National—Regional Partner Update: Chinese Lactation Consultant Association (CLCA)

The International Lactation Consultant Association® (ILCA®) Global Partners Initiative was designed to improve breastfeeding worldwide by creating linkages between organizations around the globe. ILCA would like to welcome its 21st National—Regional Partner, Chinese Lactation Consultant Association (CLCA), who describe themselves as a professional organization that provides education and support, as well as continued certification, for lactation consultants in China. 

We asked Dr. Shu-Fang Wang, PhD, RN, CNM, IBCLC, CBD, the president and founder of CLCA, to share with us more about the role of the organization in breastfeeding support and why they decided to sign on to the Partners Initiative. Dr. Wang shared her answers with us, as well as the Chinese-language translation of our interview.

Lactation Matters (LM): Tell us about why your organization is so important to human health in Taiwan and other Chinese speaking regions.

請談一下為什麼華人泌乳顧問協會對台灣及其他華人是非常重要的？

CLCA is established, 5 July 2015

Dr. Shu-Fang Wang (SFW): Breastfeeding has been advocated in Taiwan for many years, but the breastfeeding rate has still not reached the World Health Organization (WHO) goal, despite our efforts. Part of reason is that International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) do not have full recognition by the medical professionals or the general public in Taiwan. Now, people do know the importance of breastfeeding and prefer breastfeeding over bottle-feeding for their babies. But without continuing professional support, the road to continued breastfeeding is full of obstacles. When they encounter problems, mothers today seek help through the Internet. The information about breastfeeding and lactation on the web is full of misconceptions. There are also so called “lactation dredgers 通乳師” who have no formal training nor basic knowledge of lactation, but claim to be able to help breastfeeding mothers by resolving blockages. Because of the great need for breastfeeding support, all kinds of unusual practices have started to appear in Taiwan. Similar phenomena can be seen in China and other Chinese-speaking regions. Some people simply do not know to seek IBCLCs for help, or, because the wait list is too long, they turn to non-professionals for assistance.

In view of the needs to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, in July of 2015, a group of lactation consults in Taiwan founded the Chinese Lactation Consultant Association (CLCA), which is based in Taiwan. CLCA strives to promote the recognition, professional development, and advancement of IBCLCs in Taiwan and in other Chinese-speaking countries. We hope that through this process, a breastfeeding-friendly environment or culture can be established, so that the breastfeeding families can better enjoy the breastfeeding experiences.

母乳哺育在台灣推行已有多年，但在種種努力下，母乳哺育率仍然無法達到世界衛生組織的目標。其中一個原因是因為國際認證泌乳顧問（IBCLCs）在台灣的醫療界或者社會大眾中沒有得到該有的認可。現在人們知道母乳的重要性，也會選擇母乳哺餵而不瓶餵他們的寶寶。但是，沒有專業的支持，持續哺乳的路很難走下去。當遇到問題時，現在的母親都會上網尋求協助。而網路上有關母乳哺餵或泌乳的資訊很多錯誤訊息。再者，社會上還有些所謂的「通乳師」，沒有專業訓練，沒有泌乳相關知識。因為社會上的需求很大，所以種種亂象就產生。類似的情況也發生在中國及其他說中文的地區。有些人甚至不知道要找國際認證的泌乳顧問，又或者因為要等太久，轉而去找不專業的人協助。2015年7月一群專業泌乳顧問工作者秉持「營造母乳哺育友善社會，促進泌乳家庭享受親密哺育經驗」在台灣成立了 華人泌乳顧問協會（CLCA），期許能保護、推廣、及支持母乳哺育。

LM: What challenges do you face in your work?

你們的工作面臨那一些挑戰？

(SFW): The healthcare system in Taiwan is mostly medically oriented. The lactation consultant is not recognized as a part of the healthcare team currently. This is part of CLCA’s mission, to broaden the acknowledgement and acceptance of IBCLCs as the experts on breastfeeding and lactation in public and private sectors.

