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Lactation Consultant Job Description

What does a Lactation Consultant do?

A Lactation Consultant is a healthcare professional who specializes in assisting mothers with breastfeeding and lactation issues. They offer support and advice to new mothers who may be struggling with issues such as latching problems, low milk supply, and sore nipples. A Lactation Consultant may also educate mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding, how to properly position the baby, and how to maintain their milk supply. They play an important role in promoting the health and wellbeing of both the mother and baby.

Our Lactation Consultant job description includes the Lactation Consultant responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Lactation Consultant Example


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If you need an example job description for a Lactation Consultant download the one below, alternatively we have many other Education job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does a Lactation Consultant do?

A Lactation Consultant is a health professional who provides support, education, and guidance to breastfeeding mothers and their families. They work to promote and protect the health of breastfeeding babies, mothers, and families by helping them to establish a successful breastfeeding relationship. They provide individualized, evidence-based care and education, and offer support and guidance on a wide range of breastfeeding topics, such as latching, positioning, pumping, and milk supply. Lactation Consultants also provide support and information to healthcare professionals, employers, and other stakeholders regarding the importance of breastfeeding and the health of mothers and babies.

Lactation Consultant Role Purpose

The purpose of a Lactation Consultant is to provide evidence-based, compassionate support, education and counselling to breastfeeding families. They help mothers to establish and maintain successful breastfeeding relationships with their babies, and can provide advice and support to lactating mothers who are struggling with breastfeeding. They can also help to identify and address any underlying physical, psychological or social reasons for any breastfeeding difficulties.

Lactation Consultant Role

A Lactation Consultant is a healthcare professional who helps mothers and their babies with breastfeeding. They work with mothers to provide advice and support, assess issues and develop strategies to optimise breastfeeding outcomes.

Lactation Consultant Duties

  • Provide breastfeeding advice and support to mothers and babies
  • Assess and diagnose breastfeeding difficulties
  • Support mothers in the selection and use of breast pumps and other equipment
  • Observe and record infant behaviour during breastfeeding
  • Facilitate breastfeeding education classes
  • Provide support and education to partners and family members of breastfeeding mothers
  • Keep accurate records of clients' progress

Lactation Consultant Requirements

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Knowledge of breastfeeding principles and practices
  • Ability to provide evidence-based advice to mothers
  • Experience of working with mothers in a health care setting
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations
  • Ability to work flexibly and to tight deadlines
  • Organisational and administrative skills

Lactation Consultant Skills

  • Knowledge of infant feeding
  • Maternal and infant nutrition
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to provide emotional support to breastfeeding mothers
  • Ability to promote breastfeeding

Lactation Consultant Personal Traits

  • Empathetic
  • Organised
  • Dedicated
  • Compassionate
  • Good listener

How to write a Lactation Consultant Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write a Lactation Consultant Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise a Lactation Consultant Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting a Lactation Consultant Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire a Lactation Consultant

Once you have selected your Job Description download it or convert it to a Job Advert. From here you can post/advertise your job across our network of job boards. If you wish to use the job description for a CV Template click through for advice and Convert to a CV

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