But what if she cannot help?

You are considering a Lactation Consultant because you want to enjoy all that breastfeeding offers. Your desire for breastfeeding to work makes you want to believe in that fact that someone that can tell you about what is happening and how to make it better if it is not going as desired. However, you have some skepticism making you reluctant to commit to calling, making an appointment or spending the money.  

I can appreciate that. Perhaps you have had many families unsuccessfully attempt to breastfeed. Perhaps a friend had a bad experience. Maybe you have sought the help of others already and did not find the support that you needed and you think another person will have no more to offer. I want to help eliminate the fear of seeking out yet another resource and tell you I am confident we can overcome almost all obstacles that might be standing in your way. 

You have a fear of loss when considering spending money on Lactation services. Not only can be there be a loss of money, there can also be a loss of breastfeeding. I want to help reduce those fears. I can not guarantee 100% success depending on your situation and each mom and baby is unique, but I can guarantee that I will continue to work with you until you are at a place that you are content. I guarantee to continue performing services until you are satisfied with where you are at. 

As you can see when you look at my website, I have lactation packages and they give time frames. These are just rough time frames to give you an idea about how much time consults take. With all of these packages you get email/phone support, phone check ins and if needed return visits will be scheduled. Often breastfeeding concerns can be resolved quickly but sometimes they take a bit longer. You may not know what you are facing, which is why I offer these packages, so that there is no fear about the clock ticking away while we work on the issues and concerns you are having. 

I am always willing to listen to your history and give you an idea of what a lactation care plan might look like to help you decide on moving forward. 

What can you expect from a consult?

Ever wonder why a breastfeeding consult take so long? Often times people expect it to just be 15 or 20 minutes. Check a latch and make some corrections, right? Maybe get a weight?  Wrong. The more I learnt the lengthier my visits needed to become.

So what can you expect in the two or so hours we might spend together?

First, I do an overall physical assessment of mom and baby(ies). This is an exam of mothers breasts, positions, posture, birth injuries, physical restrictions, etc. Anything that might affect mothers comfort or ability to produce milk I will note and take in to consideration. 

I do a physical exam of baby looking for things like torticollis, structure alignment, tone, and an oral assessment. Baby is an equal participant in breastfeeding and so we need to ensure s/he can be her/his best self when feeding.

We will do a collective assessment of mom & baby were we look at history from birth to where we are today. Babies birth and early days can have a big impact on breastfeeding, from birth position to hospital treatments. "Small" things can have "big" impact. 

I observe positioning and latch & baby feeding without interference as to observe what is currently

happening. Then I give feedback about what I observe and give pointers and help make changes that may improve the situation.

I provide a written Immediate Lactation Care Plan after this. I provide a Comprehensive Lactation Care plan which follows via email. Mother receives a couple follow up phone calls/e-mails if needed. Any referrals and reports that need to be made/sent are made and sent.

I can provide much the same care via distance. Pictures, videos and written history or a skype/phone conversation works also. It might add a few more "hurdles" but overall it can work very well...better than no support, right? 

Lessons and Blessings and the Journey of Learning What I Did Not Know I Did Not Know

I am often found reflecting at wee hours of the day about the families I am working with or have worked with. You see, we do not know what we do not know. I do not know what I do not know and what I will learn next. I only know that I will continue to learn. I am committed to learn from each family I meet, from each class I can take, from each professional I collaborate with.

 

Often in my journey of learning, especially this year, I have found myself holding an emotional space with the thoughts of past families in this space with me, with the intention of sending an apology. These apologies are for not knowing "something" when they needed me to know it and I discovered one of those things I did not know that I did not know.  

 

Book learning only affords one so much. Clinical training with 99% "normal" does a really good job of teaching normal. It does not prep one really well for "abnormal". So, as I work with families that have fallen off normal sometimes I am sent turning over stones I have never turned over before, and sometimes that means families did not make it to where we all would have liked and we are left wondering why what I did know to be "true' did not work. After those moments I still continue to turn stones so that i can find that piece of information we needed. Sometimes I find it and know I found it and other times it comes to me unknowing in another class or article and a moment of reflection on a past scenario comes into light.  I hold that piece with the memory of the previous family as I move forward to another family. That might mean it is "too late" for someone and that someone previously felt let down but it also means because that someone taught me something it is not "too late" for the next family.

