What is a Lactation Consultant?
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a specialist trained to focus on the needs and concerns of the breastfeeding mother-baby pair. Their job is to prevent, recognize, and solve breastfeeding difficulties. The IBCLC's services do not replace those of the physician or nurse or any other health care worker, instead the IBCLC is an extender of maternal-child services.
Meet your Lactation Consultant, she will assist you in creating your action plan for breastfeeding success!
Hi, it is great to meet you on the web! I am located in North West Louisana, near Shreveport. I am a Registered Nurse licensed in Louisiana. Newborn care has been my career focus since 1982. I am certified in Low Risk Newborn Care (RNC). My experience in this field is diverse and includes: teaching breastfeeding, one on one lactation consulting in the hospital, NICU care, newborn care, and postpartum care. Working with breastfeeding mothers is a day to day part of my job and I have accumulated over 7000 hours of consulting experience. Assisting with lactation issues in the following areas are of specific interest to me: women who have experienced infertility, premature babies, and babies with cleft lip and/or palate.
In addition to the above qualifications, I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). This is a professional credential internationally recognized in the field of lactation management. The IBCLC credential certifies attainment of the professional standard of competency in the lactation field and is the only official, international credential for those offering breastfeeding and lactation care and services. IBCLC's are ideally skilled to help provide quality breastfeeding care, develop and implement breastfeeding protocols, improve lactation knowledge and skills of other medical professionals.
My professional affiliations are with the following organizations: International Lactation Consultant Association, United States Lactation Consultant Association and the Louisiana Lactation Consultants Association..
I'd like to share some personal information with you as well so you can get to know me better. I am married to a wonderful husband, and we have one child. I had many challenges breastfeeding our child, he was born with a cleft lip and palate and was unable to continue direct breastfeeding past the first few weeks. This was very disappointing to me. We understood how important it would be for him to receive my milk so I exclusively pumped for several months. I received so much conflicting advice and inaccurate information that lead me to wean much earlier than I had planned or desired. Being in the medical field, I had resources at my disposal, but I felt alone with nobody to turn to for scientific based information. I felt that this void in our community needed filling. After my son was older, I decided to further my education and open my practice. I really think these personal experiences have made me a better lactation consultant as I can really empathize with a mother who is having a very difficult time. I believe that breastfeeding success depends upon the availability of accurate information, meaningful education, and emotional and physical support of the breastfeeding couple. I want to empower women to make their own informed decisions and fulfill their own needs and expectations.
Beyond owning my own company and working at a local hospital, I have many hobbies that I enjoy. I enjoy church activities, sewing, quilting, and just being with my family. Thanks for taking the time to get to know me. I am sure my passion and expertise in this field will be of benefit to you.
Sincerely,
Brenda Dalton RNC, IBCLC, RLC