P.O. Box 56
Virginia Water
GU25 4WB

Web: www.lcgb.org

Lactation consultants work with health professionals and lay support groups in providing formal and informal education in lactation management for parents, and for the staff who care for them. They give information and practical help to mothers at any stage in the breastfeeding process, in order to prevent or solve difficulties and to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. They may also act as their advocates in liaison with other health professionals such as GPs, for example in giving advice about medical treatment.

The association - 'Lactation Consultants of Great Britain (LCGB)' - also lobbies for the creation of a society in which breastfeeding is accepted as the normal and preferred method of nourishing babies and young children. They challenge and strive to remove the many obstacles which stand in the way of this goal.

Members of LCGB who are lactation consultants undertake various courses of studies covering many aspects of infant feeding, including anatomy and physiology of lactation, infant development, child protection, use of medication in nursing mothers, and counselling skills. The qualification 'International Board Certified Lactation Consultant' (IBCLC) enables parents and health professionals to be confident that they have essential knowledge and skills to share.

A directory of lactation consultants and their contact details can be found on the LCGB website.