“Research suggests breastfeeding has long-term health benefits for both children and mothers. Yet, many new mothers struggle with painful and frustrating attempts to nurse their infants due to a lack of adequate support.”
In a new policy briefing paper titled “Licensing Would Reduce Access to Lactation Support Services,” Dr. Jeffrey Singer and Sofia Hamilton discuss the vital role of lactation support services in promoting breastfeeding. They highlight the potential negative impact of government licensing on these professionals. Dr. Singer asserts, “Licensing would harm new mothers, their babies, and the experienced mothers who seek to help them,” as it would create barriers to entry for new lactation support professionals and increase service costs.
The authors emphasize that “licensing laws do little to protect the public from poor quality care but serve as barriers to new entrants and innovations in the health care professions.” They argue that third-party accreditation and certification organizations can perform the functions of licensing boards without these barriers.
Dr. Singer concludes that “states should avoid erecting barriers that impede access to lactation support services,” particularly given the low breastfeeding rates in the U.S., and that states that have already erected barriers should repeal them.
If you would like to speak with Dr. Singer about this topic, please do not hesitate to reach out.
