Per the International Lactation Consultants Association (ILCA), “an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a healthcare professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. An IBCLC is certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE), independently accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE).” An IBCLC works in partnership with your healthcare team to provide expert lactation care in routine and high-risk situations. IBCLCs are board certified only after rigorous training, thousands of clinical counseling hours, and passing a comprehensive medical exam.