As IBCLCs, we work in a wide variety of roles and areas of responsibility. Sometimes our primary profession shapes our field of work, sometimes certification as an IBCLC opens up entirely new areas of activity, and often a very individual, specialized professional profile develops over time. We would like to celebrate this exciting diversity by highlighting the everyday work of IBCLCs through personal accounts and sharing their expertise in important practical aspects of their profession with you. To this end, this issue covers a wide range of topics, from clinical work and self-employment to digital innovations, social media, and the place of lactation counselling in the healthcare system:
Mairead O’Sullivan provides a multifaceted insight into her varied work as an infant feeding coordinator at an Irish university hospital. Petra Becker and Sarah Berger report on the concept and practice of the breastfeeding clinic at LKH Hochsteiermark, which has been established for 25 years.
Katie Mugan describes how home visits, online consultations, administrative tasks, and family life intertwine to form a fulfilling working day as an IBCLC in private practice. Fiona Rea shares her recommendations on organisation, networking, self-care, and ethical standards for those starting out on their own. Social media and how we use it have also become an important topic for our counselling practice: Caoimhe Whelan explains how to share content responsibly while maintaining ethical, legal, and professional boundaries.
Finally, Charlotte Treitl presents her work for the parenting app Anya, which combines professionally verified AI content and personal counselling, and highlights trends, opportunities, and ethical issues in digital breastfeeding and parenting support.
We hope this issue brings you fresh inspiration and wish you, as we enter the harvest season, that you may also “harvest” fulfilment from your daily work!
Warm regards
Eva Bogensperger-Hezel and the entire editorial team – Mihaela Nita and the ELACTA board