United States Lactation Consultant
Association
Press
Release
United States Lactation Consultant Association Announces
Date: August 2010
Contact: Scott Sherwood
Tel. 919-861-4543
Email: ScottSherwood@uslcaonline.org
For immediate release
United States Lactation Consultant Association issues IBCLC
staffing guidelines for hospitals
Morrisville, NC - The United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) has issued staffing
guidelines for IBCLC credentialed lactation consultants in US hospitals. Identifying and maintaining
the appropriate number and mix of nursing and specialty staff is critical to the delivery of quality
patient care. Numerous studies reveal an association between the availability of IBCLC lactation
consultants and improved breastfeeding outcomes in patients who are nursing their newborns.
Patients should receive resources according to their needs from clinicians with the knowledge and
expertise to safely and adequately deliver these services. Busy maternity units, minimal nurse
staffing, and lack of specialized knowledge conspire to often prevent the breastfeeding mother from
receiving the level and type of care needed to successfully breastfeed her infant. The IBCLC lactation
consultant is credentialed to deliver specialized services, much like a diabetes nurse educator,
physical therapist, dietitian or other allied health provider. Short hospital stays and mothers and
infants with more complex medical histories contribute to the need for lactation consultants to
organize and deliver lactation care and services. The new guidelines specify:
1.9 FTE (full time equivalents) per 1000 births in hospitals with neonatal intensive care
units (Level III hospitals).
1.6 FTE (full time equivalents) per 1000 births in hospitals with newborn special care
units (Level II hospitals), and
1.3 FTE (full time equivalents) per 1000 births in hospitals with standard maternity units
(Level I hospitals)
The complete document is available at
http://uslca.org/documents/Staffing%20Statement/IBCLC_Staffing_Recommendations_July_2010.pdf.
USLCA president, Laurie Beck, RN, MSN, IBCLC says, "Appropriate lactation consultant staffing will
help hospitals meet the Joint Commission's new Perinatal Core Measure set that includes measuring
the number of exclusively breastmilk fed infants at discharge. Sufficient lactation consultants will
also improve hospitals' scores on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Maternity Practices
in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) Survey - a winning outcome for mothers, babies, and hospitals."
Knowledgeable professional breastfeeding support can be obtained from lactation consultants with
the IBCLC credential (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). To locate lactation
consultant for assistance with breastfeeding go to www.uslca.org.
Mission: To build and sustain a national association that advocates for lactation professionals
Vision: IBCLCs are valued recognized members of the health care team.
The United States Lactation Consultant Association (ULSCA), is organized exclusively for the
advocacy of Lactation Professionals.