The Lactation Network

We like to say that International Board Certified Lactation Consultants provide the gold standard in care, and today we’re going to take a minute to break down exactly what we mean by that. IBCLCs are the highest credentialed consultants in their field, completing over 90 hours of lactation-specific education and 300-1,000 hands-on hours of clinical training. They must earn their recertification every five years. And while IBCLCs may be the overachievers of the lactation world, they work with every family to meet them where they are most comfortable: In-home, at the office, or virtually — with every consultation covered by insurance.

We'd love to hear your favorite memory with your ~overachieving~ IBCLC below.

Feeding babies takes milk, sweat, and sometimes, tears.
And let's face it: None of the greats can do it alone.

Just like the Olympians who have been gracing our screens, postpartum mothers and parents need (and deserve!) a supportive team to win in the postpartum season. Partners, advocates, communities, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are key to a successful prenatal-to-weaning breastfeeding journey.

So, all you postpartum MVPs — we've got the perfect person to help you craft your game plan:

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐁𝐂𝐋𝐂. They're expert clinicians (who will serve as your biggest coach and cheerleader!) and can provide in-person, insurance-covered lactation care and breastfeeding support through TLN.

➡️ Check the link in below (and shout out your favorite member of your postpartum team in the comments.) 💕

https://bit.ly/3KS3amy

While parenting may not be a literal Olympic sport, it sure can feel like it. What parenthood Olympic feats have you achieved? Tell us below!

We get the feeling that breastfeeding parents are performing Olympic feats of strength postpartum — so we asked an actual Olympian to confirm.
Confirmed: 11-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix agrees.

Sarah Kellogg Neff, CEO of The Lactation Network, and Leah Tribus, IBCLC, RN spoke with Felix about how she launched the first nursery in the Olympic Village in partnership with Pampers at the 2024 Olympics. That's because she understands how important it is for breastfeeding mothers and parents to get the support they deserve.

“I don’t want any other woman to feel like she has to choose between her profession and motherhood, and definitely not to have to hide bringing a new life into this world,” Felix shared, explaining that when she was pregnant with her daughter five years ago, she would train at 4 a.m. to hide her pregnancy, fearing that she’d lose her sponsorship deals. Like Allyson Felix, we're pioneering a better path forward for parents — by connecting them to in-home, insurance-covered care for the first time ever. We must do better for all mothers and parents.

Read more in the link below, and let us know how your support system helped you during your breastfeeding journey!
https://bit.ly/3A30H6z

Disclaimer: This can change week by week, and that's okay!

Attention TLN IBCLCs! 🪧 This is your sign to join us for the fourth webinar in our Milestone Lactation Consults series.

🗓️ On July 30, 2024, at 12 p.m. CT, TLN LC Danielle Downs Spradlin, IBCLC, will share insights and resources for breastfeeding and introducing solids and integrating these consultations into your private practice.

This five-part webinar series was created to help you gain resources to support your lactation practice and expand your care around key moments in parents' breastfeeding journeys — because educating families before big changes or milestones helps lay the groundwork for success.

Go to myTLN portal announcements for the webinar registration link. 🔗 Recorded webinar will be available in the portal for those who can't join live.

If you're not a TLN IBCLC yet, join our network at lactationnetwork.com 💚

It’s simple: Pregnant workers deserve to thrive without fighting for basic accommodations.

Thankfully, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's final regulation to carry out the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is effective June 18, 2024. Thanks to this legislation, employers are now required to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions.

This law, along with the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act), ensures that lactating parents have a safe, private place to pump at work. Pregnancy-related discrimination, especially in the workplace, is unacceptable.

We’re here to continue challenging the status quo, working to elevate workplace standards to more comprehensively support pregnant and lactating workers by ensuring legal protection. Because no one should have to make the impossible choice between their health and their job.

➡️ Click the link below
https://bit.ly/3Rnnxvd

How to play: Share this post to your story, fill out your bingo card with emojis or stickers, and tag us!

We wouldn’t be what we are without our IBCLCs. They set the standard for lactation care, working closely with breastfeeding parents and their children, and continuously learning, sharing, and growing within the field.

We're all in this together 🎶

That I didn't have to think about it until after the baby was born. 🙋‍♀️

A recent study found that relaxation can help a breastfeeding parent produce more milk. Trust us, we know, easier said than done. And while regular breastfeeding, plenty of sleep, and paying attention to pumping habits can help with milk supply, it's always nice to have another tool in the toolbox, especially one that encourages calm.

The return-to-work period can be especially difficult for new parents, with 43% leaving the workforce within three months, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Employers looking to provide extra support to their breastfeeding employees may want to consider adding more thought into the legally required pumping room. Suggested relaxation methods listed in the study include “progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, mindfulness, guided visualization, and breathing exercises. Music is equivalent to formal relaxation techniques in some settings.” A more relaxed employee is a healthier employee, full stop. But a relaxed breastfeeding employee is a more productive (when it comes to breastmilk — the study didn’t track billable hours) employee, and a less stressed employee.

➡️Click the link in bio!

Breastfeeding isn’t just about the health of your baby; it benefits you as well. Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 10-15% of people who give birth and does not go away on its own. Along with help from a certified medical professional, breastfeeding can help lessen the chance of experiencing PPD. According to SHRM, "Women who did not exclusively breastfeed had 89% higher odds of PPD than those who exclusively breastfed." Another study found that breastfeeding helps lessen PPD symptoms. Postpartum depression is nothing to be ashamed of, and you shouldn’t be afraid to prioritize your mental health.

