An IBCLC is a professional breastfeeding specialist. They been awarded this highest of qualifications after in depth study and practice, followed by rigorous examinations. This qualification is recognised all over the world. When you choose to hire an IBCLC you can be sure you are getting the highest standards of care to help you get what you want from your breastfeeding journey. This means your consultant will have had thousands of hours of clinical experience before helping you.
The first two weeks of lactation is the most critical time to establish successful breastfeeding. A lactation consultant provides lactation services and breastfeeding support to families. They can help by providing lactation education before your new baby actually arrives so you can feel empowered and more knowledgeable from the very start. If your baby is born in a hospital, there are often options to attend a session with a lactation consultant before you even leave the hospital. You can also request that a lactation consultant visit you in your room to help you with feeding. Although there may be doctors, nurses, midwives, and other healthcare professionals who are there and who are available to help, asking for the help of the consultants who specialize in breastfeeding support can make a world of difference.
I’ve had years of experience supporting mothers and babies and are all available to come to assess your feeding needs. As a lactation consultant I hear a range of reasons why women stop breastfeeding that include but aren’t limited to a low milk supply, breast pain, nipple pain, pressure from family members, going back to work, teething, and lack of support (listed below are some of the more common reasons for why moms stop breastfeeding). In addition, many women will simply struggle to continue breastfeeding but in the end stop because they simply find it to be too hard. This is where an IBCLC can come to your aid because our knowledge and experience allows us to be equipped with helpful hints and tips to promote happy and healthy breastfeeding relationships.
While breastfeeding comes easily to some mums and babies, many others need extra help. But even if you’re not making enough milk, have sore nipples or a baby who refuses to latch on, you don’t have to call it quits just yet. Lactation consultants — health care professionals who specialize in breastfeeding and hold a special certification — can help.
A lactation consultant can help you navigate any number of new baby feeding challenges, including:
- Develop feeding schedules, especially for premature infants
- Breast or nipple pain
- Improve your baby’s latch
- Pain while breastfeeding
- Treat mastitis, plugged ducts, and engorgement
- Show signs of thrush or you have an infection of your nipples
- Determine the best breastfeeding positions
- Select, set up, and start using a breast pump
- Boost your milk production
- Put you on a pumping schedule
- Low milk supply
- Oversupply
- Baby falling asleep at the breast
- Baby refusing to breastfeed
- Fussy baby
- Increase your baby’s weight gain
- Changes in medication
- Mastitis
- Plugged ducts
- Emotional and physical barriers to breastfeeding, including postpartum depression
- Overactive letdown
- Need help with weaning
- Have twins or multiples
- Need help with returning to work
The important thing to remember is that, although it can be tiring at first, with the right preparation and support, breastfeeding can be plain sailing. No matter your setback, your lactation consultant can work directly with you to develop a personalized solution.
If you are experiencing any trouble with breastfeeding, feel free to drop me an email at info@tingsicare.com to arrange an in-home or online consultation. I would love to hear from you. Often, a few simple changes can create a healthy breastfeeding experience.