Every Florida Family Deserves the Gold Standard of Lactation Support – Tips from an IBCLC
The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend infants exclusively breastfeed for six months followed by continued breastfeeding, after the introduction of solid foods, for up to two years of age or beyond. But did you know less than 20% of Florida families do so, according to the CDC, often because they lack the needed support? International Board Certified Lactation Consultants—called IBCLCs for short—exist to change that. IBCLCs are healthcare professionals who specialize in the clinical management of breastfeeding.
When families welcome a newborn into the world, they’re experiencing a whirlwind of information and emotions—learning about and navigating breastfeeding shouldn’t be one they have to experience alone. Whether it’s showing parents how to position their baby for a feeding, understanding how to latch, or offering emotional support, IBCLCs are in families’ corners to guide them through the rewarding, yet sometimes challenging journey of breastfeeding.
During National Breastfeeding Awareness Month this August and beyond, here’s what to know about breastfeeding your little one.
What kinds of lactation support exist?
Lactation support providers help families navigate their breastfeeding experience. From guiding families through the lactation process to making sure breastfeeding is going well for the family and the baby, an IBCLC can help give new parents peace of mind, so they and their baby are happy and healthy.
While many kinds of lactation support providers exist, only IBCLCs have completed the clinical training and maintain the knowledge and skills required to become and stay internationally recognized lactation experts. Considered the “gold standard” of lactation support, IBCLCs’ rigorous training equips them with the skills to address both simple and complex lactation issues, facilitating excellent guidance and support for families.
Some IBCLCs offer direct care to families immediately following birth in hospitals and birthing centers, while others help families navigate breastfeeding in the weeks and months after discharge at home, in private practices, and in the community. Their goal is to serve as a healthcare worker, a coach, an advocate, a guide, and whatever it is that families need to feel comfortable and confident in their role as breastfeeding families. IBCLCs are there to celebrate families’ breastfeeding successes and tackle obstacles when they arise.
“Breastfeeding isn’t always easy. Many families don’t know that support from an IBCLC is even available to them, so they stop breastfeeding because they don’t think it’s possible for them,” says Regina Maria Roig-Romero, a local IBCLC in the Tampa Bay area with 28 years of experience as an IBCLC. “Families in the Tampa Bay area need to know that IBCLCs exist and we’re here to help support their infant feeding goals.”
Roig-Romero is also the program manager, prenatal & lactation services, for A Breastfeeding and Childbirth Program (abcProgram), a program of Champions for Children, Inc., a local nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. Champions for Children provides families with education, support, and resources and is committed to building strong families as support for thriving children. Annually, approximately 30,000 children, parents, and supportive adults benefit from participation in their nationally accredited programs and services.
Why is lactation support important?
Experts say early access to lactation support helps overcome common obstacles and boosts confidence so that breastfeeding families feel more comfortable. Whether it’s a family’s first baby or they’ve breastfed multiple times, the parenthood journey is unpredictable and having support through the complexities of breastfeeding is critical for proper nourishment.
“In my experience, the most important thing we can do to support breastfeeding families is to address some of the barriers to breastfeeding and provide the individualized, hands-on care parents and their baby need,” says Roig-Romero. “We’re in the hospitals and birthing centers helping families understand what a good latch feels like and how to achieve a good position for their body. We’re also in the community after they come home from the hospital, ready to help resolve the common concerns that often arise in the first few months of breastfeeding—such as soreness or doubts about their milk supply. We’re resources for parents returning to work who want to start using a pump and build their stash of frozen breastmilk. And we’re at every point on the journey with them.”
How do I connect with a lactation support provider?
Lactation consultants work across a variety of healthcare settings, in hospitals, clinics, breastfeeding centers, doctor's offices, homes, or even their own private practice.
“Here in the Tampa Bay area, we run nine Baby Cafés—places you can go on a drop-in basis to see an IBCLC completely free of charge,” says Roig-Romero, who is a member of the board of directors of Baby Café USA.
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