The Fairy Godmothers Of Breastfeeding

When it comes to feeding your newborn, there’s no question: the learning curve is intense! And, no matter what your plan for feeding is—whether you plan to exclusively breastfeed, use formula, or something in between—the likelihood is that you’ll hit a few bumps in the road as you settle into a routine with your little one.

It’s important to remember that whether you’ve had your first child or fifth, breastfeeding is a journey, and one that is both emotional and challenging. As a lactation consultant, I often find that women have questions about breastfeeding regardless of how many times they have done it before. Some women believe that lactation consultants only support mothers that want to breastfeed exclusively or that we want the mother to feed her baby a certain way, but that isn’t the case. We’re here to support breastfeeding mothers and it comes down to two simple things: how do you want to feed your baby and how we can help you achieve that goal? With that in mind, here are 5 things I wish you knew about using a lactation consultant.

So many expectant mothers and new moms are led to believe breastfeeding is easy—just something you’ll know how to do when the time comes. But that’s not always the case. Yes, the process of your body making milk is natural, but there’s a lot of misconception that the rest of the process will flow smoothly. That’s why one of the best things you can do is take a prenatal breastfeeding education class (which is now offered virtually), so you can learn about how your body works, the different patterns of behavior that newborns go through, and what to expect as you get started. Babies give us very clear messages about hunger and fullness, but if you don’t know what you should be looking for, trying to decode their cries can be confusing, frustrating, and lead you to doubt yourself.

Many nurses in birthing hospitals are certified breastfeeding counselors. This means they are extremely knowledgeable and capable of giving new mothers the support they need with the basics of breastfeeding care. We work together in helping patients, and nurses can be a great resource to get reassurance during those first few days in the hospital. Plus, because they see you so often, your nurses know when something isn’t right and can escalate the issue to a lactation consultant who will then come and work with you.

If you or the nursing staff decide you need more help than what can be provided by your RN, a lactation consultant can be called in. While we’d love to spend hours with every single family, think of it like an ER: if one patient is in danger, we will help them before someone with a minor illness. The same goes with breastfeeding: some newborns may not have latched at all in their first 24 hours of life, may be born three weeks early, or perhaps there is a mother with a history of breast surgery, and these situations demand a consultant’s attention immediately.

What this doesn’t mean, however, is that you shouldn’t speak up if you’re having difficulty breastfeeding because you think your situation isn’t as severe as someone else’s might be. When there are concerns, a lactation consultant will make sure they are available for you.

Our goal for new moms is to have them learn while they are in the hospital and go home saying, “I may not be a pro, but I’m getting the hang of it, and I know how to tell if things are going well or not.” If you get home and feel like you need extra help, emotional support, or reinforcement, it’s a great idea to look into a community-based lactation consultant. (You should get a list of possible resources in your area before you leave the hospital.) This is on-demand care, and many providers even take health insurance. A community-based lactation consultant will come to your home in many cases, take a health history and examine mom and baby, observe a feeding, and develop a plan of care to help you reach your goals.

This resource can be helpful even for experienced mothers who may think they shouldn’t need help. We often tell these mothers that having a new baby is similar to having a new dance partner. You know how to do the dance, but you still have to figure it out with your new partner. Newborns need someone who is going to be patient and learn with them, and lactation consultants can help you do just that.

If you have a question about breastfeeding, you can call us at any time. And it doesn’t have to be just when you have a newborn. Whether you’re wondering The power just went out and the breast milk in my freezer defrosted, what should I do? to I’m trying to wean my toddler and having difficulty, a lactation consultant will be able to help. When you get discharged from the hospital you’ll be given a breastfeeding helpline where you can leave a message and a lactation consultant will call you back. For those situations where it may warrant more than just a phone conversation, we’ll be able to refer you to someone who can give you hands-on assistance.

At the end of the day, finding the support you need to reach your infant feeding goals should help make feeding your precious newborn a warm and caring experience. Lactation consultants provide skilled lactation care and can help families manage the most challenging situations so they can get back to enjoying the feeding experience.

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