Won’t my baby know how to breastfeed?
Your baby knows how to breastfeed at birth. In fact, when a baby is not breastfeeding well, even with prone positioning and deep latch techniques, all healthcare providers involved on the baby’s team should be concerned. Breastfeeding is a normal, neurological function of a human infant. Lactation is a normal, healthy function of breasts. That being said, we all know every heart and lung doesn’t always function perfectly, so sometimes breasts and tiny newborn mouths have problems too. When you work with an IBCLC you’ll learn how to identify when breastfeeding is not going well, and how to fix it. You’ll learn feeding techniques like positioning your baby prone, comfortably, and ready for a deep latch. You’ll be confident when baby latches because it will be comfortable, and you’ll know how to spot nutritive sucking and milk transfer throughout the breastfeed. If breastfeeding directly isn’t working, you can learn how to express your milk to cup, syringe, bottle or finger feed, or supplement with formula at the breast with a SNS. There are so many options to feed your baby comfortably and confidently. IBCLCs have the skills to help you get creative with feeding options when baby needs a little more time to learn.
What is an IBCLC?
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) provides comprehensive breastfeeding support and lactation care to breastfeeding families. IBCLCs have accrued hundreds to thousands of hours supporting breastfeeding families, completed college and post grad courses specifically about human lactation, and passed a board exam to demonstrate competency in solving complex breastfeeding problems. To continue providing current and evidence-based care, IBCLCs re-certify with specific lactation related continuing education every five years. We are the breastfeeding experts, and most of us work in this field because it is our passion, not just our job. IBCLCs work around the world; in hospitals, pediatric offices, private practice, public health offices and more.
Do I need a consultation with a private practice IBCLC?
Breastfeeding is a learned behavior that takes time. If you haven’t seen many friends or family breastfeed, you may be wondering if what you’re doing, or how your newborn is feeding, is normal. Many moms struggle with breastfeeding simply due to unrealistic expectations set in place by our surroundings, or lack of support from a non-breastfeeding friendly culture. Check out our local LLL group, to connect with other breastfeeding mothers, and gain helpful insight into normal breastfeeding.
If you are unsure if your baby is breastfeeding well, have concerns such as nipple pain, low milk supply, latching difficulty, tethered oral tissues, feeding management with infant cleft lip or torticollis, infant weight gain concerns, combo(breast and formula feeding), breastfeeding a preemie, breastfeeding twins or oversupply, you should be seen by an IBCLC right away. These problems can be minor at first but lead to long term or irreversible problems if not addressed early on. An IBCLC will provide you with the expert lactation care and continuous follow up you’ll need while navigating these challenges.
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Hours: 8am-3pm Monday-Friday
Home visits and Office visits are by appointment only.