What are the benefits of meeting with a lactation consultant – learn Why every Expectant Mother Should Meet With a Lactation Consultant.
While most people assume that these supports exist for women who are having trouble breastfeeding, the reality is that International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are a wonderful source of support for all new mothers.
Consider setting up an appointment before you’re due to deliver, and you may discover a lactation consultant can provide countless helpful strategies and insights.
Pre-Birth Preparations
There are several reasons why it’s a good idea to have your first meeting with an IBCLC before you give birth.
However, the most important of these is that your lactation consultant can help ensure that you have everything you need on hand before you bring your baby home.
That includes picking out the right breast pump for your needs, selecting other supplies like bottles and milk storage, and recommending other helpful items like pillows and nursing tops.
The consultant can also answer any questions you have and describe how they can help after your baby arrives.
Consider Medical Issues
Another benefit of meeting with a lactation consultant before you give birth is that it allows you to preemptively address any potential concerns.
You can prepare for your first IBCLC visit by reviewing your own medical history, especially information on medications, past hormonal or gynecological issues, or surgeries like breast reduction or augmentation.
If this isn’t your first child, you may also want to take note of any breastfeeding issues you had the first time around and your hopes for nursing this child, so that you can strategize with your lactation consultant to achieve a better outcome.
Postpartum Problem Solving
When you meet with a lactation consultant before giving birth, their goal is to get a sense of your particular circumstances and history, address any major concerns, and generally get to know you.
The last thing the consultant wants is to overload you with information.
That’s why it’s important to continue working with them after birth to troubleshoot any problems.
After birth, when you meet with an IBCLC, they’ll do several things.
In addition to addressing any specific concerns, your consultant will observe a nursing session, evaluating latch and positioning, and check your breasts for inflammation, clogged ducts, chafing, or other problems.
This is part of what’s so helpful about working with these experts; they have the skills to provide more clinical evaluation of your health and your baby’s health and offer the all-important emotional support that many breastfeeding mothers so desperately need.
In the best-case scenario, you’ll have a few meetings with an IBCLC, ask a few questions, but ultimately won’t need much help.
On the other hand, and more commonly, you may discover at least a handful of difficulties while nursing.
If that’s the case, your lactation consultant will be there to help.
From difficulty latching to the pain of mastitis, you shouldn’t have to navigate new motherhood and nursing alone.
Connect with a consultant before you need one and pave the way for an easier transition to life with your new baby.
