Updated: Video Consultations: How do They Work?

The family in this video “met” with me from two different countries. This is the last few minutes of a consultation. The client is talking about meeting with a local IBCLC for follow up to our meeting.

I can do a virtual consultation with you no matter where you are on the planet! We are not limited by long-distance fees—only by time zones and a decent internet connection.

Ideally every breastfeeding parent and infant would have access to high-quality in-person lactation care. The reality is that many people do not have this available in their communities. Virtual consultations are just like in-person consultations except we’re not actually in the same room. They are appropriate for any type of breastfeeding challenges you may have including, latching difficulties, questions about tongue mobility, frenotomy care, sore nipples, milk supply or pumping difficulties. These consultations are not recorded. Continue reading

Thankful for Breastfeeding

Thankful for baby bliss.

Thankful for baby bliss.

Recently a client sent me a nice note with a generous check. She had been feeling gratitude for the help she received to breastfeed her son. There were multiple lactation consultations in her home, a frenotomy (the procedure to release a tongue tie) and body work for baby. There were many up-front costs–some of which were not covered by insurance. Here’s what she wrote: Continue reading

For Dads and Other Partners: Bonding with Baby.

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Dad and newborn doing some bonding!

Even before the birth of my first daughter, I knew that her father intended to be very “hands on.” The truth is, he wanted a baby way more than I did! I tried to include him as much as possible in her day to day care. Even so, I expected him to be more than a little jealous of all the time I spent breastfeeding. I’m pretty sure if he could have sprouted a pair of milk-making breasts, he would have happily participated. Continue reading

Yurika’s Story: A Beautiful “Thank You”

This story was sent to me by one of my clients, Yurika. She wants to share it with all of you and hopes that it will help to continue breastfeeding–even when facing challenges.

photo_face0 Mila was born 8lbs 7oz, healthy and passed all the health screening at the hospital before discharging. At our postpartum appointment 3 days after leaving the hospital, her weight loss was brought up as a concern. She seemed to be latching but she was not transferring enough milk and I was experiencing a lot of pain. Her losing more that 10% of her birth weight was addressed at her 7 day postpartum appointment with her pediatrician and we were sent to the breastfeeding center at the hospital that day for further investigation. Continue reading

Bottle Feeding: Your Baby Sets the Pace!

Dad pacing the feeding for baby.

Dad pacing the feeding for baby.

You may wonder why I have written a post about bottle feeding. After all, I am a lactation consultant. My job as a lactation consultant is, first and foremost, to help mothers and babies breastfeed comfortably and enjoyably for as long as they both desire. One hundred percent breastfeeding is often the goal. The reality is, however, that most of my clients use bottles as well—either to supplement an inadequate milk supply or as an alternative means of feeding for times when mom is separated from baby. In addition, many babies I see have challenges that make breastfeeding next to impossible until the challenges are resolved. If a baby cannot get adequate nutrition at the breast, a bottle may be a temporary solution. Bottles are a fact of life in the western world. Continue reading