Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside has received the International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) Care Award, making it one of the only South Carolina hospitals to earn the recognition.
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®) and International Lactation Consultant Association® (ILCA®) gives out the award to facilities that provide expectant parents with information on how to successfully initiate breastfeeding and support them in overcoming any breastfeeding challenges that arise after the baby is born.
“We are honored to receive this award, as it reflects the dedication and commitment of our team to promote breastfeeding to our mothers while offering expert support both prenatally and postnatally. We believe that these comprehensive services support the Bon Secours mission to promote health and wholeness in our community,” said Deena Knight, Director of Maternal Child Services at Bon Secours.
IBCLCs focuses on preventive care. Their services are available during pregnancy to assess and provide information on how to successfully initiate breastfeeding. They continue that assistance after the baby is born by helping families overcome breastfeeding challenges while providing accurate information and continuing to support them as their baby grows. They even assist families returning to work or school while also supporting families in more unusual situations, such as breastfeeding more than one baby or nursing a sick or premature infant.
“IBCLCs work tirelessly in all corners of the globe to help parents provide optimal nutrition to their children. We are proud to recognize some of these IBCLCs through the IBCLC Care Award, which highlights the significant contributions of IBCLCs to improving global health outcomes at the local level,” said Dr. Sabeen Adil, President of the International Lactation Consultant Association.
The IBCLC certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). NCCA accreditation represents a mark of quality for certification programs. For more information about the IBCLC Care Award program, visit https://www.ibclccare.org/.
To get assistance or learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding, call 864-675-4215 to speak with a Bon Secours Lactation Consultant. The phone line is covered Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It’s open to any mother with breastfeeding questions, even if the baby was not born at a Bon Secours facility.