What to Expect from Your Lactation Consultant During Your Hospital Stay

By Jane Mitchell IBCLC Lactation Consultant Crestwood Medical Center

As an expectant Mother prepares for Childbirth she may have many concerns. One of those concerns may be “Will I be able to successfully breastfeed my new baby?”

In the United States, the breastfeeding initiation rate is at a record high of 78 percent. This is above the 2010 goal announced by the World Health Organization back in 2000 of 75 percent.

Today, mothers and fathers recognize breastfeeding as the ideal food choice for a newborn baby. Some parents are impressed with the auto immune qualities which protect their baby from disease and infection, others are wanting to provide the perfect brain food for their baby’s rapidly developing brain, which has the largest period of growth during the first year of life. Some new parents love the convenience of not having to get up in the middle of the night to prepare bottles.

Let’s not forget that breastmilk is free! In today’s economy everyone is trying to save money, and breastfeeding allows a family to save about $2000 during the first year of the baby’s life by not having to purchase formula. Then there are the additional savings from fewer visits to the doctor, as breastfed babies are far healthier.

Once the decision has been made to breastfeed, the next step is for Mom to choose a supportive breastfeeding environment to give birth to her baby. We know that there are practices in some hospital environments that can be detrimental to the success of breastfeeding. Choosing a hospital that supports breastfeeding is critical. An expectant mother should make sure she is given the opportunity to breastfeed in the delivery room before the baby is taken to the nursery to be bathed. If it becomes necessary for the mom to have a C-Section , she should ensure that the baby can be given the opportunity to breastfeed in the recovery room following surgery during the first hour of life.

The role of the Lactation Consultant is to ensure that the mother’s wishes for management of breastfeeding are met whenever possible. A Lactation Consultant should be available to assist the mother with breastfeeding from the very beginning, showing her correct positioning and techniques for obtaining a correct latch. The Lactation Consultant must also ensure that all staff caring for the mother and baby are trained in skills to provide assistance with breastfeeding as needed.

The Lactation Consultant is a resource available to the Mother to answer questions about medications and tests that are safe while breastfeeding. She is there to assess the success of breastfeeding each day and offer the mother guidance as she learns about identifying the needs of her baby and their love relationship develops and grows.

When things don’t work out exactly as the Mother may have expected the Lactation Consultant is there to offer techniques to help baby who is also learning what this breastfeeding thing is all about. The Lactation Consultant is there to reassure the mother that breastfeeding is just like learning to ride a bike, some people catch on faster than others but eventually we all learn to ride a bike. Even though breastfeeding is natural, it is still a learnt skill for both Mother and Baby.

The Lactation Consultant is also there to educate the family about breastfeeding. Many times a Mother is given advice from well-meaning relatives and friends which only add to her confusion as she travels down this new road called Motherhood. The last thing a new Mother needs to hear is “just give that baby a bottle.” Studies have proven that if a Mother does not have a supportive family network in her decision to breastfeed then she won’t be successful.

The Lactation Consultant serves as a resource that a Mother can contact once she goes home to be available to answer questions and concerns as they arise. Sometimes a mother may need to have the baby’s weight checked to ensure the intake is adequate or have the latch evaluated if she is having sore nipples. However, the most important job of the Lactation Consultant is to be the Mother’s Breastfeeding Cheerleader. She is the one who will reassure the Mother yes, she can do it, and all those sleepless nights will be worth the joy of watching her baby grow in to a loving, caring little person.

Jane Mitchell, IBCLC is the Lactation Consultant at Crestwood Medical Center.