Breastfeeding has many benefits, but you still might need some help to breastfeed successfully and work through any challenges along the way. Whether you want to prepare to breastfeed while you’re pregnant or you need some help with breastfeeding once your baby is born, a lactation consultant is a great person to turn to. We’re here to tell you just how they can help and how you can find one.
What do lactation consultants do?
Lactation consultants are breastfeeding experts who can support you as you prepare to feed your baby, learn how to breastfeed your baby, and work through any challenges while breastfeeding and eventually weaning.
Many lactation consultants teach breastfeeding education classes to help you prepare for breastfeeding even before your child is born. You might meet a lactation consultant in the hospital or birthing center where you birth, where they work with families to establish good breastfeeding habits early — like showing new parents how to hold their little one and how to make sure that the baby has a good latch. They can also meet with you to work through challenges, from latching struggles, breast pain and discomfort, milk production or weight gain challenges, breastfeeding multiples and preemies to babies with other medical situations. Lactation consultants are available to help you later on, too, when you’re transitioning back to work, learning to pump and store milk, or starting to wean your child. They’re there to answer any questions, listen to your frustrations, and be someone you can lean on.
Lactation consultants support and promote breastfeeding and pumping as a great way to feed your baby, but they’re also there to listen to your unique breastfeeding goals and support you in reaching them. They should be able to offer support on bottle feeding and selecting a formula when needed or wanted.
What do all those letters mean?
When looking for a lactation consultant, you’ll find different qualifications listed after their names. The “gold standard” is an IBCLC, or International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. This certification requires the most intensive practical training and education. Many are health professionals, like nurses, and they work in hospitals, pediatric offices, WIC and even in your home! Professional experience varies, so despite their qualification, not every IBCLC will be an expert on every medical condition, pumping or bottle feeding (to name a few examples). It’s always important to interview your IBCLC before hiring to make sure they have relevant experience for your family. There are other breastfeeding specialists available that can help with routine support, but IBCLCs have extensive training to help with more complex issues. For this reason, they are generally the only breastfeeding professionals covered by insurance.
Other titles you may see include CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor), CBC (Certified Breastfeeding Counselor), LLLI (La Leche League Leader), and more. These qualifications include varying levels of educational requirements and hands-on experience. Because there are so many different credentials out there, we suggest asking lots of questions about their experience with cases similar to yours.
What can you expect when meeting with a lactation consultant?
A lactation visit in the hospital is typically a short check-in unless you’re having early struggles. They can answer questions you have about how things are going and help you make a short-term plan to manage any challenges and to carry you through the coming hours or days.
You can expect a longer visit if you meet with a lactation consultant after you go home. Initial visits are often more than an hour. First, they’ll just want to talk and get a thorough health history and details about what’s been happening with feeding. Because birth and the early hours postpartum can impact feeding, don’t be surprised if they want to hear a lot about your birth story!
The next key piece is observing you feeding your baby. They’ll look to see how your baby is latching on to your breast, sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Your lactation consultant may also examine your breasts and nipples, suggest ways to reposition your baby, or work through what issues they notice to help you and your baby breastfeed more easily and comfortably. They’ll answer any questions you have, make a short-term feeding plan, discuss follow-up, and may be able to recommend breastfeeding support groups if you’re interested.
Follow-up visits are generally shorter, and most lactation consultants offer a certain amount of text-based follow-up for simple questions between visits. Be sure to ask what’s included in the visit cost, as it’s rare for breastfeeding challenges to be solved in one initial visit.
Where can you find a lactation consultant?
Many lactation consultants work at hospitals, doctor and healthcare provider offices, birth centers, community health centers, WIC offices and in private practice. Chances are, if you ask your OB provider, your child’s healthcare provider, or the healthcare facility where you gave birth, they can put you in touch with a lactation consultant. Simple searches through Google for “breastfeeding support + your zip code” and talking to local parents can also yield more professionals to consider. Want to use insurance? Contact your insurance company or a third party like The Lactation Network to find IBCLCs covered by your insurance plan. If you think a lactation consultant would help you reach your breastfeeding goals, reach out for support!
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
Read more
- 9 ways to prepare yourself for breastfeeding success
- How to find a supportive breastfeeding community
Sources
- “Find a lactation consultant directory.” International Lactation Consultant Association. International Lactation Consultant Association. Retrieved July 16 2020. https://portal.ilca.org/i4a/memberDirectory/index.cfm?directory_id=19&pageID=4356.
- “Your guide to breastfeeding.” Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved July 16 2020. https://www.womenshealth.gov/files/documents/your-guide-to-breastfeeding.pdf.