Birth is a team sport. Along with her care team, a mother should be able to look to her partner for support. For far too long men were relegated to the role of hand-holder, photographer, or guy in the waiting room. James Hogue is trying to change all of that; he’s a “Dad Doula” and the founder of Fathers Assisting Mothers, an organization that educates expectant fathers on birth and beyond. Inspired by his wife’s experiences giving birth, he wanted to prepare and encourage more men (especially those partnered with Black women) to advocate for the mother during birth and provide postpartum care.

📞 CALLING OUR TLN IBCLCs: Join us for the second webinar in our Milestone Lactation Consults series!

On July 9, 2024 🗓️ at 12 PM CT, TLN LC Annette Leary BSN, RN, IBCLC will share insights and resources for approaching anticipatory return to work lactation consultations, and integrating them into your private practice.

ICYMI, we created this five-part webinar series to support your lactation practice and expand your care around key lactation milestones — including prenatal, return-to-work, breastfeeding older babies, and starting solids. Because educating families before big changes or milestones helps lay the groundwork for success. 💚

Go to myTLN portal announcements for the link to save your spot. 🔗 Recorded webinar will be available in the portal for those who can't join live.

NOTE: For LinkedIn, use the below copy for CTA

Save your spot here: https://bit.ly/4co82vD
🔗 Recorded webinar will be available in the portal for those who can't join live.

I ❤️ my IBCLC

Like if you can relate, comment if you wish you had more hands. 🙋‍♀️

Exciting news for maternal mental health: Curio’s MamaLift Plus™ has received FDA approval!

This groundbreaking therapy app is designed to support mothers experiencing postpartum depression and will be available this summer.

The impact of this approval can't be overstated for families. MamaLift Plus™ provides personalized digital interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), tailored to help mothers manage their postpartum mental health in a self-paced, accessible way. With features like mood tracking and live support from health coaches and therapists, this app represents a new era of accessible, on-demand mental health care for birthing parents. We’re here for it. 👏

➡️ Click the link below
https://bit.ly/3Vj67Bo

Big news for current and future parents everywhere: Zuranolone, the first-ever pill to treat postpartum depression (PPD), has been approved by the FDA! PPD affects about 1 in 8 new mothers, causing extreme sadness, anxiety, or despair (CDC). This groundbreaking drug is fast-acting, administered at home, and could be a game changer for maternal mental health.

PPD can have severe consequences, increasing risks of su***de, high blood pressure, and stroke for mothers, while their children may face developmental and emotional challenges. The approval of zuranolone is a significant step forward in helping new parents feel supported throughout the postpartum period.

The more clinical resources are dedicated to developing drugs like these, the more families win. It highlights the importance of comprehensive, holistic care for new parents throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

We believe every new parent deserves access to the best care possible. And care not only includes access to life-saving medical treatments like zuranolone, but also emotional and practical support. More comprehensive solutions to postpartum challenges, please. 👏

To celebrate , we're shining a light on three LGBTQ+ organizations.

Swipe to learn more about their work and give their social pages a follow!
❤️ Glsen: https://www.glsen.org/
🧡 The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
💛 Glaad: https://glaad.org/our-work/

This is the kind of news that fires up our Slack chats and gets our collective blood boiling. Parents should be able to breastfeed when and where they need to, full stop. There’s nothing “unsanitary” about breastfeeding, and prioritizing the supposed comfort of onlookers over the needs of babies and parents only contributes to the detrimental narratives around breastfeeding. We will always support nursing parents and their right to breastfeed how and when they want to. That said, feel free to shout out a restaurant or business that has always made you and your breastfeeding child feel welcome and comfortable.

What’s the TL;DR on IBCLCs?

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are, simply put, the gold standard in lactation care. 🏅

The Lactation Network works exclusively with IBCLCs, the highest accredited healthcare professionals specializing in lactation.

What does this certification mean?
While lactation educators can offer education and support, only IBCLCs have completed the rigorous training to become internationally recognized lactation experts. IBCLC certification programs require 2-5+ years, and candidates must complete:

➡️ 90 hours of lactation-specific education
➡️ 300-1,000 hands-on hours of clinical training
➡️ Recertification every five years to maintain accreditation

What does an IBCLC do?
Your IBCLC can assist with *all* your lactation needs, from helping you design a workday pumping schedule and storage plan to finding the best breastfeeding position for you.

IBCLCs work in various settings, providing care at home, hospitals, birth centers, and via virtual visits.

IBCLCs can also help with common lactation challenges, like low milk supply, ni**le pain, and conditions like mastitis and plugged ducts.

It’s always the right time to get the care you deserve. From prenatal consultations to breastfeeding baby #3, our nationwide network of IBCLCs is here to provide expert, compassionate care.

Request a consultation to receive personalized, insurance-covered care from an IBCLC. 🤍

Does anyone have a manual 📖?

That's hot ✨

TLN is now offering complimentary Continuing Education Recognition Point (CERPs) programming exclusively for IBCLCs in our network! We’ve heard from you that you’d like more help finding affordable CERPs opportunities, and we’re working to make it easier than ever to access CERPs credits with this new series.

These webinars, totaling five L-CERPs, are designed to support your professional development while helping you maintain your certification. Each webinar will address critical topics in lactation care and maternal health, presented by Nekisha Killings, MPH, IBCLC, an esteemed equity strategist and maternal and child health advocate.

➡️ Visit the link below to sign up today.
https://bit.ly/3Xuociv