The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®) announces that over 28,000 certificants provide support and services to breastfeeding families and babies all over the globe.

The International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® credential, or IBCLC®, is a mark of excellence in the lactation field. IBLCE is the global authority that determines the knowledge of practitioners in lactation and breastfeeding care that hold the IBCLC certification. IBLCE was founded in 1985, with the vision of advancing the health and wellbeing of parents and children worldwide by providing standards of knowledge and increasing the number of practitioners in lactation and breastfeeding care. IBLCE has certificants in 105 countries.

Since 1988 the IBLCE certification program has held accreditation through the prestigious National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA) of the Institute of Credentialing Excellence, and was one of the very first certification programs worldwide to earn this mark of quality and distinction. As announced, NCCA reaccredited IBLCE again in 2015. 

Lauren Damon, a registered nurse at Madison Health, is a member of this year’s class of new certificants and the second nurse at the organization to receive the prestigious award.

Regina Maria Roig-Romero MPH, MCHES, IBCLC, and Chair of the IBLCE Board recently commented, “Professionals who earn or renew their IBCLC certification demonstrate specialized knowledge and clinical expertise in breastfeeding and human lactation and a commitment to supporting breastfeeding families. We commend them for holding the IBCLC credential.”

All those professionals pursuing, or maintaining, the IBCLC credential, must meet rigorous prerequisites, pass a challenging and professionally developed examination as well as meet continuing education requirements which include reexamination every ten years. 

A mother of five, Damon considers herself fortunate to breastfeed all of her children, but needed support due to an endocrine disorder that causes a low breast milk supply. She is committed to helping families reach their breastfeeding goals and feels it is important that people have access to lactation specialists.

“I became a lactation consultant because of the benefits breastfeeding has - not just on the mother and baby, but to the whole community,” said Damon. “My training helps play a part in the prevention of illnesses such as breast cancer, asthma, allergies, diabetes and infant death. I love encouraging the natural bond between a mother and child.”

Damon, who has cared for obstetrics patients for two years at Madison Health, holds bachelor’s degrees in both nursing and education. She has served as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator for six years and a certified doula through DONA International for eight years. Damon is also certified in electronic fetal monitoring and neonatal resuscitation.

Demand for lactation consultants is on the rise as more and more families recognize the importance and benefits of breastfeeding.  IBCLCs provide collaborative care by mapping out a plan to achieve individual breastfeeding goals.  They help families make informed decisions regarding the nutrition to offer their babies while taking into consideration the family’s personal situation.

For more information on the IBCLC program and examination, contact Sara Blair Lake, J.D., CAE, Executive Director, at 703.560.7330. For more information about lactation services at Madison Health, please call the Lactation Hotline at 740.845.7262.