What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)?

The credential IBCLC denotes a health care professional who is a board certified specialist in the clinical management of lactation. IBCLCs are certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners under the direction of the US National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

IBCLCs work in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, pediatric offices, public health clinics, and private practice to assist mothers with breastfeeding difficulties.

Beverley Rae is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. How can she help me breastfeed my baby?

Beverley offers the following services at Breastfeeding Resources:

Note: during the Covid-19 crisis, in-person services have been suspended.

• phone and virtual prenatal classes
• phone and virtual consultations
• home and office visits
• breastfeeding Mommy and Me group
• hospital-grade breast pump rentals

For immediate help, download Beverley’s app Breastfeeding Central – an A-Z guide for new mothers.

When should I call for an appointment?

A prenatal breastfeeding class is an excellent way to prepare for successful breastfeeding. Many mothers also schedule a consultation in the first few days at home, to ensure that breastfeeding gets off to a good start.

An appointment to plan for managing breastfeeding and working is usually timed for about a month before returning to work.

Skilled help in the early days of breastfeeding resolves difficulties faster, builds a sense of confidence and provides support. Call for an appointment if you are experiencing any of the following:

• difficulty positioning baby at breast
• feeling overwhelmed
• baby who refuses to breastfeed
• latch on problems
• breastfeeding is painful
• concerns about milk supply
• recurring plugged ducts or breast infections
• slow weight gain
• fussy baby
• need for reassurance that breastfeeding is going well
• baby with gastro-esophageal reflux
• over-abundant milk supply (spraying milk, baby chokes, pulls off breast)
• questions about diet and breastfeeding
• breastfeeding a premature baby
• breastfeeding twins and triplets
• managing a toddler and the new baby
• relactation and adoptive breastfeeding
• breastfeeding and returning to work
• questions about pumping and storing breastmilk
• special situations e.g. baby with Down Syndrome, cleft lip and/or palate
• questions about weaning your baby

How long should I breastfeed my baby?

Breastfeeding for even one day is a special gift to your baby. Read this article to learn how breastfeeding benefits your baby at every age: one day, one week, one month, one year and beyond.