I am a certified Lactation Educator (which is a step before taking the exam to become an IBCLC).  I provide in-home lactation support for those who are struggling with latching their baby or have concerns of whether they are feeding enough.  Every baby is different and not every baby fits the "feed every 2-3 hours from the beginning of the last feed" scenario.  Some need to feed every hour.  Some feed for 25 minutes and are satiated for 3 hours.  Others like to snack; they feed for 10 minutes, fall asleep but are hungry 45 minutes later. 

 

For my support, can come to your home prior to baby being born and bring my supplies to help you learn positions and holds ( with weighted, realistic dolls).  We'll have a candid discussion of your breasts and nipples - I have a nipple sizer to help you find the right flange size for your breastpump (should you purchase one).  I'll bring resources that you can refer to.  If baby is already here, I'll come to your home and pay attention to how your baby latches.  I'll assess how you are holding your baby, look at how their lips and tongue are positioned and see how long they feed for.  If it appears that your baby has oral restrictions that is preventing a deep latch, I'll provide you with the next steps to have that assessed and/or corrected.  We can discuss nipple shields, nipple extractors (for inverted or flat nipples), supplemental feeding systems, etc.

 

Feeding your baby is one of the most stressful parts of new parenthood.  When I speak to new clients and ask them how they wish to feed their baby, I'm often told, "I would like to breastfeed...if I can."  We seem pre-programmed to feel that we'll fail at it so we preface our hope with a disclaimer of "if I can."  

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Therefore, it's not surprising that only 1/3 of parents are exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum.  Over 91% begin feeding their babies this way, by week 1, this number has dropped to 80% and only half of this group is still BF-ing baby at 4 months.  Why?  Because feeding your baby from you body is the single most challenging thing we learn in early parenting.  

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If breastfeeding is your goal, here are some things you can do to make it more successful: 

• Talk to a lactation educator/specialist before your baby is born

• Watch youtube videos on proper holds and good latches of a newborn

• Chat with other successful breastfeeders

• Understand that you are learning a new skill as is your baby

• Know that if you had a baby before you will have the knowledge of what to do but that new baby doesn't; they are starting from scratch

• If your nipples become sore, have your baby's latch assessed.  Tenderness is normal in the first couple weeks (your body isn't used to all that moisture and friction) but it should not be painful or causing damage to your body

• If you are stressed about what your baby is taking in, monitor their wet diapers and energy.  Typically, you'll change 3 wet diapers a day for the first few days, 6 or more after that.  If your baby is gaining weight and isn't overly floppy or lethargic, they are getting enough.