So you have booked a lactation consult with Aspire Lactation. What happens next? If you’ve never seen a lactation consultant before, or had a home visit from a lactation consultant, here are some things that will happen during my visit to your family. I try to be flexible and not everything happens in a particular order, and not everything happens on each visit!
- We’ll work out a time that suits you and your baby for me to visit. If mums are close by to Tarragindi I can be a little more flexible with start time but this will depend if I have other clients to see. We can talk about this!
- Visits are usually 1.5 hours but sometimes go longer for more complex issues.
- Aim to have the baby needing a feed sometime during a visit – we don’t have to time this for when I first arrive as we can go through some paperwork first. Please don’t hold your baby off if she or he is crying and starving – offer a small feed to keep them comfortable, most babies will go back for more when I arrive.
- With your permission, your baby may be weighed and measured and will have a general assessment from head to toe. I find it useful to do a suck assessment with my gloved finger to feel your baby’s palate, as well as check for restrictions that occur with tongue or lip ties. If I have a suspicion of tongue or lip tie, we’ll talk about the providers who can diagnose and release these ties.
- A breast examination (helpful in cases of nipple damage, mastitis, plugged ducts, insufficient glandular tissue).
- A breast feed – or two if I’m there for a long time!
- We will talk about your baby’s birth, plus your medical and surgical history.
- We’ll work out a plan to suit you and your baby and talk/email afterwards to see how it is working for you.
Some families need follow up lactation help, this is discounted as I am familiar with you and your baby.
I encourage mums to like my Facebook page and Pinterest page where I keep tabs on interesting snippets and advice.
How can I help you and your baby achieve your goals with breastfeeding?
