Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center recognized for excellence in lactation care and support for nursing mothers

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) in Woodbridge, Virginia, has received the IBCLC Care Award for excellence in providing a lactation program for breastfeeding families and in recognition of its staffing professionals who hold the prestigious International Board Certified Lactation Consultant^® (IBCLC^®) credential.

Presented by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners^® (IBLCE^®) and International Lactation Consultant Association^® (ILCA^®), the IBCLC Care Award also demonstrates that SNVMC has completed activities that help protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.

"The entire team here at the Women's Health Center at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is proud to receive this award for excellence that reflects our commitment to support new mothers with breastfeeding and lactation education and guidance," said Debbie Brown, M.S.N., R.N., manager of Sentara Women's Health Center. "Our commitment to ensure we provide the highest quality care to our families includes having team members who have earned the IBCLC certification as well as ongoing staff training and skill development."

IBCLC's focus on preventive care, available during pregnancy, prepares families to successfully initiate breastfeeding. After a baby is born, they continue providing support by helping families overcome breastfeeding challenges, providing accurate information, and continuing their support as a baby grows. These dedicated professionals assist families returning to work or school, help families in more unusual situations such as breastfeeding more than one baby or nursing a sick or premature infant, and help train nursing staff to manage basic breastfeeding care.

Iona Macnab, president of ILCA added, "IBCLCs are the global professional standard in the clinical management of breastfeeding and lactation across diverse settings. Recognizing the facilities that invest in IBCLCs on staff with the IBCLC Care Award highlights the significant impact IBCLCs have on improving health outcomes in communities across the world."

IBCLC professionals work in hospitals and birthing centers, clinics, public health agencies, private practice, community settings, government agencies, and in research. Currently, there are nearly 36,000 such professionals in 131 countries worldwide who are IBCLCs. The IBCLC certification program is accredited by the NCCA, the accreditation arm of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. NCCA accreditation represents a mark of quality for certification programs.

In addition to finding IBCLC professionals at SNVMC, families can also find an IBCLC by visiting ilca.org. Follow the "Find a Lactation Consultant" link and search for an IBCLC by zip code, city and state, or country.

Learn more about IBLCE at iblce.org; and for more information about the IBCLC Care Award program, contact IBLCE at award@iblce.org.