In an effort to provide women with breastfeeding support, Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, part of Ascension Michigan, and Henry Ford College have launched a Lactation Consultant Program. The new certification program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
The program, which is the ninth in the world, allows students to become International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC), a healthcare profession specializing in the clinical management of breastfeeding.
Dearborn resident Lauren Fisher, an IBCLC student, said she is happy she decided to pursue this certification because of her struggles and what she witnessed other women go through. “Ten years ago, when I had my first child, breastfeeding support was hard to find,” she said. “I had to travel an hour to find a lactation consultant that understood my condition and how much I needed help. I remember her compassion and how she empowered me through her command of breastfeeding knowledge.”
The IBCLC certification is the highest level of lactation support offered and allows graduates to work in a variety of settings including birthing centers, clinics and hospitals, among others.
“Since breastfeeding is the foundation of lifelong health for mothers and babies, it is important for mothers to receive peer and professional support to achieve their breastfeeding goals,” said Paula Schreck, MD, a pediatrician at Ascension St. John Hospital. “The support is more impactful when mothers can relate to their supporter on multiple levels, so it is critical the support network represent the community being served.”
The Lactation Consultant Program will expand and diversify the lactation field by providing women, especially those with only a high school education and limited resources, with an opportunity to become IBCLC certified. As a result, more lactation consultants will be available to improve breastfeeding success and health outcomes for mothers and babies.
“I want to be that safe place for breastfeeding women,” Lauren said. “I want to be able to provide accessible breastfeeding education and care that gives women freedom to feed their babies, meet their breastfeeding goals, and feel empowered as new mothers. I am so happy with my choice to become a lactation consultant.”
