Tag Archives: IBCLCs

World Breastfeeding Week 2013 – Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers

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).

IBCLC Day Celebrated Worldwide

The Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI) is joined the International Lactation Consultant Association in celebrating IBCLC Day on March 6th, 2013. This year’s theme “Connect with IBCLCs, the Experts in Breastfeeding Care,” highlights the expertise of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants® in providing breastfeeding care.

 

As part of ALCI’s IBCLC Day celebrations, Siobhan Hourigan (HSE National Breastfeeding Co-ordinator) was presented with a certificate from ALCI, of appreciation for her support and inclusion of IBCLCs. The certificate was presented at the National Breastfeeding Strategy Implementation Committee meeting. Also in the photo below (from left to right) are Nuala Molumby IBCLC, Meabh Anne McNamara IBCLC and Dr. Genevieve Becker IBCLC, all ALCI members on the National Committee.

 

IBCLC Day Celebrated Worldwide

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants® (IBCLCs) are healthcare professionals with expertise related to breastfeeding. 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 advise mothers during pregnancy, help them establish breastfeeding, and provide assistance with any challenges that may occur. IBCLCs also train other health workers and educators so that they may support breastfeeding. IBCLCs undertake research, develop health materials, and implement programs and campaigns.

 

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 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. There are currently 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.

 

Pregnant women, parents and health workers can find an IBCLC who is working in Private Practice in Ireland here.

 

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

 

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

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?

“Breastfeeding Research into Clinical Practice”

Enabling Biological Nurturing, what are the consequences of not breastfeeding, and where breastfeeding is going in Ireland are among the topics at “Breastfeeding Research into Clinical Practice” the Annual Conference of the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland on Saturday September 29th 2012 in the GlenroyAnnual Conferenceal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

 

Dr. Suzanne Colson is co-founder of The Nurturing Project, an organisation disseminating Biological Nurturing research and an honorary senior lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, UK. Dr Colson has 35 years’ experience supporting breastfeeding in hospital and community settings and will present three sessions.

 

Findings from The Growing Up In Ireland Study: The Consequences Of Not Breastfeeding by Dr. Richard Layte, Research Professor ESRI & Adjunct Professor, TCD.

 

Ms. Siobhán Hourigan, National Breastfeeding Coordinator, will discuss Breastfeeding in Ireland – Where we are and where we’re going.

 

Ms. Rebecca O Donovan, Dr. Genevieve Becker and Ms. Mary Mahon will present findings from their recent research studies on practice related issues.

 

Conference participants are invited to submit research and practice posters for display, publication in the conference abstract book and awards. Attendance at the Conference earns the delegates 5.75 IBCLC CERPs and 7 An Bord Altranais Continuing Education Units.

 

Handouts, lunch and refreshments are included in the delegate fee of €60 for members and €80 for non members at the Early Bird rate (before Wednesday September 19th) with discount for full-time undergraduate students.

 

Booking forms are available from alci@ireland.com.

 

Abstracts of the event are available here.

Suzanne Colson To Speak At ALCI Conference ’12

Dr. Suzanne Colson will be the Keynote Speaker at this year’s Annual Conference of the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland. Dr. Colson is a midwife, nurse and co-founder of The Nurturing Project, an organisation disseminating biological nurturing research.  She is an honorary senior lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University and has 35 years experience supporting breastfeeding mothers in both hospital and community settings.

 

The conference will take place on Saturday 29th of September at the Glenroyel Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

 

Topics will include the effect of lactation support, hand expression and implementing the fourth stage of the BFHI, among other sessions.

 

More detail will be available here when they are available, or you can email alci@ireland.com to receive a booking form. ALCI members will receive a discount.

IBCLC Day 2012 Celebrated Worldwide

2012-IBCLC-Day-Graphic-300x128The 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.

IBLCE Exam Results Announced

Congratulations to all new IBCLCs (Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants) who received their exam results recently. If not already a member, join ALCI now and your membership extends until March 2013. Email us for a membership form.

 

Information on the next ALCI event will be available here soon, so visit again, or email ALCI@ireland.com if you wish to be added to ALCI’s mailing list.