Alarming Trends in Lactation Consulting 

Lactation consulting profession takes a beating from job and medical sales losses

by Maurenne Griese, RNC, BSN

Expectant and new families as well as health care professionals are concerned about two trends the lactation consulting profession a experiencing.  The first concern is the loss of lactation consulting services in some areas of the US  and the second concern is the widespread marketing of quality breastfeeding supplies in baby superstores and online boutiques without instruction from a qualified health care professional.  

Job Loss for Lactation Consultants

Health care institutions in major metropolitan areas of the US are losing their Lactation Support Programs.  Hospitals with large NICUs which should be staffed by several Lactation Consultants (LCs) are cutting back their LC staffing by as much as 75% or eliminating them altogether.

Many hospitals in the US struggle to stay financially solvent.  There are some LC programs in hospitals across the US that do not charge for their services.  Is it any wonder that administrators are closing these programs?  

Unfortunately, the people who suffer are breastfeeding families.  Where are breastfeeding families to go when they need the professional assistance of an LC?

If you are located in an area where you have lactation consulting services at your local hospital, doctor's office or health clinic, please let the management know how important their services were to you and that you hope to have them available for many years to come.  If you are a lactation consultant that is not charging for the care you provide, please consider how this devalues your services.  People value what they pat for.  We provide an valuable service for our clients and should expect to paid in a timely manner.

Here are a few public examples of what is happening to lactation consulting programs:

My hospital has just informed us that our LC jobs will be eliminated unless we can come up with a way to pay for our services. What can we do? by Marsha Walker RN, IBCLC of the International Lactation Consultants Association 

Losing LC Services  by Lisa Marasco, IBCLC on LACTNET

LCs under fire by Nikki Lee RN, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI on LACTNET

Medical Sales Losses

Another concern we are seeing in lactation consulting is the sale of quality breastfeeding products at large department store chains, at online baby boutiques and auction websites. 

Medela has recently issued a new distribution policy that keeps all retailers, except for select corporate retailers, from advertising their prices on Pump in Style Breastpumps on their websites.  This new policy, focused on the most popular and profitable product Medela offers, has the potential to put many small breastfeeding entrepreneurs out of business.  

In my professional opinion, this policy decision  is motivated by profit and not by what is best for breastfeeding families.  

I get several referrals monthly from moms who receive misinformation from sales persons in these large department stores.  Is this the quality image breast pump companies want?  Is this the support breastfeeding mothers need?

What about online retailers?  There are so many of them with varied background and service in lactation.  It's just my opinion that if you are selling any type of medical device, you need to have some type of medical background.  It's also my opinion that the large online retailers of baby products do not like the competition from the private practice lactation consultants (PPLC), hospital based lactation consultants or the mom and pop stores in their area or online.

Many private practice lactation consultants (PPLCs) have spent many years working with quality breastfeeding supply companies to develop products.  Like myself, they worked hard to project a quality image and provide outstanding service and support to their clients.

Some PPLCs had huge numbers of rental pumps and then had to shift their focus on single user professional grade breast pumps a few years ago.  However, how is the PPLC to thrive when she must compete financially with corporate conglomerates?

Do THESE large corporations, who are doing online sales, required to prove that they do 50% of their business face to face? No, it is the PPLC who does not have the money or the voice that corporate America has to prove how she conducts her business.  

Do these large corporations have professionals like LCs assisting mothers with their breast pumps in their stores? Of course not.  Think about the last time you had to purchase a professional medical product.  It may have been a nebulizer, a glucose meter, insulin syringes a wheelchair...you get this products from qualified professionals, like pharmacists or  a medical supply store, not a department store.  

Will our passion for breastfeeding help us weather this latest financial storm?   I hope lactation consultants and the people they serve will stand up to corporate greed and do what is right for breastfeeding families across our nation.  

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