“Breastfeeding is a journey sometimes filled with challenges, but each struggle brings you closer to the beautiful bond that nourishes both mother and child.”
Breastfeeding is natural but it doesn’t always come so easily to mother and baby. It can take some time and practice to get the hang of it, it can be a smooth journey with one baby and a bumpy ride with the next. Whatever the challenge, it can almost always be overcome with some educational and moral support and a personalised care plan to help you meet your feeding goals. Whether you aim to feed exclusively at breast, pump and bottle feed your expressed milk or combination of breast, expressed milk and/or formula a lactation consultation can be of benefit to you.
Some reasons why you might need a lactation consultation include:
Your baby…
- has jaundice
- struggles to latch
- isn’t gaining enough weight
- is gaining weight too fast
- cries frequently and is fussy while breastfeeding
- seems to feed constantly
- was born prematurely
- spits up a lot
Or you…
- have inverted nipples
- suffer from painful or cracked nipples
- are dealing with engorgement
- are unwell and need surgery while breastfeeding
- have a low milk supply
- have an oversupply of milk
- are planning to return to work while breastfeeding
- have mastitis
- want to breastfeed an adopted child
- feel stressed about feeding
- need to take medication while feeding
- need advice about selecting an appropriate breast pump
- are receiving conflicting advice and/or discouragement from elsewhere
What happens during a postnatal consultation?
Your consultation starts with a detailed history taken over the phone. This allows me to get as much relevant information as possible about you, your baby and your feeding journey so far in order to best prepare for the in-person visit ensuring you get the maximum benefit from our time spent together.
Our in-person visit usually takes place in your home, for your convenience, unless for any reason you prefer to come to my office instead then you are most welcome to do so. A visit normally lasts 90-120 minutes. During this time, with your permission, I will complete an assessment of the mother and baby, observe a feeding and then make appropriate recommendations.
Follow up by text and/or email is included in the initial consultation.