Forrest General nurses become Certified Lactation Counselors

Two nurses with Forrest General’s Women and Children’s Services, Brittany Brabham, RN, and Samantha Marshall, RN, met all requirements to become Certified Lactation Counselors®.

“Having two certified lactation counselors on our team is a huge step forward for women in the Pine Belt. They are experts who are here to offer support and help moms reach their breastfeeding goals as well as educating other nurses to do the same. All of our nurses are here to guide and coach moms during their hospital stays, and they’re only a phone call away once these moms go home and start breastfeeding on their own,” said Tangela Boutwell, director, Women and Children’s Services at Forrest General.

The Certified Lactation Counselor® (CLC®) certification identifies a professional in lactation counseling who has demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to provide breastfeeding counseling and management support to families who are thinking about breastfeeding or who have questions or problems during the course of breastfeeding/lactation. This certification is awarded by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP), a non-profit organization that provides a national certification program in breastfeeding and human lactation for nurses, physicians, dietitians, WIC personnel, peer counselors, independent lactation counselors and others.

CLCs are dedicated to the promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding and human lactation in their work to prevent and solve breastfeeding problems. They understand that breastfeeding works best when it is the cultural norm and when the provider of lactation support and services is culturally competent.

Caption:  Pictured, left to right: Brittany Brabham, RN, and Samantha Marshall, RN.