Tag Archives: support

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