Breastfeeding Support and education

Providing in person breastfeeding support in Southern Maryland

Virtual support via Zoom available from anywhere, anytime!

Breastfeeding Support Consultation fee: $75.00

Having breastfeeding education before birth and support after greatly increases the breastfeeding success rate.

The rates of breastfeeding while in the hospital is pretty high, which is great. The problem is the rate goes down significantly after families return home. Families that have support of a breastfeeding professional have much higher rates of reaching their breastfeeding goals. Your baby’s physician is the best person to consult for baby’s general health and well-being, they are not usually educated in breastfeeding. A breastfeeding counselor or consultant is the best person to consult for breastfeeding support and issues.

I am proud to be a Certified Lactation Counselor

I attended a 52 hour extensive course with Healthy Children Projects, Inc Center for Breastfeeding. Then sat the exam by Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice to become certified. Every 3 years I must submit 18 hours of continuing education to recertify, which assures I will keep refining my skills. I have been helping families with breastfeeding for the 20+ years I have been doula and long before that with friends. Being a CLC has given me the confidence and increased knowledge to provide more extensive support.

‘The Certified Lactation Counselor® (CLC®) certification identifies a professional in lactation counseling who has demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to provide clinical breastfeeding counseling and management support to families who are thinking about breastfeeding or who have questions or problems during the course of breastfeeding/lactation.’ I follow the code of practice as laid out by ALPP

What medical organizations say about breastfeeding…

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding for at least 6 months before starting any solid foods and then continuing to breastfeed along with increasing other foods for at least 1 year, as do many other organizations. Breastfeeding is the best thing for you and your baby’s health and wellbeing. Baby gets immunity and just the right nutrition at the right temperature and right amount, and very portable! As people get through the first few weeks they find breastfeeding to be easier then bottle feeding. Being breastfed also decreases babies risk of obesity, ear infections and more. Breastfeeding helps birthing person recover by contracting the uterus to rebirth size. Also decreases risk of breast and ovarian cancer later in life.

Coming home with a newborn…

I provide breastfeeding support in your home or virtually in the first few weeks to help your breastfeeding journey get off to the best possible start. I find being able to see breastfeeding people in their own home really helps me to troubleshoot and find solutions. People are also more comfortable breastfeeding at home so I get a truer picture of whats going on and can work with you to find solutions that work for you. I do not have tunnel vision of just the baby but find it important to take into account everything that is going on with the parents, what support they have, how recovery is going and how baby is doing. it would be great for babies to breastfeed exclusively. But I also know that is not always possible for a variety of reasons and may not be what your desire or what works for your life. I will work with you to come up with solutions and a plan that works best for you and your baby. And to explore and figure out how to help you fulfill whatever your breastfeeding goals may be.

As your baby grows…

You don’t have to be breastfeeding a newborn to need support! Nursing a older baby or toddler can sometimes prove to be problematic. Sometimes sleep is an issue, or maybe you are preparing to return to work. Perhaps you need to start weaning but it is not going well. Adding solid foods can prove to be tricky too. Older babies sometimes start to get distracted and not nurse well. I can do a virtual or in home consult to help with that!

Breastfeeding Education

I offer breastfeeding education as part of Lamaze Healthy Birthing classes. I also do private prenatal breastfeeding consults to help you prepare for your baby.