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A mother who wishes to breastfeed her baby is often filled with questions for which she needs reassuring and reliable answers. Her first reflex is to turn to the health professionals around her. There are quite a few of them during pregnancy. Unfortunately, their initial training does not deal with the subject of breastfeeding and the information they share with the mother-to-be or the young mother may be contradictory, unreliable, hesitant and also coloured by their own view of breastfeeding.
However, there is a resource person at these times, and that is the IBCLC lactation consultant. Let's look at her role and what she can do for you if you want to breastfeed or are already doing so.
There is very little regulation of the support professions in France and anyone can declare themselves a "breastfeeding support worker".
IBCLC stands for "International Board Certified Lactation Consultant ®". It is an international certification that is revalidated every 5 years. The revalidation is done alternatively by further education and by an examination.
Prior to 2011, there were no prerequisites for certification, so anyone could become an IBCLC (provided they completed the certification course). Now lactation consultants must have at least a medical degree (which corresponds to a nurse or psychologist).
The IBCLC certification is then a guarantee of the seriousness of the certified professional. To obtain the diploma, there are numerous criteria to be met, particularly in terms of ethics and deontology.
By speaking to an IBCLC certified consultant you can be sure that you are accompanied by a person with up-to-date knowledge who will answer your questions and support you in your breastfeeding project.
An IBCLC lactation consultant certified since 2011 may also be able to diagnose and/or prescribe under her health professional status (depending on the health profession she practices). As a consultant only (and for example for those certified before 2011), this is not possible. If she perceives the need, she will be able to direct you to a competent health professional.
The lactation consultant is a professional in breastfeeding and human lactation. Her role is to support, help and accompany families in their breastfeeding project. She listens to you and helps you to resolve any concerns you may have about breastfeeding.
It may also be of interest to health professionals seeking information for their breastfeeding patients or to increase their own knowledge on the subject.
The lactation consultant is therefore trained in breastfeeding but also in topics related to baby development and nutrition, anatomy and possible anatomical/ oral problems that could have an impact on breastfeeding as well as on sleep (e.g. restrictive tongue brakes).
She can also support families thanks to her expertise in pharmacology, toxicology (problems of compatibility of substances and treatments with breastfeeding), psychology, sociology, anthropology and communication. She can also be competent in ethical and legal issues related to breastfeeding (in particular for the return to work of the breastfeeding mother).
If you are planning to breastfeed, a meeting during your pregnancy with an IBCLC lactation consultant will always be helpful.
Breastfeeding is discussed during the preparation for childbirth, but depending on the professional who delivers this preparation, you may not find the answers to your questions.
You may not have had any questions before the birth and you may not find it necessary to meet with her during your pregnancy. However, the IBCLC consultant will be able to provide you with as much basic information as possible and perhaps answer questions that you didn't think you had but which could appear very quickly when you actually start breastfeeding. Having a few answers and tips in your pocket before facing a problem can be very reassuring for the mother and the family as a whole.
Once you have started breastfeeding, if you have any doubts or difficulties, do not hesitate to contact your nearest consultant. Sometimes a simple phone call can reassure you at the time.
For certain problems (pain, feeling of lack of milk...), the consultant will help you find solutions and gain confidence in your ability to breastfeed your baby as you wish.
So always have the number of a lactation consultant in your maternity bag, even if you did not consult one during your pregnancy.
A consultation often takes place at your home (depending on the consultant's practice) and lasts on average between 30 minutes and 2 hours. The lactation consultant will often attend a feeding to give you advice. She will be there to listen to all your questions and doubts and will be able to reassure you fully.
Some maternity hospitals or PMI have a certified professional who can advise you if necessary.
In France, IBCLC lactation consultants are listed by the AFCL (Association Française des Consultants en Lactation) and you can find the full directory on their website.
Registration in this directory is only valid if the consultant's certification is up to date, so they are only competent professionals.
If you live in the Atlantic Pyrenees, don't hesitate to contact Frédérique Morelec based in St Pée sur Nivelle who has tested and validated the Mumade nursing pillow.
For any successful breastfeeding project, support is not to be neglected. Finding the right professionals is therefore essential.
Unfortunately there are no lactation consultants in the whole country, so you can turn to other professionals trained in breastfeeding thanks to an Inter-University Diploma in Human Lactation and Breastfeeding, who can then use the term "lactation consultant". They are often midwives who take this diploma. Do not hesitate to ask for information in your area.
The best way to make sure that anyone who accompanies you is competent is to ask them for their current diploma (and why not if they have breastfed too).
The IBCLC lactation consultant will be the most qualified person to accompany you on your way to successful breastfeeding for you and your baby. Take the time for this support to ensure that your breastfeeding journey is a happy one.
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