Those of you who used a lactation consultant after birth, was it useful?

[Crzy]

Second guessing myself now dp has kicked off saying it’s common sense etc when trying to tell him I had considered booking one for after birth as I’ve never breastfed and with vascospams I expect it won’t be the easiest and don’t want to feel trapped or like a failure if it isn’t. Did anyone use one and find them useful or is he right and it is common sense and im just being stupid?

I'm actually someone who learnt it from books (one book in particular that I rave about, called breastfeeding made easy). It was really good, had loads of helpful diagrams and tips. Ended up feeding dd for over 2.5y and hope to do similar with ds due next month.

You might not need a lactation consultant, some mums find it easier than others. Try not to be frightened of it.

I started by mix feeding after my EMCS and gradually weaned off bottles over the first few months. It happened organically as dd preferred BF to the bottles. I'd recommend mix feeding to anyone as the best of both worlds.

Personally I'm quite touchy about being touched (if you see what I mean) so I'd have been quite uncomfortable with a lactation consultant. A midwife briefly helped me latch dd on when she was a few hours old but I declined all further help and it was fine.

You never know, it might be fine for you too.

I wouldn't have been able to nurse my children if I didn't have a lactation consultant. There were so many things the came up, something different each time, and had very easy fixes. But I wouldn't have known what to do. I recommend it to anyone, and it's usually the very first day with latching issues, or 1-2 weeks into it when you start having a problem. It's better to have it set up now rather than wait until there is an issue because sometimes the issue is pain or bleeding and that can't wait!

Thanks for all your responses! Going through them now but thought I’d reply halfway through so I don’t lose track! Latch and tongue ties were my main concerns as I’d want them picked up and sorted asap so I’m glad to hear it greatly helped some of you with these issues.

By coincidence the one I was looking into is actually a guest lactation consultant occasionally at our local breastfeeding group and was a midwife for 20 years before deciding this was the path for her, IBCLC certified and offers free consultations although it was actually the amount of brilliant reviews and feedback I’ve heard on her that made me look into her specifically in the first place. I was thinking of doing one consultation soon after birth (she offers hospital visits for before your discharged but I’ll probably book a home visit as I can ask for advice/help in hospital and call on her if needed as she does 24/7 calls and call outs for any families she’s working with for advise) just to get some advice on latch any potential tongue ties that haven’t been picked up if she spots one and anything else I’m struggling with and then only booking another if/when I feel like I’d appreciate the advice. Will be attending one session of our nhs ran breastfeeding support group to trial it but I’m quite uncomfortable in group settings with people I don’t know so probably won’t gain much from it hence considering 1-1 privately.

@riffraffroff money isn’t an issue for us so I don’t think it’s this, more so he thinks it’s as simple as putting baby to breast and I know the reality is far from the truth for most! Don’t think he’ll get it until he’s actually seeing the reality. He’s the same way with a few things but only when he thinks I’m over stressing when he doesn’t see that in reality I’m actually simply informing myself on all possibilities and knowing my options for each and don’t want to leave it until I’m losing my mind with a screaming baby who can’t feed properly to realise there’s an issue especially as I’m going to be alone nights as he works and I am the type to try and push on past and fix myself until it’s too bad so I’m trying to put a stop to that habit and be proactive!

@Flittingaboutagain out of interest how did you get diagnosed with reynauds or get anyone to take it seriously! Gp has been fobbing me off for years before this when I have many signs to the point I thought there was something seriously wrong but realised this is the most likely cause and now having vascospams constantly but midwife tells me “boob pain is normal” (another reason I’m not relying on her for breastfeeding advice!) had them once in a blue moon before pregnancy but now they’re constant and it irritates me that no one is even taking my symptoms seriously and either looking into it or reassuring me it’s normal due to …. Rather than assuming I’m being stupid mistaking normal things for them or am over exaggerating

Yes, very much so. I still think of the lovely woman who supported me through those first weeks and helped me keep going when it seemed too painful and difficult. She came to see me at home, she came to see me in hospital when I was readmitted. Mary O’Shea , sadly no longer living, a tiny Irish powerhouse of a woman.

I would wait and see rather than booking it in advance. For some women, it's clearly very useful and helpful.

For many women - I was in this category - breastfeeding has always been easy, pain free and totally problem free. I still have an unopened tube of that nipple cream everyone says everyone needs because I have never had any issues.

I'm not saying this to make anyone feel bad for needing support - it's a great idea to research it in advance - I would just hold off actually booking it till you know how it goes

@Mummymummy89 will take a look at that book! Surprisingly I’m not worried about it and have a back up plan and supplies in place for if it’s not for me but I like to be informed. I’m also not one who likes to be touched but I have gotten over it when it’s needed throughout pregnancy as I haven’t really had a choice in the matter I do however feel uncomfortable easily if they’re too professional and not at all friendly so may book in for a short general chat about everything to gauge a feel before baby is here as you make a very valid point about being touched by someone you’re not comfortable with!

@junbean this was my thinking! Don’t want to leave it to find one when I’m desperate and according to midwife only help available locally quickly other than her advice or hv is support group with lactation consultant’s, zoom calls 1-1 or a referral if tongue tie was picked up all of which don’t sound as useful as 1-1 in person with someone who specialises in it and I wouldn’t want to be waiting till next day/next week if it’s bleeding/ or severe latch issues etc or the 6 week wait she suggested I could wait for 1-1 referral as I don’t want baby unable to feed for any longer than necessary nor do I want to be in pain longer than needed! The difference being able to identify the issue during a feed and fix it makes all the difference rather than not having had it pointed out so not recognising what exactly is wrong and having no idea how to correct it even if you did!

Yes, I needed the help of a lactation consultant. My son was taken back into hospital at one day old and I had to pump and bottle feed so that his intake could be monitored. I needed help to get him back onto the breast which I got. I then breast fed with no problems for 12 months. Breast fed number 2 as well! For some women and babies breast feeding comes naturally, for others they need help.

@witmum missed your comment originally but I do agree fed is best! And have prepared myself mentally and physically with the supplies to formula feed if it isn’t for me but I can very easily see myself falling into those thoughts hence mentioning it especially in the nights where I’m alone with dd if we’re struggling as I don’t want to resort to bottle too easily but equally I’m not going to allow her to go unfed unnecessarily or me to break myself mentally over it. I can’t even quite put my finger on the pull I have to breastfeed, never been something I felt particularly strongly about and still don’t think it’s the right or wrong way to feed