New mothers delivering babies at St. Mary’s Health Center have a new boost when it comes to breastfeeding their newborns—an internationally board-certified lactation consultant to guide them in the breastfeeding process.

Becky Schwaller, RN, BSN, IBCLC, RLC, passed the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant exam, which is given worldwide on the same day in July each year. This certification sets internationally recognized criteria for the lactation consultant profession, and recertification is required every five years.

The St. Mary’s obstetrics team has nine nurses who are certified breastfeeding educators, with decades of breastfeeding assistance experience. Schwaller, a St. Mary’s obstetrics nurse for more than 20 years, is the only one with the IBCLC certification.