Essential Lactation
“Your worth is not measured in ounces”
Common reasons to seek lactation support:
Breastfeeding/chestfeeding pain or damaged nipples
Need for a nipple shield or difficulty feeding baby directly at the breast
Worry that baby is not getting enough or needing to supplement baby with expressed breast milk or formula
Tongue/lip tie concerns
Fussy baby, lots of spit up or gassy baby
Everything seems ok, but still have a lot of questions about feeding baby
Struggling with the decision to breastfeed/chestfeed and want to talk about your options
Pumping or preparing to go back to work
Bottle feeding: introducing bottles, troubleshooting, bottle refusal, figuring out how much and when to feed your baby (you don’t have to be nursing or making milk!)
Plugged ducts, milk blebs, or mastitis
Teething, biting, or weaning baby
Tandem nursing and/or preparing for pregnancy while lactating
Prenatally, to learn about lactation basics, ask personal questions, and establish a support team
Inducing lactation for adoption, surrogacy, or non-birthing parent
Lactation Support Services
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These are some of my favorite visits!
Typically done between 35-38 weeks gestation (but can be done at any time before birth), this visit offers general information about lactation and infant feeding to help you and your baby get off to a wonderful start. We’ll cover learning to hand express before your baby arrives all the way through the first week of life.
There will be lots of time to address personal questions and concerns, as well as an opportunity to establish a support team.
You get priority scheduling after your baby arrives when we meet prenatally!
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This visit can take place anytime while you are nursing your baby no matter where you are on your journey.
Together, we will work on any lactation concerns and you will get support for all types of infant feeding. We will discuss and practice how to achieve a deep latch to eliminate nipple pain and improve your baby’s feeding efficiency. Your visit includes an infant body and oral exam to address any tongue tie issues or oral motor function challenges as well as an exam of your breasts/chest and milk supply. This also includes troubleshooting any breast inflammation you may be experiencing (“clogged ducts/mastitis"). I provide support to wean from a nipple shield and other supplementation methods if able and desired. You will learn how to know your baby is getting enough through before and after feeding weights. I can also answer questions related to any other lactation challenges.
At the end of each visit together you will have a clear plan and follow up information.
This includes any part of your lactation journey from start (including inducing lactation) to finish (weaning, tandem nursing, you name it!).
No specific concerns, just want reassurance? I can help with that too!
You may be wondering how many lactation visits are normal for most people. It is pretty common to have 2-5 visits together to get the most out of my support. This is not a requirement of course and you and your baby will benefit from a single visit as well.
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This may be for twins/triplets/more or tandem nursing an older child and a new baby. If you are planning ahead, this would be a great time to have a prenatal visit while you’re pregnant so we can meet and discuss things before your birth.
You will have guidance on feeding schedules, maintaining supply, as well as the same support from the above postpartum visit description. This can be a challenging time so extra support is crucial!
These visits tend to be a bit longer than a traditional postpartum visit, but we can also break things up into more frequent, shorter visits. Reach out directly to plan a multiples visit.
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Are you looking for guidance around pumping? Do you need flange fitting help? I provide support for combo feeding and exclusive pumping families as well.
Going back to work is a necessity for most families these days. For lactating parents, that requires pumping, bottles and worries about maintaining milk supply. In this visit, I help parents set a plan as they go back to work and help them achieve their feeding goals.
Bottle/Alt Feeding Support Services
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Are you planning to introduce your baby to bottle feeding and unsure of how and when to do this? Unsure of how to navigate the large amount of bottle and pump product options out there? Whether you are lactating or not, I am able to support families with bottle feeding from start to finish. I’d love to support you through all of this and more.
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No matter the reason for your baby’s bottle refusal, we work together to get to the bottom of their challenges.
These visits include a thorough history of your baby’s feeding, birth, and any other pertinent info you may have. Also included is a gentle and respectful body and oral exam of your baby.
By the end of our visit, you will have a plan for gentle support and reintroduction of the bottle for your baby as well as a follow up plan.
Bottle refusal situations are all different, but most situations will involve more than one visit. Gentle and patient support of your baby will be key!
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I have a special place in my heart for families using Supplemental Nursing Systems (SNS) or at the breast supplementation!
This may be an option if you have low milk supply, breast reduction or other supply impacting surgery, non-gestating or non-lactating parent, and more.
You will learn how to incorporate this amazing tool into your infant feeding journey. It can be a wonderful way to feed your baby from your body.
Choose an ‘initial visit’ when booking and specify your interest in alternative feeding when completing the intake.
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No matter where you are in your feeding journey, you will receive individualized guidance on weaning.
There are so many options and depending on the age of your baby and your goals, you will be able to choose what fits best for your family after our discussion. Includes care of your body during weaning and a feeding plan to support your baby’s needs.