By Jennifer White, RN, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant Lead at CHRISTUS Children’s
Breastfeeding has many benefits but can be challenging; that’s when a lactation consultant can help.
Navigating motherhood for the first time can feel overwhelming, with so many decisions to make, including whether to breastfeed your child. It has a lot of benefits, and it is natural to do so, but that doesn’t mean it is always easy.
August is National Breastfeeding Month, which is an opportunity to highlight and raise awareness of the benefits that breastfeeding can have for both moms and their babies.
Breastfeeding certainly is not the easiest thing moms do, but it’s worth the work, and my whole purpose is to find ways to make it easier for moms and their families as they embark on this journey.
Babies who breastfeed experience numerous health benefits. Breast milk can help babies develop their digestive tract and optimize their immune system. Breastmilk is nature’s perfect first food — uniquely designed to meet a newborn’s nutritional needs and support healthy growth and development in those crucial early months.
Breastfeeding doesn’t just benefit babies — it also supports a mother’s health by helping the body recover after childbirth, reducing the risk of certain cancers, strengthening the emotional bond between mother and child, and lowering the risk of postpartum depression.
There is a lot of information and misinformation out there about breastfeeding, which is why moms should look to their lactation experts for help.
It is important to set a goal, attend a prenatal class, and have a support system. Also, follow up with a lactation consultant to ensure there’s a clear path for moms to follow.
CHRISTUS Children’s is a Baby-Friendly facility, which means the hospital is recognized for implementing practices that support breastfeeding, mother-baby bonding, and informed infant feeding choices.
Lactation consultants with CHRISTUS Children’s are specifically trained in lactation and have hands-on training to better help moms navigate through this process for the first time or not.
The hospital follows evidence-based practices and is family-centered.
Our team of lactation consultants works with each mom and family to create a personalized consultation, offering a variety of resources and tools to help them navigate the journey.
We can provide support for a variety of challenges, from low milk supply to latching issues that concern the baby’s weight gain or oral motor function. We can also provide moms with ways to help address nipple pain, engorgement, and tongue and lip ties.
Our lactation consultants are here to help moms and their babies find comfortable feeding positions, improve latch techniques, or navigate special circumstances.
Once a mom has given birth at CHRISTUS Children’s, labor nurses will help moms begin breastfeeding. A baby’s readiness to feed happens within the first hour after delivery. This time helps to set the foundation for breastfeeding success.
It is important to note that lactation consultants are available even after moms go home. Moms may find breastfeeding in the hospital to be easier when they are solely focused on that.
But when they go home and start settling into their everyday life with a newborn, postpartum recovery, and everything else going on, breastfeeding can become a challenge.
We want all moms to know that they can always check back in with a lactation consultant and see one in an outpatient clinic to ensure they continue receiving support.
The team is dedicated to helping moms and babies succeed with personalized care and encouragement. Our goal is to make breastfeeding a fulfilling part of all our patients’ motherhood experiences.
To learn more about CHRISTUS Children’s, visit our website, CHRISTUSHealth.org.