Furthermore, there are many myths and misconceptions about lactation/breastfeeding in the Chinese-speaking cultures, and this creates confusion and problems for mothers who want to continue breastfeeding. Through various education and training programs, seminars, and meetings, CLCA supports not only IBCLCs, but other healthcare workers and people concerned with breastfeeding and human lactation, so that they have the “right” knowledge to help breastfeeding mothers. In the process, we hope to foster awareness of the important roles of IBCLCs in the society in general.

The population of ethnic Chinese people is near 14.3 billion. This includes the 1385 million people in mainland China and the 50 million ethnic Chinese people overseas. This comprises approximately 19.2 percent of the global population, which means one in every five people speaks Chinese. Among Chinese, there are also different dialogues and subcultures. CLCA is striving to bring professional breastfeeding knowledge to Chinese people in different regions, and in a way that fits their specific subcultures. It is a work with great challenges, but, at the same time, great rewards.

台灣的醫療照護系統多是有醫護背景的人，而泌乳顧問還未被承認是照護團隊的一員。這是華人泌乳顧問協會的任務之一，讓國際認證泌乳顧問IBCLCs在公家或私人醫療機關都被認定是泌乳的專家。

再者，在華人文化中有很多對於哺乳或者泌乳的迷思及錯誤觀念，這對哺乳母親會造成困惑而導致無法繼續哺乳。華人泌乳顧問協會希望經由教育訓練課程、學術研討會議，不只是協助專業的國際認證泌乳顧問，也能幫助其他醫療工作人員及其他母乳泌乳相關人士有正確的知識能協助哺乳母親。在過程中，我們希望社會大眾認識 專業國際認證泌乳顧問的重要性。

現今華人在全球的人口將近14.3億；這是中國13.85億人口和海外華人約5千萬的總和。這佔全球人口約19.2%，也就是說每五個人中就有一個說中文的人。而在華人中，還有不同的方言與次文化。華人泌乳顧問協會致力於將正確及專業的母乳知識用適合其次文化的方式，帶給不同地區的華人。挑戰雖然大但是同對的獲得的也會很多。

First press conference, 12 December 2015

LM: Why did your organization decide to become an ILCA National—Regional Partner?

為什麼你的組織決定要成為本協會的合作夥伴？

(SFW): ILCA is the international organization for IBCLCs.

The members of CLCA currently include people from many Chinese-speaking countries, such as Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, and Canada. CLCA serves to bridge the gap between Chinese-speaking countries and the rest of the world. Through translation, breastfeeding- and lactation-related knowledge and experiences can be exchanged via publication, media, conferences, and seminars. CLCA aims to impact Chinese globally. We wish to share with the world the breastfeeding experiences that are unique to the Chinese culture; for example, the postpartum “doing the month” practice. Through partnership with ILCA, we hope to share our experiences, and, in return, embrace the differences in breastfeeding from other cultures. Additionally, CLCA wishes to contribute to ILCA’s core value of diversity.

ILCA是國際認證泌乳顧問相關的國際組織。

華人泌乳顧問協會的成員如今已有各個說中文的國家，包括台灣、中國、香港、澳門、新加坡及加拿大。

華人泌乳顧問協會要成為華人與世界的橋樑。透過中英翻譯，母乳哺育與泌乳的知識與經驗可以經由文獻、網路及媒體、研討及學術會議達成更完整的交流。華人泌乳顧問協會的目標是影響全球的華人。我們希望能跟世界分享華人文化特色的母乳哺育經驗，尤其是產後坐月子習俗。而與ILCA合作，我們希望能世界分享華人的哺乳經驗，也經由接觸其他文化的哺乳經驗來豐富自己。最後，CLCA的加入希望能對ILCA多元性的核心價值做出貢獻。

LM: What is your vision for breastfeeding support in Taiwan and ethnic Chinese regions?

