So you’re thinking about breastfeeding? Congratulations for considering one of nature’s most perfect foods for infants! According to the Cleveland Clinic, breastfeeding brings numerous health benefits for both baby and mommy. So why do many new mothers struggle with breastfeeding if it’s supposed to be so natural? Doesn’t natural mean easy?
Unfortunately, no. A study conducted by researchers at UC Davis and the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center found that 92 percent of new mothers had at least one concern about breastfeeding after birth. That’s right, 92 percent.
Cue, the invaluable Lactation Consultant.
What is a lactation consultant?
A lactation consultant is a healthcare professional who provides specialized and targeted help to facilitate the breastfeeding journey of both mother and child. While lactation consultants are readily found making their rounds in the maternity wards (mine was hard to pin down, honestly), many lactation consultants also do home visits. This is especially necessary since many breastfeeding concerns arise when the milk comes in three days postpartum which is when most new mothers are already discharged from the hospital.
“My consultant put me on a pumping schedule that helped stimulate my milk supply,” Los Angeles mom Kiera Chan previously told Mom.com. “While this wasn’t ideal and took a lot of time, it was worth the effort.”
When do you need to call a lactation consultant?
Questions to ask a lactation consultant
Finally, before going for consultation, try to write down your questions and any other concerns about your baby. This may seem like such a silly piece of advice, but the postpartum haze is real. (Trust me, I went through it four times!) The next thing you know, your lactation consultant is out the door when you realize you’ve forgotten to ask about how the football hold works. And of course, watching the NFL to figure it out does not help. At all.
Some questions you might want to ask:
- Am I doing it correctly?
- Should breastfeeding hurt?
- How do I hold my baby to breastfeed?
- How often do I feed the baby?
- How long should I breastfeed?
- When should I start pumping?
- What if I get a cold or need certain medications?
Also, remember to note down the frequency of your breastfeeding sessions, the duration of each session, temperament of the baby during feeds, as well as any pain or soreness in your breasts or nipples. These are all important pieces of information that can be helpful in solving your breastfeeding issues.
Whatever the case, new moms, do not be afraid to reach out to one when you need help. And that goes the same for second-time (or third!) moms too. Because one thing is sure, we were never meant to do this motherhood thing alone. Ever.
