Lactation consultant
Abbreviation: IBCLC
A lactation consultant is a healthcare professional who specialises in supporting breastfeeding and chestfeeding. The gold-standard credential is IBCLC, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, which requires hundreds of clinical hours and a rigorous exam. They can assess your latch, identify issues like tongue-tie or low supply, guide you on pumping and milk storage, and help you navigate challenges such as mastitis or nipple pain. Seeing one early, ideally in the first week postpartum, can make the difference between giving up and a long, comfortable feeding journey.
What This Means for You
Understanding Lactation consultant is an important part of your pregnancy/postpartum journey. In your baby's first year, you will hear this term from your paediatrician and in parenting communities. Knowing what it means helps you respond quickly and confidently.
Explore our Baby hubGood to Know
KKH and NUH both have lactation consultant services available to inpatients and outpatients. Private IBCLCs also do home visits across Singapore, which many mothers find more relaxed and practical than a clinic setting.
Related Terms
Source: https://medlineplus.gov/infantandnewborncare.html
Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised advice.
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