The Effect of an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in the Pediatric Primary Care Setting on Breastfeeding Duration and Exclusivity During the First Year of Life

Abstract

Despite widely documented evidence that supports breastfeeding throughout the first year of life, many mothers quit breastfeeding earlier than intended. This retrospective review examined the effect of an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in the pediatric primary care setting on breastfeeding duration and exclusivity rates. In this study, access to an IBCLC in the pediatric primary care setting increased the odds of mothers breastfeeding longer than mothers who did not have such access. Neither term gestation nor previous history of childbirth affected the likelihood of mothers exclusively breastfeeding for 4–6 months or continuing breastfeeding for at least 1 year. Increasing maternal age did not increase the odds of exclusively breastfeeding until 4–6 months but did increase the odds of continuing to provide some breast milk for at least 1 year. The presence of an IBCLC in this setting was associated with increased breastfeeding duration even among women who had no direct interaction with the consultant. Integrating an IBCLC into the pediatric primary care setting may be a viable option to increase breastfeeding duration and exclusivity rates.