 

Encounters are lessons or blessings and sometimes we need lessons before we can give the blessings. To all the families *I* have been blessed to work with who have taught *me* my lessons, I will carry forth blessings to other families as I continue my work. I apologize to you for not knowing what I did not know and not having what I needed for you when you reached out to me but I can assure you that the experiences we shared are not wasted experiences.

 

I want my families to be aware that I hold on to you, your stories, your experiences, much much longer that you probably would have ever imagined.

Holiday Nursing

The holiday season is exciting and magical and might even be more so for new parents.  It can also be an overwhelming time of the year, again, maybe more so for the new parents. If you have made the commitment to breastfeed, that can add in yet another element. 

Getting ready for the holidays can take up so much time. Feeding also can occupy a large amount of time. How can we manage to get it all done?

With all the action going on moms of breastfeeding babies may notice that baby’s typical patterning is off. Keeping this in mind ensure you are spending the time needed to meet your baby’s needs. Not feeding baby often enough can result in plugged ducts, mastitis and a decrease in supply, not to mention decreased nourishment of baby. Why not use the baby as an excuse to lie day, relax and excuse yourself from some of the bustle?

Often, well-meaning people want to feed the baby solid foods. It is common for us to celebrate with food, so naturally people wanting to include baby, may want to share these foods with baby. You know your baby best and if s/he is not ready yet, stick to breastfeeding. Even if baby appears ready the holidays, especially if away from home, may not be the ideal time to start solids. You just never know how baby is going to react. That is why we call it an “introduction” and expect it to be a slower process. Let’s keep in mind the people who think they are doing you a favor if they offer to feed the baby a bottle for you at this time, too. A simple, “Thank you, but we are ok” is all you need!

Again, discussing our sharing in food as well celebrate, we have the supper table. But is it Ok to latch baby at the table? Of course, if you are comfortable with it the baby should be able to celebrate in the same meal time as mom. You might need an extra set of hands to help cut your food or serve you a plate. Having said that, if you feel the need to escape or are more comfortable in a quiet room to nurse than by all means this is just fine. You and your baby will decide this together.

Just as you and your baby will decide what environment is best to nurse in, you will also decide to what is best for your baby to nurse til. Some people have never seen an older baby nursing. They may make remarks or have an odd glance. There is no need to explain anything to anyone. This is a personal decision and it only matters that you know that you and your baby are benefiting from breastfeeding.

If you dress comfortably with clothes that make breastfeeding easier to manage this will help the above situations flow well. Having a simple shirt and a good nursing bra is a good place to start. For more formal gatherings, I suggest a two piece (a skirt or pants and a top), or a zippered or buttoned front dress, with maybe a scarf. Layering with a nursing camisole is also a great option.



Photo Credits to Rhonda Young-Pilon



As with food, adults often celebrate with alcohol. “Whether or not to use alcohol is a choice that all breastfeeding mothers must make. The use of alcohol by breastfeeding mothers is widespread and is even considered ‘usually compatible’ with breastfeeding”. For more information about breastfeeding and alcohol visit http://www.infantrisk.com/content/alcohol-and-breastfeeding  You may be shocked to find that you might be able to enjoy a drink or two this season.

Be prepared by knowing where to get help with breastfeeding if you are pregnant and expecting a new baby during the holidays. Some options are to connect online with a parenting forum, especially if travelling or house bound. Ideally, it is wise to get in touch with a lactation consultant before you deliver to ensure you know availability if need be and even give her the heads up you might be looking for extra support during the holidays. If you have access to a La Leche League meeting or prenatal breastfeeding class this will help give you come confidence about how to latch on your baby. You may also learn about how to avoid other common concerns or difficulties, which may help in case you cannot get support immediately during the holidays.

Lastly, keep in mind, the holidays will come again next year so if you need to step back this year, you can a redo next year. Babies are only babies once.

Breastfeeding and the Weather

When we think of Saskatchewan, we don't think about breastfeeding and "natural disasters", but as I sit in my house looking out the window today, I do think about the advantages of breastfeeding in this province when Mother Nature presents herself like she did yesterday and today.

After a couple days of above 0 temps we have had melting snow and ice, which is usually a treat. But add to that freezing rain for a few hours and then fresh fluffy snow overnight and all morning and temps that dropped drastically and we have a dangerous recipe for travel.

