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Can I Help You?

Why does anyone need a lactation consultant?  Isn't breastfeeding natural?

Breastfeeding and lactation are not "natural" like breathing - they're natural like walking: most of us need some help and even someone to hold our hand while we learn.  And for some parents, it takes something more than or different from pregnancy to nurse their baby.

In our medical system, we have physicians who treat the mother or gestational parent and others who treat the baby.  Each can help with breastfeeding to some degree, but their training is not in lactation and they generally are not treating the nursing relationship itself. They do not look to the nursing pair (we call it the "dyad") for answers, but rather treat their patient.

In the case of the IBCLC, we evaluate all three:  at some point in our consultation, you will be my primary client.  At another point, I'll focus on your baby.  I will also watch you and your baby nurse and focus on everything going on before, during, and after a feeding.

What sorts of things can you help me with?

Here is a long but incomplete list!

  • Nursing after a C-Section

  • Sore or damaged nipples

  • Baby not gaining enough weight

  • Engorgement

  • Low milk supply

  • Understanding your baby’s nursing behaviors

  • Meeting your personal nursing goals

  • Flat or inverted nipples

  • Nursing while taking medications

  • Nursing with a medical condition (you or your baby)

  • Nursing around medical/dental procedures and surgeries (you or your baby)

  • Tongue or lip ties

  • Painful nursing

  • Returning to work

  • Pumping/expressing and storing milk

  • Mastitis

  • Thrush

  • Plugged ducts

  • Involving your partner

  • Nursing through pregnancy or tandem nursing

  • Weaning

  • Adoptive nursing

  • Co-nursing

  • Chestfeeding

  • Nursing after a breast reduction

  • Nursing after a breast augmentation

  • Re-lactation

  • Nursing multiples

  • Nursing an older baby

  • Toddler Nursing

  • Being told you can’t or shouldn’t breastfeed

  • Any other concerns regarding nursing your baby

These images and most  others around this site were taken by the fabulous Katie at MommaKTShoots and shared by her clients.

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