Support Group or IBCLC: What's the Difference?

When a mom is looking for breastfeeding assistance, it can often be difficult to know where to get this help and from whom.  There are so many options…. Facebook, breastfeeding support groups, lactation consultants… where to go can be confusing, especially if she feels like she needs to get help immediately!

So, what is the difference between the breastfeeding help you will get at a support group and at a private lactation consultant visit?

What you can expect at a breastfeeding support group:

Let me preface this by saying that not all groups are the same and it really depends on the level of expertise of the person running the group and how busy the group is.  There are different levels of experience and training in the field of lactation, depending on how many hours a person has spent in class and in an internship.  The level of expertise are demonstrated by the letters that follow the person’s name (IBCLC, CLC, CLE, etc), which is all explained in this fantastic article, What’s the Difference Between LC, IBCLC, CLE, etc?

At a breastfeeding support group, you will find a leader who is there to offer general breastfeeding assistance and support.  This leader can assist with positioning and latch (although often times this leader will not be able to actually touch you or the baby), basic information about normal breastfeeding/pumping strategies, normal baby feeding patterns, normal baby weight gain, breast and nipple care, and ways to maintain and protect your milk supply.  Often times there is a scale where you can weigh your baby before and after a feeding to see how much your baby is taking in (which is AWESOME!)  Attendance at the support group can range from a few moms to over 20, depending on how big the space is and how well attended the group is.  Support groups are often free, depending on where you live.  Support groups are fantastic for getting basic breastfeeding support, getting help while you wait for an appointment with an IBCLC, meeting other breastfeeding moms in your community, and practicing breastfeeding outside of your home.  

What you will not receive at most breastfeeding support groups is a personalized plan of care for difficult breastfeeding situations.  To create a personalized plan of care, a mother and baby’s medical history need to be discussed, as well as mom and baby both need to be assessed, which requires a consent form.  Therefore, most advice given at a breastfeeding support group is general, not specific for mom and baby’s personal situation.  

What you can expect at a private lactation consultant visit:

If you are meeting with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), you are now moving from general advice to a personalized assessment and plan of care.  The IBCLC should conduct a suck assessment on your baby, collect medical histories of both you and your baby, assess a feeding session, and offer guidance on how to improve your personal breastfeeding experience.  

Reasons you would want to see an IBCLC rather than just attend a support group:

• Cracked, bleeding nipples

• Painful latching that isn’t improved with positional changes

• Baby not gaining weight well

• Mom’s milk has not come in by day 3-5

• You suspect your baby has a tongue tie and/or lip tie

• Baby has signs of colic or reflux

• Mom has a low milk supply/supplementing baby

• Mom has an oversupply

• Premature baby

• Challenges with breastfeeding multiples

Each of these situations requires that someone provides a medical assessment and advice beyond what’s normal or typical with breastfeeding, therefore, it goes beyond what a mom can seek help for at a support group.  These private visits can take place in mom’s home, in the IBCLC’s office, at an outpatient clinic, at a medical practitioner’s office, or similar places.  Most of the time these visits have a fee associated and sometimes insurance will pay for these visits.

Where you can find an IBCLC in your area:

• Ask your friends

• Ask your baby’s pediatrician

• Search for a local breastfeeding coalition

• Call the breastfeeding warm line at the hospital or ask your midwife/OBGYN

• Ask your WIC Peer Counselor

• Search for an IBCLC in your area on the ILCA website

• Google “IBCLC” and the name of your town or city

• Ask for a recommendation on Facebook

• Attend a support group led by an IBCLC

Where have you found breastfeeding support in your neighborhood?  

Was it easy to find this support?

Our New Low-Cost Breastfeeding Clinic

Written by Robin Kaplan, M.Ed, IBCLC

My background is in social justice and urban education.  For the years before I started the San Diego Breastfeeding Center, I worked in inner-city elementary schools and for non-profits, including AmeriCorps, to help bring well-deserved resources and education to underserved communities who needed it the most.  Because of this, one of the biggest challenges I have faced since I started SDBFC was trying to figure out how I could make my expertise and support accessible to ALL breastfeeding mothers... not just the ones who could afford my services.  I have seen over and over again local moms posting on Facebook about how desperate they are for breastfeeding help, yet cannot afford to see a qualified IBCLC and this absolutely breaks my heart!  

Not being able to help these mothers goes against everything I have been taught and everything I stand for.  

No one should be denied qualified breastfeeding assistance and support because of their financial situation.  While I have loved offering community-based breastfeeding support groups, when a mom is faced with a complicated breastfeeding situation, it is almost impossible to receive the necessary attention and follow-up when there are 10-20 other moms in the room, who happen to also be looking for their own support.  

When I founded SDBFC, my 5-year plan was to be able to offer reduced-fee consultations to mothers who needed low-cost options.  Well, we just celebrated our 5-year anniversary and I am thrilled to announce our new low-cost breastfeeding clinic!

Here are the clinic details:

At our 90-minute low cost breastfeeding clinic, up to three moms/babies will meet with a lactation consultant (IBCLC) and receive assistance with their breastfeeding challenges.  

 What takes place at the clinic:

• Baby is evaluated for tongue tie and lip tie
• Breastfeeding position and latch are assessed
• Baby is weighed before and after the feeding to see how much breastmilk was transferred
• Mom is given a personalized Plan of Care

Reasons why a mom would want to attend the clinic:

• Baby not latching or nursing well within 24 hours of birth
• Tongue tie or lip tie
• Nipple pain/damage
• Baby is gaining weight too slowly
• Mom feels like she doesn’t have enough milk
• Nursing multiples
• Nursing a preemie
• Recurrent plugged ducts/mastitis

Requirements: Mom qualifies for WIC, baby has MediCal, or mom or dad must be active duty military.

Cost: $25 

Registration: Mandatory, as space is limited to 3 moms per clinic (www.sdbfc.com/consultations)

My sincere hope is that this is just the beginning of SDBFC making connections with more local communities by providing judgment-free, affordable breastfeeding support for any mom who needs it!  We have many more plans in the works and we are excited to get started!

If you have any local connections to organizations that work with low-income pregnant or new moms, please send me an email (robinkaplan@sdbfc.com) so that I can send them information about our new clinic!