In a news report, I saw that there were 28 reportable accidents in 24 hours in our city. How many were not reported or reportable? Yikes, that makes 1 or more an hour that needed assistance.

Wow, am I glad to be able to stay inside safe with my children, one who is a young breastfeeding infant.

But, what if he was not breastfeed? What if I ran out of an alternative to feed him, which for the vast majority of non-breastfeed babies in our province, would be formula? Forced into heading out onto these roads to shop for infant formula would be awful.

Add to that, what if I was out travelling on the roads, and got into an accident, either with or without that baby with me. Now, I have a hungry baby whom I cannot get food for, that I may or may not be with, and an even bigger delay in getting him feed. That sounds stressful to me and would be stressful to that baby.

As a breastfeeding mom, an accident delay if we did happen to be travelling, at least maintains a food source for the infant. So long as mom and baby can remain together, baby has a food source. Of course, accidents are the extreme, but what if we were to have gotten stuck in some snowy/icy roads. In conditions like this it can take hours for help to come. Babies cannot wait hours to be feed. I did get stuck in some snow while travelling with a baby a few years ago and it did take hours for help to come. I was so grateful that I was able to just nurse that baby while we waited.

So, while we do live in a province that is free of hurricane's and earthquakes that can create major havoc for days on end, loss of electricity, food shortages, etc and we can easily think of why breastfeeding is so important in times like that, Saskatchewan mothers are not immune for the effects of Mother Natures extremes and how they can impact infant care and well-being.

Take care in this crazy weather Saskatchewan families and happy safe, cozy, warm breastfeeding.

Labor/Birth Doula

 

Also called a childbirth or labor assistant, a labor/birth doula is a trained woman who will stay with you throughout labor and birth. The word "doula" is a Greek word meaning "woman caregiver".
Labor/birth doula's attend to the emotional and physical comfort needs of laboring women to smooth the labor process. A labor/birth doula gives you information about what is happening to you, facilitates communication between you and medical staff and supports your decisions. She makes suggestions on how you can best cope with labor and what will help labor progress smoothly.
As a labor/birth doula we will have 2 or more visits before the birth so that I can get to know you, and learn about your preferences, priorities and concerns. I can assist in writing your birth plan or preferences.
At the time in your labor that you need me I will join you and stay with you throughout your labor and birth of your baby and for about 2 hours after the birth. We will have at least one visit after the birth to review the experience. In addition, I am available by phone or email both before and after the birth for help, nonmedical advice, referrals or just to listen.
Doulas don't participate in any of the medical aspects of your care. Cost for doula services with breastfeeding support is $700

Professional Enhancement & Continuing Education

I wanted to share feedback from a workshop I facilitated last weekend. It was a two day "Breastfeeding and the Birth Professional" with a focus on the Professional Doula.

Recently I was a participant in Kim Smith's Breastfeeding Workshop for Doulas. I am a Registered Nurse and a CAPPA trained doula. My reason for taking the course was to add to my helping skills in the breastfeeding realm, as I primarily volunteer in the area of c-section and VBAC support, as well as talking to moms after they have experienced birth trauma and may have had breastfeeding difficulties as a consequence. I am also a babywearing educator, and often times mothers will turn to babywearing as a tool to breastfeed and have normalized activity. I thought that the workshop was very comprehensive and raised many key issues. Kim addressed a wide variety of topics, and reinforced what is normal to see and what key tools a doula can use to assist her client. It also covered elements, like the WHO code of breastmilk and breastmilk substitutes, BFI, and societal issues which affect our clients. We had lots of opportunity for discussion, videos which were informative and relevant, and Kim did a great job keeping us on task and facilitating the workshop. She came prepared with technology but it was very well balanced and well used to teach the workshop. My feedback to Kim was that every birth professional should review this information. Even though I am a registered nurse and have a degree, I found that the information Kim provided was cutting edge, evidence based, and would absolutely apply to any professional working with lactation. As a labour doula, I have seen the benefit to having additional breastfeeding support on board with my own clients. Not all clients are able to access feeding advice, and it has been inconsistent. I think Kim's workshop would absolutely apply to our professional development as nurses and definitely to doulas, midwives, and anyone else working with mother and child.

I thoroughly enjoyed the worshop.

If you are interested in having me speak with a group of professionals, please contact me.