你們對在台灣及華人地區促進母乳哺育的願景是？

(SFW): CLCA aims to impact the health of Chinese-speaking society through breastfeeding and skilled lactation care.  CLCA supports breastfeeding and lactation by providing human resources, consultations, and exchanges of lactation care skills, which are specifically tailored to Chinese culture.

Screening of MILK in Taiwan, 13 November 2016

The goals of CLCA include:

1. Practicing code and research: Developing research and evidence-based practices for lactation consultants.
2. Promotion of IBCLCs and ethics regulations: Following the ethics regulations of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®), CLCA has established professional conduct codes for lactation consultants, such as the charging standards. We promote equality and develop monitoring strategies among lactation consultants.
3. Creating classification and qualification systems: Holding regular training courses and offering continuing education opportunities for Chinese lactation consultants. We aim to provide research evidence and clinical experience to improve the knowledge and skills of Chinese lactation consultants. The qualification committee manages the certification and re-certification process, and updates the list of qualified Chinese lactation consultants regularly.
4. Collaboration and building of networks and advocates: Establishing a platform for human resources, marketing the professionalism of IBCLCs, collaborating with related professions through advocacy and codes, working to maximize the influence of IBCLCs in society.
5. Promoting education and community supports: Following the International Code of Marketing Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent resolutions of the WHO to provide the public and medical professions the latest lactation evidence-based knowledge through establishment of support groups among breastfeeding mothers and parent–young child seminars for communities.

華人泌乳顧問協會的目標是經由母乳支持跟相關泌乳知識與技術傳承來服務全球廣大的華人。本會旨在營造一個能提供符合華人文化、特點的人力資源、專業諮詢、技術交流的母乳哺育專業團體。本會願景包括：

1. 執業準則與實證研究：發展科學技術研究平台，建立實證為基礎的泌乳顧問執業標準。

2. 執業促進與倫理規範：在泌乳顧問國際認證委員會(IBLCE)的倫理與紀律規範下，建立華人泌乳顧問運營規範，設置執業倫理規範與收費標準；推動同業公平發展監督機制。

3. 能力分級與進階制度：辦理華人泌乳顧問培訓及進階繼續教育，根基研究成果和實務經驗，進行華人泌乳顧問專業能力進階與分級制度；設置審查委員會，進行資格認證和複審，定期審核並公佈認證華人泌乳專業人員名單。

4. 合作網絡建置與推廣：建構人力資源平台，行銷並建立泌乳顧問專業形象，促進與規範與相關行業合作機制，擴大組織外部資源，以提升社會影響力。

5. 推廣教育與社區支持：遵從母乳代用品之國際銷售守則，對公眾及醫療專業同僚提供最新泌乳實證知識；建立母乳媽媽互助機制，辦理社區親職講座並避免利益衝突。

Dr. Shu-Fang Wang, PhD, RN, CNM, IBCLC, CBD is the president and a founder of the Chinese Lactation Consultant Association (CLCA), a mother of three children, and a breastfeeding mother of almost 60 months. She has a PhD in Nursing from Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan, and two Master degrees: one in Nursing from Liverpool University, Great Britain; and another in Midwifery from National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan. She is currently a nurse midwife at Tzu Chi Hospital, and an associate professor at Tzu Chi University.  She became an IBCLC in 2007 and is one of the first six IBCLCs in Taiwan. She is the first and only non-physician to open an independent clinic for lactation consultation in Taiwan, which is in still in operation now.

王淑芳博士是華人泌乳顧問協會創會理事長，三個孩子的母親，母乳哺育孩子的總時間近60個月。台灣高學醫學大學護理學院博士，現任職於慈濟醫院護理助產師，及慈濟大學兼任副教授。於2007年取得IBCLC資格，2008年一月起，台灣區首位以IBCLC身分於醫院開設母乳哺育諮詢特別門診迄今地的護理人員。