Ranging from just plain wrong to downright raunchy, lactation consultants (LCs) get called a lot of different names. Some are misguided, some are terms of endearment. These names provide a little breastfeeding humor to augment enhance brighten up your Friday!
Thanks to all the Lactnetters for sharing these substitutes for “Lactation Consultant”:
Location consultant (This is probably the most common. One woman was even listed under the real estate section in her local chamber of commerce directory!)
Lactitian
Lactitionist (as in “nutritionist”?)
Lactritionist
“The lactose intolerant – I mean the lactose tolerant – oh you know, what you are!”
Breast Lady
Milk Lady
Itty Bitty Titty Committee (now …read more

Welcome to the Women’s Health Blogfest featuring posts from registered dietitians and lactation professionals. First I want to share how breastfeeding counselors use their unique skills to help support breastfeeding mothers. At the end of this post, watch for links to other participating bloggers!
It’s true of nearly any profession. The keys to success are not technical knowledge or even years of experience. As I law student, I was not asked to memorize all the rules of federal, state, and local law. That would be impossible! Instead I was taught how to get at the heart of an issue and how …read more

Lactation consultants and medical professionals should bookmark a fantastic resource for finding continuing education opportunities: www.breastfeedingconferences.com. As Pamela K. Murphy prepared for the IBCLC exam, she recognized the need for a one-stop site for health care professionals to access worldwide breastfeeding education opportunities.
She created a site that lists upcoming breastfeeding education events including conferences and classroom, at-home, and online education courses. Educators can click a button on the site to list events, and those seeking continuing education credits can search the site by state, region or type of continuing education credit. Because the site depends on conference organizers to list …read more

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Day 2009 is Wednesday, March 4, 2009. The theme for the 7th annual celebration is “IBCLCs: Beyond Borders,” which recognizes the work done by IBCLCs around the world. Take the fun IBCLC Trivia Quiz to find out just how many IBCLC’s there are in how many nations around the world! I scored a whopping four out of eight correct and learned some interesting facts.
Are you planning or attending an IBCLC Day event? Leave a comment!

As students young and old head off to school this September, we’re calling for Carnival of Breastfeeding submissions related to the subject of Learning about Breastfeeding.
Potential subjects include:
- Books on breastfeeding
- Taking a breastfeeding class during pregnancy
- Training to become a breastfeeding peer counselor, La Leche League Leader, or lactation consultant
- Attending a breastfeeding support group
- Breastfeeding education in the schools: elementary school, high school, nursing school, or medical school
- A person who taught you about breastfeeding by her example or by being of support to you.
If you would like to submit your own post on Learning about Breastfeeding, …read more

According to The Breastfeeding Answer Book, a paladai is a feeding device used traditionally in India. It is a “low bowl with a spout, shaped like ‘Aladdin’s lamp.’” It has advantages over cup feeding in that it helps babies take a higher volume of milk in the least amount of time, and it reduces milk spillage.
Counseling the Nursing Mother: A Lactation Consultant’s Guide mentions this supplemental feeding technique:
The paladai — a cup feeding device — has been used to feed babies in India for many years. It is gaining recognition in the Western world as a helpful lactation device (Sideman, …read more

The sixth annual IBCLC Day is March 5, 2008. It’s a special day to promote the credential for internationally board certified lactation consultants, educate the community, and celebrate! For more information and free downloadable materials, visit the IBCLC Day page from the International Lactation Consultant Association.

A new breastfeeding book debuts next week. The ABCs of Breastfeeding: Everything a Mom Needs to Know for a Happy Nursing Experience is written by neonatal nurse practitioner and internationally board certified lactation consultant Stacey H. Rubin.
The website for the book offers a sample chapter on “The Signals That Will Let You Know When to Feed Your Baby”. The book appears to have an easy-to-read style peppered with stories and examples from the author’s interaction with her clients. I found myself nodding in agreement with the Rubin’s recommendations. How nice to read the following passage:

Libraryjournal.com reviewer Rebecca Raszewski also enjoyed …read more

Medela put together a video in honor of the field of lactation consultants. Lactation consultants who need a pick-me-up, or candidates striving to become lactation consultants, could get a lot of affirmation and inspiration from this thoughtful tribute. Watch “One Mother at a Time” (click on your choice of media player: QuickTime or Flash).