FAQs
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You are experiencing nipple pain throughout the entire feeding or have painful, cracked or bleeding nipples
Weight loss in baby beyond 8% of birth weight
Very swollen and painful breasts that don’t resolve within 3 days
Baby will not consistently latch and you are pumping and offering bottles instead for most feedings (and desire to breastfeeding more)
Baby is sleeping 4 hours or more during the day and is hard to wake up.
Baby is very sleepy during feedings and does not suck and swallow frequently
Baby has many wet diapers but has not pooped every day since birth
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Often providers immediately recommend supplementation or “triple feeding” when baby isn’t meeting weight gain goals. Try not to be discouraged. Often offering a well-timed supplement of formula or pumped/donor milk can be the extra support baby needs to be more active at the next feed. But it is important to find out WHY baby isn’t getting the milk they need during feedings. It is also important to utilized a paced feeding method to ensure bottle feeding mimics breastfeeding.
More details: Sometimes baby can be latched and sucking, but not sucking effectively enough to transfer milk. Here is a great example of what this should look like. If you are not hearing or seeing this during a feeding, or would like help managing triple feeding and moving towards exclusive breastfeeding, book a visit today!
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I recommend in the first 4 weeks that newborns feed every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours in nighttime hours. And YES, it is important to wake them up! Just like you and I, some babies prefer to sleep rather than eat. And they can go right back to sleep, after a little feed. :) It is important to have a nice, active feeding session with 5-7 minutes of continual feeding (suck suck swallow repeated with periods of swallow swallow swallow). Then a quick burp break, and back to the same side for another 5-7 minutes. If baby is still showing signs of hunger, follow this sequence on the opposite breast. Have questions on how to effectively follow this sequence and transfer the most milk to baby? Book an in-home lactation visit today!
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Continuing breastfeeding when returning to work does take perseverance and dedication. Good for you for even considering it! Michigan law requires employers to provide a dedicated pumping space and time to pump (this is often unjustly unpaid FYI). You can plan out a pumping schedule around your work responsibilities. The goal is to pump at least every 3 hours during your work day. You also need a secure location to store your pumped milk and have access to water and a sink to be able to rinse/wash your pump parts.
If you would like help mapping out your pumping and breastfeeding schedule in more detail for your individualized work environment and schedule, a phone consult is great for this. Book a call today!
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In the comfort of your home, you can expect:
a feeding evaluation to assess if baby is getting enough milk
A check of baby’s mouth for any restrictions/ties. (This is often the cause of nipple pain when the latch looks beautiful and deep, but mother is still experiencing pain.)
Help with positioning to help you get a more comfortable latch
Pumping instruction or tips for hand expression
Answering any questions you might have
NOTE: If baby ISN’T breastfeeding, we will work together to help baby respond to breastfeeding in a new way.
*Travel fee for those living outside of GR.
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Just have a smaller issue you need help with? Together we can troubleshoot and help you move past hurdles such as how to begin the weaning process, returning to work and pumping, introducing a bottle before starting daycare, and more. More complicated issues like resolving mastitis, increasing milk supply, or healing damaged nipples would need an at-home visit to provide optimum care.
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Want to have the best start to breastfeding? Schedule a one-on-one class to learn exactly how to make and maintain a beautiful milk supply for your baby. We cover topics such as:
Breastfeeding 101: step-by-step instructions on how to get a baby latched
What signals do I watch for to ensure that baby is getting enough?
Pacifier - friend or foe?
Best breastfeeding positions
Pumping and returning to work
Breast milk storage and prepping bottles for daycare or date nights
With over 20 years of experience helping mothers breastfeed their babies, I provide compassionate, evidence-informed lactation support for families in Grand Rapids, Middleville, and surrounding West Michigan communities. Get personalized help with feeding concerns, comfort, milk supply questions, pumping and returning to work. My goal is to help you achieve what makes sense for you and your family. My specialties include:
Resolving low milk supply (or discovering why it is consistently low)
Oral restrictions/tongue ties
Transitioning to exclusive breastfeeding after a NICU stay/receiving mainly bottles
Resolving persistent mastitis
We are all told that breastfeeding is the “best” for our baby. But as we begin this journey, it often does not feel the best for us as mothers. And when weight gain issues arise, often pediatricians say nothing more than “You’ll need to supplement with formula and pump after feedings”. Don’t they understand what a difficult task this is while healing from birth? (which may have been traumatic)
Yes, sometimes it does go amazingly well and babies know just what to do. But often, breast pain, sore nipples, and many other complications can sometimes make us ask “is it right for me?” How did this natural thing get so complicated?
The fact is, that many things can get in the way of an easy, breastfeeding experience in our modern day society. It isn’t anything you are “doing wrong”. So together, let’s start at the beginning. A little do-over so that perhaps breastfeeding can feel easier.
**All visits include a detailed care plan and home visits include 30 additional minutes of communication FREE to help you implement changes/reach your goals. Most home visits are 1.5-2 hours.
Reasonable travel fees are required depending on distance to your home.