LACTATION SERVICES

The evidence is clear that breastfeeding is an investment in the health of both mum and baby. Breastfeeding is natural, however it can take time for a new mum and baby to find their groove with breastfeeding. While no physical preparation is needed, there is a lot you can do before the birth of your baby to prepare for breastfeeding. Here are some suggestions…

1. Talk to your partner about your plan to breastfeed and encourage them to learn about breastfeeding so they can provide help and support for you and your baby.
2. Talk to friends and family about their breastfeeding experiences; find out what helped them in the early days and weeks.
3. Plan for some comfortable spaces to breastfeed at home – maybe a lounge chair with low arms and a space to keep your water bottle, snacks, phone.
4. Make a list of meals and snacks that are easy to prepare and eat with one hand – young babies love to cuddle and feed frequently in the evening!
5. Attend our breastfeeding workshop with your support person at 30-34 weeks so you can both learn how to establish a healthy milk supply, find out about typical baby feeding patterns and learn how to position yourself and your baby for comfortable breastfeeding (Bonus points if you attend the face to face workshop where you can actually practice positioning with a baby doll!).
6. If you have had a difficult previous breastfeeding experience, have particular worries about breastfeeding and/or have a medical condition or previous breast or nipple surgery, book in with our lactation team to make a personalised plan for breastfeeding this baby.

The most common breastfeeding problems faced in the early days and weeks are latching difficulties, sore nipples and worries about milk supply. The good news is that (like with any other health issue) getting skilled help early ie. within days of identifying a problem, means that you can access guidance and treatment rather than have the problem get worse.

Early intervention with our skilled lactation team can prevent the progression of damaged nipples and painful breasts. We can provide assessment, management and support for families dealing with baby sucking problems or tongue ties, high or low milk supply and other conditions that you may have been warned of by friends, family and the internet.

Our experienced lactation team will be happy to help you to manage any breastfeeding problems and grow in confidence. We will work with you to develop an individualised plan that works for your unique family situation.

Our lactation team are available to help with a range of breastfeeding issues that is not limited to:

• You are unsure about whether breastfeeding is going well
• Latching difficulties
• Preterm or small babies
• Slow infant weight gain
• Low milk supply
• Weaning from a nipple shield
• Nipple pain / damage
• White spot / blocked ducts / mastitis
• Breast pain
• Infant sucking difficulties, assessment for ankyloglossia (tongue tie)
• Breast refusal
• Oversupply
• Planning for return to paid work, balancing expressing and breastfeeding
• Use of a supplemental nursing system
• Planning to stop breastfeeding

INITIAL CONSULTATION
Please allow up to an hour for your first visit. We will take time to understand and assess your breastfeeding concern by asking about your family, your medical/surgical and mental health background, pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding journey so far, and your current breastfeeding pattern. If using a breast pump and/or any lactation aids we will ask for details of these. The consult typically includes recording baby’s naked weight, examination of breasts/nipples (if indicated) and observation of a breastfeed. Where appropriate any possible investigations, treatments and/or management strategies will be discussed, and a personalised plan made with your input.

FOLLOW UP CONSULTATION
Please allow up to 40 min for your follow up visit. We will re-assess your breastfeeding concern, review any changes and achievements since the last visit, and current breastfeeding pattern. The consult typically includes recording baby’s naked weight, examination of breasts/nipples (if indicated) and observation of a breastfeed. Where appropriate the outcomes of any investigations, treatments and/or management strategies will be discussed. For continuing concerns, a revised breastfeeding plan will made with your input, otherwise anticipatory guidance and/or information re community based resources will be provided.

ANTENATAL CONSULTATION
If you would like to book an antenatal consultation with us, please use the book appointment button above or call us on 9328 0501. Please ensure you have attended the breastfeeding workshop before attending this appointment and allow up to an hour for this visit. We will get to know you and assess your breastfeeding risk factors by asking about your family situation, your medical/surgical and mental health background, previous breastfeeding experience and pregnancy health. The consult typically includes examination of breasts/nipples (if indicated) and discussion of your breastfeeding goals. Where appropriate treatments and/or management strategies will be discussed, and a personalised written plan made with your input.

ONLINE CONSULTATION
(If you are experiencing nipple pain and difficulties with latching we strongly recommend a face to face consultation)
Please allow up to 40 mins for an online consultation via a Zoom link, and plan for this to occur in a well lit room so we can clearly see you and your baby. We will take time to understand and assess your breastfeeding concern by asking about your family, your medical/surgical and mental health background, pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding journey so far, and your current breastfeeding pattern. If using a breast pump and/or any lactation aids we will ask for details of these. As we are unable to examine you or your baby, the detailed questions will be important in helping us to help you. Where appropriate any possible investigations, treatments and/or management strategies will be discussed, and a personalised plan made with your input.

We want to help women achieve a comfortable and satisfying breastfeeding experience with their baby! However there are some pre-existing factors that can increase the risk of breastfeeding challenges…for these women it is useful to understand the risk and learn what can be done to get off to a great start with breastfeeding. Some of these risks include:

• Previous breastfeeding difficulties
• Pre-pregnancy BMI > 30.0
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Pre-existing diabetes
• Gestational diabetes
• Pituitary disease
• Breast surgery (breast lift, breast reduction)
• Nipple surgery
• Nipple piercing that has been infected
• No breast growth during pregnancy
• Pregnancy induced hypertension
• Pre-eclampsia
• Growth restricted baby

ANTENATAL CONSULTATION
If you would like to book an antenatal consultation with us, please use the book appointment button above or call us on 9328 0501. Please ensure you have attended the breastfeeding workshop before attending this appointment and allow up to an hour for this visit. We will get to know you and assess your breastfeeding risk factors by asking about your family situation, your medical/surgical and mental health background, previous breastfeeding experience and pregnancy health. The consult typically includes examination of breasts/nipples (if indicated) and discussion of your breastfeeding goals. Where appropriate treatments and/or management strategies will be discussed, and a personalised written plan made with your input.