I am not going to get any milk until after baby is born, so why is a prenatal lactation consult useful?
A prenatal lactation consult is a wonderful opportunity for all soon-to-be-moms to get questions answered well before the stress of a baby's arrival. Think of it as a personalized breastfeeding education class tailored directly to your unique needs in order to get you and your baby off to a great start from the moment they are born. By having this before baby arrives, it is possible to prevent some issues and decrease stress for both mother and baby when the time comes for baby's first feeding. A lot of issues that arise in the first few days of nursing are common, predictable and easily managed if you have some preparation. Meeting with a lactation and breastfeeding professional early on is also a great way to address any concerns or fears that mother's have, based on what family or friends have told them about what to expect.
My goal is for you to leave your initial prenatal consult, feeling like you have a basic understanding of what to expect (and what not to expect) in those first few days after birth. A lot of stress and anxiety of childbirth in general comes from the lack of knowledge and the fear of the "unknown."
My goal is that this consult will ease some of the stressors related to breastfeeding and milk supply and give you tools you need in those first few hours and days with your newborn. This will allow you the privacy and time to consider reasonable expectations for your early breastfeeding journey.
Common Questions Addressed:
Is there anything I can do to prepare in advance of the birth?
My grandmother told me I need to "rough-up my nipples," is this necessary?
Is there anything about my medical history or anatomy that may affect breastfeeding?
Why is skin-to-skin important?
When will my milk "come-in?"
How will I know if I have enough milk?
How do I know if baby is latched on right?
How often and for how long should I nurse?
What if I have a C/S or are induced, how will this affect breastfeeding?
What supplements and/or products do you recommend?
How can I keep my partner involved?
When do I need to start pumping?
A prenatal consult is particularly helpful if you have a medical condition which might make the production of milk (lactation) more challenging for your body. Conditions such as: PCOS, thyroid disease, flat or inverted nipples, fertility treatments, any breast surgery or trauma, breast cancer, obesity or difficulty breastfeeding a first baby.
When should I schedule?
The ideal timing for a singleton pregnancy prenatal consult is around 35 weeks and around 30 weeks for multiples. This is so that you have ample time to learn, ask follow-up questions and process the information when you are at least risk of baby or babies coming early.
Contact me TODAY to schedule your prenatal consult!
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