Expert breastfeeding support in Chelmsford & Essex

Perhaps you’ve been told your nipples just need to ‘toughen up’ or that ‘given time, it will get better’.

You could understandably expect breastfeeding to be comfortable, so having sore or damaged nipples is a clear sign that things could be better.

A lactation consultant can support treatment of the symptoms of your pain while also uncovering the root cause. Pain is the most common reason for breastfeeding mothers and parents to stop their journey earlier than they envisaged.

Book a call today to see how a skilled lactation consultant can help you meet your goals.

I’ve encountered many, many non-latching babies.

Some have needed lots of warmth and encouragement to attach and many have blissfully fed in my company for the first time within minutes of my starting work.

It can take patience, calm and understanding to support these dyads. It’s a huge part of why I don’t offer timed consultations, we really are on ‘baby time’. Let’s explore what natural behaviours enhance a baby’s instincts and how your own comfort is as important as theirs.

After pain, this is high up the list for why families stop their breastfeeding journeys early.

Sometimes, a parent will know categorically that their milk supply hasn’t yet satisfied their baby’s appetite. However, sometimes milk supply is adequate and other causes of fussy baby behaviour, a plateau of weight gain or breast changes are defining their situation.

A lactation consultant takes a holistic viewpoint, looking beyond the millilitres to identify the challenges you are facing. There’s almost always a breastfeeding answer to a breastfeeding problem.

When it comes to parenting, everyone seems to have an opinion they’re willing to share. But in the world of breastfeeding support, conflicting information and advice can de-rail a breastfeeding experience, fast.

I believe listening to families is critical in travelling with them towards their goals.

I listen to you. I hear what you’ve been told, advised, suggested, shown, or instructed. We talk it all through and see how you feel about it.

Lactation consultants offer relevant, evidence-based information on topics which are important to you. It’s in working this way, we can make a plan together for how you’d like to breastfeed in future.

Families in this situation need timely expert support, which is consistent, evidence based and robustly implemented while entirely respecting their situation. A lactation consultant will investigate three main areas:

• The available milk supply
• Optimising positioning and attachment
• Assessing how the baby is digesting the milk they are drinking

Each area must be thoroughly explored to pinpoint the possible cause or causes. This takes time and shouldn’t be rushed. Longer term lactation consultant support can be required for babies in this situation, therefore it’s one common problem which sometimes necessitates a follow-up visit.

I often meet babies who have been diagnosed with colic, or periods of crying with no apparent cause.

I believe crying is a communication between a baby and their mother or parent and it’s worth listening to with some urgency.

We can work together to identify what the cause might be, from attachment and feeding frequency to allergies and trapped wind. Let’s see how we can find answers together for your baby’s discomfort.