settings. Many work with employers and businesses to help establish worksite lactation support programs. Mothers can also find a local IBCLC to help them with breastfeeding questions and concerns by visiting the “Find a Lactation Consultant” Directory here on the ALCI website.

World Breastfeeding Week is coordinated globally by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA).

Keynote Speaker for ALCI Conference 2013 – Linda Smith

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Keynote Speaker for ALCI Conference 2013 – Linda SmithLinda Smith MPH, FACCE, IBCLC, FILCA, is confirmed as the Keynote Speaker for the 2013 ALCI Conference. Linda is a lactation consultant, childbirth educator, author, and internationally-known consultant on breastfeeding and birthing issues. Linda is ILCA’s liaison to the World Health Organisation’s Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and consultant to INFACT Canada/IBFAN North America. As a former La Leche League Leader and Lamaze-certified Childbirth Educator, she provided education and support to diverse families over 35 years. Linda was a founder of IBLCE, founder and past board member of ILCA, and is a delegate to the United States Breastfeeding Committee from the American Breastfeeding Institute. She owns the Bright Future Lactation Resource Center, whose mission is “Supporting the People who Support Breastfeeding” with lactation education programs, consulting services, and educational resources.

 

This theme of this two day ALCI Conference is ‘Creating Realistic Breastfeeding Expectations’ and it will take place in the Green Isle Hotel, Clondalkin on October 4th and 5th 2013.

 

Further detail will be available here.

ALCI Members Only Day A Great Success

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Recently many ALCI members, and some staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, enjoyed an informative and stimulating day with a variety of speakers; PR Consultant Marie Ennis O’Connor, CMS Teenage Pregnancy Una O’Brien, HSE National Breastfeeding Coordinator Siobhan Hourigan and Janet Calvert, RM BSc MSc.

 

The ALCI AGM also took place on the day. This included the official election of some Council positions, and ALCI Council now stands as follows;

 

  • President – Margaret Murphy IBCLC, Co. Cork
  • Vice President – Meabh Anne McNamara IBCLC, Co. Kildare
  • Treasurer – Johanna Riley Cusack IBCLC, Co. Clare
  • Secretary – Genevieve Becker IBCLC, Co. Galway
  • General Council Member – Audrey McVeigh Clarke IBCLC, Co. Galway
  • General Council Member – Norma Quirke IBCLC, Co. Dublin
  • General Council Member – Vacant

 

The next ALCI Event will be the Annual Conference on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th of October 2012 in The Green Isle Hotel, Dublin. The theme will be ‘Creating Realistic Breastfeeding Expectations’. This two day event will be the 10th Annual ALCI Conference. More details will be available here.

Breastfeeding Support and New Technologies – ALCI Members Only Spring Event 2013

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Social Media and the IBCLC, Ethical considerations and targeting those least likely to breastfeed, Teenage Pregnancy and Taking a consumer approach to promoting breastfeeding will be the presentations at ‘Breastfeeding Support and New Technologies’, the ALCI Members Only Event, Spring 2013 on Saturday April 20th 2013 in the Nursing Education Centre of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

 

Ms. Marie Ennis O’Connor, PR Consultant will present Social Media and the IBCLC. Ms. Janet Calvert, RM BSc MSc Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager Regional Breastfeeding Lead for the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland will discuss Ethical Considerations and Targeting These Least Likely to Breastfeed. Ms. Siobhán Hourigan, National Breastfeeding Coordinator, will discuss taking a consumer approach to promoting breastfeeding. Ms. Una O’Brien, CMS Teenage Pregnancy will present a session on Teenage Pregnancy.

 

4 CERPs have been awarded in total, 1.25 CERPs L and 3.75 CERPs E. The event fee is €20, which includes a light lunch. The event is open to all current ALCI members & staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. Please feel free to include your ALCI Membership / Membership Renewal with your event registration. Pre-registered and pre-paying is essential. If you are unable to attend, a full refund will be made if 48 hours’ notice is given, or another member may attend in your place.

 

If you are not an ALCI member but are interested in attending, you are welcome to join ALCI and attend the event, just email info@alcireland.ie for membership and event forms.

 

Please contact ALCI at info@alcireland.ie or text 089 441 6497 if you have any queries.

Urge the WHO to cut ties with Nestle: Our Mothers and Babies Are Worth it!

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The Pan-American office of the World Health Organisation recently changed its policy regarding contributions from industry and has accepted $150,000 from Nestle.

 

Nestle is known worldwide as a violator of the International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes. An international petition has been circulating to urge the Pan American office of the WHO to return the money and to keep the entire WHO true to its mission.

 

You can sign the petition in seconds (anonymously if you like) by clicking on this link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/569/157/115/urge-the-world-health-organization-to-cut-ties-with-nestle-our-mothers-and-babies-are-worth-it/#

 

The petition has only been in circulation for a few days and it is literally spreading like wildfire.Let’s make sure Ireland’s voice is heard!

 

If YOU Don’t Advocate for Mothers & Babies, Who Will?

Good Health Begins with Breastfeeding

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Good Health Begins with BreastfeedingNational Breastfeeding Week 2012 took place from the 1st to the 7th October. This is the end of calendar week 40 of each year and symbolizes the start of a new relationship between mother and child, the beginning of the Breastfeeding journey. The theme of this year’s National Breastfeeding Week was ‘Good Health Begins with Breastfeeding’.

 

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are the gold standard in Lactation care and members of Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI) practice to the highest standards thus assuring mothers in their care of a professional, competent and caring relationship that goes way beyond infant feeding. They are skilled supporters, working in both Health Care settings and Privately in the Community.

 

The Annual Conference of the Association of Lactation Consultants took place on Saturday 29th of September, and began this special week of Events, both Educational and Social, across the Country. The keynote speaker was Dr. Suzanne Colson, who presented on ‘Biological Nurturing’. More details on the next ALCI event will be available here shortly.