Scope of Practice for Infant Feeding Coaches- trained by the Infant Feeding Academy 

Infant Feeding Coaches have demonstrated specialised knowledge and clinical expertise in breastfeeding and human lactation and are accredited by FEDANT and The Infant Feeding Academy.

This Scope of Practice encompasses the activities for which Infant Feeding Coaches are educated and in which they are authorised to engage.

The aim of this Scope of Practice is to protect the public by ensuring that all Infant Feeding Coaches provide safe, competent, and evidence-based care.

Infant Feeding Coaches work within the framework defined by the Clinical Competencies as defined by the Infant Feeding Coach Program and the FEDANT course blueprint integrating knowledge and evidence when providing care for breast/chestfeeding families.

IFC’s have the duty to protect, promote and support breast/chestfeeding by:

· educating women, nursing parents, families, health professionals and the community about breast/chestfeedingand human lactation

· acting as an advocate for breast/chestfeeding as the child-feeding norm

· providing holistic, evidence-based breastfeeding support and care, from preconception to weaning, for women and their families

· complying with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly resolutions

IFC’s have the duty to provide competent services for mothers and families by:

· performing comprehensive maternal, child and feeding assessments related to lactation

· supporting families with the implementation of individualised feeding plans as developed alongside family and any relevant health professionals

· integrating cultural, psychosocial and nutritional aspects of breastfeeding

· providing support and encouragement to enable new parents to successfully meet their infant feeding goals

· using effective counselling skills when interacting with clients and other health care providers

· using the principles of family-centred care while maintaining a collaborative, supportive relationship with clients

IFC’s have a duty to record information given to the nursing family, in order to inform the family and any relevant primary health care providers:

· recording all relevant information concerning care provided and, where appropriate, retaining records for the time

specified by local recommendations (usually a minimum of 3 years).

IFCs have the duty to preserve client confidence by:

· respecting the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of new families

IFCs have the duty to act with reasonable diligence by:

· assisting families with decisions regarding the feeding of children by providing information that is evidence-based and free of conflict of interest

· providing follow-up services as required

· making necessary referrals to other health care providers and community support resources when necessary

· working collaboratively and interdependently with other members of the health care team