A lactation consultant can be a valuable resource for mothers and babies, especially if you’re a first-time mom who's new to breastfeeding. Read on to get answers to some frequently asked questions about how a lactation consultant can help you and your baby.
What Is a Lactation Consultant?
A lactation consultant can help nursing moms get started and help navigate any possible challenges associated with breastfeeding your baby, such as getting the proper latch or dealing with sore nipples. An international board-certifed lactation consultant (IBCLC) is a breastfeeding specialist and counselor, a professional who goes through a rigorous training process in order to become certified. She must have had medical education, breastfeeding education, experience in a clinical setting such as at a hospital, and have passed an exam. When you choose an IBCLC, you know you’re getting someone who is qualified to give you the help and support you need.
What Can You Expect From a Lactation Consultant?
A lactation consultant can provide information, guidance, and hands-on instruction around the topic of breastfeeding. Here are some examples of what a lactation consultant can offer:
- Counseling and advice if you have any concerns or questions about breastfeeding
- Specific tips on breastfeeding and guidance on topics like breastfeeding positions, latch, low breast milk supply, breast or nipple pain, burping your baby, and how to calm your baby if she gets fussy before or during a feed
- Helpful demonstrations on how to breastfeed if you have flat, inverted, or very large nipples
- Advice on dealing with mastitis, engorgement, breast infections, or plugged milk ducts
- Recommendations on how to go about breastfeeding if you plan to return to work
- Information on how to express breast milk and its proper storage
- Suggestions for how to go about breastfeeding after breast surgery
- Tailored instruction on breastfeeding if you have twins, triplets, a preemie, or an infant with a medical concern.
What Questions Should You Ask a Lactation Consultant?
Breastfeeding for the first time is a new frontier, and meeting with a lactation consultant can help shed some light on important questions and concerns you may have. Here are some questions you might consider asking your lactation consultant about breastfeeding: 1. Am I breastfeeding correctly? This is a common worry and a great question to put to your consultant. Let her know how it feels when you nurse, too. Breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt—it may feel like a tug or a pull, not a bite or a chew. 2. What are some ways to hold my baby when I'm nursing? Your lactation consultant can show you a number of different breastfeeding positions and help you find one that works well for you and your baby. If you have a newborn, you might opt for a cross-cradle hold or even or football hold. Once your baby hits 3 or 4 months old, you could try the more traditional cradle hold. 3. How often should I feed my baby? Newborns want to feed whenever they're hungry, which could mean around 10 to 12 times a day. With your lactation consultant's help, you can learn to pick up your baby's early hunger cues, which could include:
- Wiggling
- Opening his mouth
- Sticking his tongue out
- Bringing his hands to his mouth
But if your baby is crying, that is a late cue. Consider feeding him whenever you see the above cues. 4. How long should I continue to breastfeed? It’s recommended that you breastfeed exclusively for your baby’s first six months, and then to continue breastfeeding after you introduce solid foods to your baby's diet. Your lactation consultant can offer lots of advice and support to enable you to nurse your baby for your desired period of time. 5. How often should I pump, and how does a breast pump work? If you're new to pumping, a lactation consultant can help you get into a good routine and make sure everything is working smoothly with your pump. She might recommend that you pump twice a day, such as 30 minutes after your baby’s first feed of the day, and then again later in the afternoon. She can also answer any questions you have about storing and freezing your breast milk.
How Do You Find a Lactation Consultant?
You may be able to find a lactation consultant at your local hospital, birthing center, public health clinic, pediatric office, or in a private practice. You may even discover there are breastfeeding classes taught by an international board-certified lactation consultant in your local area. Ask your healthcare provider, your childbirth education instructor, or your baby’s pediatrician if you need help choosing the right lactation consultant for you or would like information on how to go about finding one. You can also check the International Lactation Consultant Association’s website to help you locate one in your area. The National Women’s Health and Breastfeeding Helpline is another resource for breastfeeding advice and recommendations on finding a lactation consultant. Call 1-800-994-9662 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
When Should You Call a Lactation Consultant?
It’s a good idea to start hunting for a lactation consultant before your baby is born. This way you have ample time to find one you trust when you are not in the thick of caring for your newborn. Of course, if you decide you would like the support of a lactation consultant even after your baby’s birth, you can reach out and find one then.
When Is It Too Late to See a Lactation Consultant?
It’s not necessarily ever “too late” to seek out a lactation consultant! For example, if you find that after giving birth you would like help in breastfeeding but you don’t have a lactation consultant lined up, talk to your healthcare provider about finding a lactation consultant who can help as soon as possible. You might start breastfeeding within the first hour after you deliver your newborn. Though the nurses can assist you during those first few feeds, many hospitals also have lactation consultants on staff or on call to support new mothers. If you have issues later on (such as mastitis, for example), you can seek help from a lactation consultant at that point, even if you hadn’t needed help earlier.
The Bottom Line
If you’re planning to nurse your baby, you may find it’s beneficial to have an experienced lactation consultant on hand to help you get started, or to help you at any point with any breastfeeding-related issues. Choosing a lactation consultant isn't difficult, and finding one you trust and can work together with is important. Start by speaking with your healthcare provider for recommendations in your local area. Whether you’re a first-time mom with lots of questions or you’re someone who has breastfed a baby before but now has a specific question or concern, breastfeeding support is out there for you.
