Nursing that is beautiful, comfortable and pain free.

It is recommended to know who you will go and see if you need help before baby arrives. New moms are very busy. Doing the research and finding help can be difficult when your hands are full - literally.  The first 10 days after having a baby is the most important time for a mom to have support at her fingertips. Unfortunately, many moms give up on breastfeeding early because they simply didn't know where to find the support they need. 

A lot of parents make the mistake of thinking breastfeeding is "natural" and therefore should happen "naturally". Although nursing is instinctual for babies (they have built in reflexes that help them find and latch onto the breast) it is a learnt skill for adults. As adults we seldom see babies being latched to their mother's breast and therefore don't learn the skill. This means we most likely will need to be taught the skill when we need it. And that's OK! 

A baby will instinctively latch to moms' breast, but often they don't achieve the optimal latch - this can result in a lot of complications such as nipple trauma, poor milk transfer, excessive gas ingestion, uncomfortable feedings etc. It usually takes one lactation assessment to figure out what tips and suggestions would work best for mom and baby. The optimal latch can be achieved in one or two feedings, but it is ideal to get advice sooner rather than later before "bad habits" need to be unlearnt. 

Nipple pain is a very common problem for nursing moms. Usually, the problem is because the latch isn't optimal, and the nipple is being traumatized every time the baby nurses. There could be other reasons, so it is best to be assessed by a medical professional. Read our blog on nipple pain if you would like more information regarding this common, but avoidable, problem.

No! Too many moms are advised to deal with it, the nipple will toughen up over time. Get an assessment from a lactation counselor.  Read our blog on nipple pain if you would like more information regarding this common, but avoidable, problem. 

They assess how mom and baby are doing when they nurse. This includes things like optimal latch, milk transfer, baby weight gain and general post partum support. 

Although most feeding problems can be solved with a thorough feeding assessment, in some case there are other concerns that may need to be addressed. It depends on what the problem is but your lactation consultant should be able to refer you to the right medical professional. e.g. Gentle chiropractic treatment for can be a huge advantage for babies who are having trouble with latching, sucking or being comfortable at the breast or in other cases an occupation therapist specializing in orofacial concerns can also benefit.