Preventative care is preferable to problem-focused care. Not all healthcare is able to fall into the category of preventative care, but lactation care can.
My ideal timeline for breastfeeding families:
- 28-32 Weeks Pregnant: Prenatal lactation consultation and exposure to supporting learning materials.
- 5-7 Days Postpartum: First lactation consultation.
- 10-14 Days Postpartum: Second lactation consultation. Continued weekly visits as needed based upon unique breastfeeding scenarios.
- 6 Weeks Postpartum: Follow up lactation visit between 1 month and 2 month pediatrician visit.
- 6 Weeks Before Returning to Work- Strategy visit to discuss working and pumping.
- 5 Months Postpartum: Strategy visit to discuss starting solid foods.
- Considering Weaning: Strategy visit to discuss how and when to wean from breastfeeding.
Lactation care is preventative care if care starts in pregnancy and there is early and timely access to care postpartum.
Prenatal lactation care allows me to assess and predict potential problems that may lie ahead. It establishes care before the baby arrives so that our practice is capable of seeing each family in a timely manner.
Ideally, parents are not introduced to breastfeeding for the first time after the baby is born. Ideally, parents learn about breastfeeding when they are the most able to retain new information. This is during pregnancy, not during the first two weeks postpartum. A prenatal lactation visit enables me to identify unique breastfeeding risk factors, teach about critical components of breast health and infant feeding, and resource parents with learning materials.
The first two weeks of breastfeeding are critical. Establishing the latch, managing nipple pain, protecting the milk supply, and identifying appropriate newborn growth are key factors in the first two weeks.
These first two weeks also happen to be incredibly challenging due to significant life adjustment, lack of sleep, and hormonal changes. In my experience, when a family is able to see me shortly after the baby is born, there is less doubt and suffering.
Breastfeeding care extends beyond the initial weeks. Preventative care can extend through the predictable breastfeeding milestones.
Six weeks before you return to work is an ideal time for us to meet and discuss milk storage, pumping, and bottle feeding strategies.
When your baby is five months old, I teach how to introduce solids to your breastfed baby.
Whenever mom or baby are ready to wean, I can address not only the emotional experience, but also the technical experience of weaning.
