During my training as lactation consultant, I learned surprisingly enough that China has one of the largest numbers of Baby Friendly Hospitals (BFHI) world wide: 7,329 hospitals (whereas at the time Australia had for example 41 and the US 145). How can that be? After all, as I pointed out in a previous journal: there...

In my last blog I wrote that there were hardly any IBCLC’s in China when I first returned as an IBCLC in 2013. A lot has changed since that time. There are several courses in different Chinese cities to train Chinese lactation consultants! Women in the cities learned about breastfeeding through internet. Doctors in these...

As a newly qualified IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), I returned to China in November 2013. One of the first things I did was trying to find other lactation consultants in the area or other people who provide breastfeeding support. After all, one of the principals I had learned was to refer the mothers...

I worked alongside and trained doctors in the countryside as well as nurses, midwives and doctors in the local hospitals. This was both a privilege as well as a challenge. Teaching medical staff. During my first years in China, I mainly trained village and township level doctors. They’re called doctors, but most haven’t had much...

Experiences of a Dutch Lactation Consultant/Midwife in China I learned a lot during the first years that I worked within the local medical system. I already wrote about Chinese Customs Surrounding Childbirth and Family Dynamics. What else did I learn? People from urban vs rural China. I have taught and helped families both in the city...

Experiences of a Dutch Lactation Consultant/Midwife in China I learned a lot during the first years that I worked within the local medical system. Last time I wrote about some of the Chinese Customs Surrounding Childbirth. What else did I learn? Family dynamics. Role of mother (-in-law). As a Dutch midwife, I went to the homes in...

Experiences of a Dutch Lactation Consultant/Midwife in China I learned a lot during the first years that I worked with the local hospital to train village and township doctors and visit expecting and new mothers in their homes in the villages. Below a few of these first lessons learned: Chinese Customs Surrounding Child Birth. There...

I was born and raised in The Netherlands, did a BSc in nursing in The Netherlands, midwifery training in the UK and since October 2013 I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). As a midwife, I had learned a lot about breastfeeding and supported breastfeeding mothers. When I was pregnant myself, it wasn’t...