Lactation and Breastfeeding Help for Moms

Lactation

services

Breastfeeding can be a wonderful, mutually beneficial relationship for both mother and baby. For many women, this experience can be stressful due to common road blocks….we’ve seen these issues before! Read more about our lactation and breastfeeding help for moms.

Even experienced moms have questions about pumping, returning to work, breastfeeding schedules, and how to involve partners or uninformed family members.

We are proud to offer home, virtual, and office visits through Willa Lactation + Nutrition! Owner, Erica Rhorer, is a Registered Dietitian and Lactation Specialist, giving her a unique perspective on human nutrition for adults/mamas AND infants!

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Low Milk Production

Milk production can be affected by a variety of factors, including premature birth, maternal nutrition, poor latch, or tongue tie. Milk production is a “positive feedback cycle.” This means the more your baby nurses or is at the breast, the more milk mama will make! Understanding this process and your baby’s cues can be confusing, that’s why we’re here.

Tongue Tie

Around 4% of babies have a condition called a tongue tie where the connective tissue under the tongue either is too short or extends too far forward. This limits the range of motion of the tongue and prevents the necessary wavelike motions for effective sucking. In some cases, the issue resolves during the first six weeks as baby develops. However, with some infants, an uncorrected case can lead to issues with feeding, swallowing, and even speech.

Lip Tie

A lip tie is a congential condition that occurs when there is an increase in the connective tissue between the lip and the front teeth. Although common, lip ties can cause difficulties with speech and breastfeeding. Our lactation consultants can readily diagnose and treat this condition.

Poor Latch

Did you know that a good latch means your baby’s nose is almost touching the breast, with lips flanged, and an adequate amount of breast tissue in his or her mouth? Several factors can lead to a poor latch, including poor positioning, nipple confusion, tongue or lip tie, inverted or flat nipples, and baby’s maturity. With proper instruction, our Lactation Consultants can correct poor latch. Our goal is that the breastfeeding relationship can continue as long as mother and baby desire.

Premature Birth

Reasons for premature birth can vary from preeclampsia (maternal high blood pressure), placenta previa, or infant distress, among other things. Baby’s early arrival can result in a delay in milk production, which some women decipher as an inability to breastfeed. In reality, all this means is that your milk hasn’t come in yet!

Mastitis

Mastitis is a condition of inflammation of the breast tissue, which may involve infection. The breast can be warm, swollen, red, and painful. Mastitis is often a disruption to the breastfeeding relationship. While this condition is common for women, it should not be left untreated due to the risk of infection and complications.

Painful Breastfeeding

For women breastfeeding for the first time, pain with feeding baby can be a confusing topic. Breastfeeding is an entirely new experience, and is not always comfortable. Women should seek breastfeeding support if they have pain, bleeding or cracked nipples, or are having trouble maintaining the breastfeeding relationship.

Overproduction

Hyperlactation is a condition in which a mother has an oversupply of milk. It may be tempting to consider this a “good thing”, however for moms who experience this, it can be a real issue. Baby may choke during the let down phase, become upset, and even refuse to nurse all together.

D-MER

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-Mer) is a physiological reflex which produces a temporary negative maternal response during breastfeeding. This can cause feelings of sadness, doom, or nausea. D-Mer is not considered postpartum depression.

Lack of Support

Family social dynamic can play a huge role in determining a woman’s ability to achieve a joyful, satisfying, breastfeeding relationship with her baby. An unsupportive partner or sabatoging family member adds a layer of stress for mama, but can be greatly improved with the right tools and education.

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inside the bluegrass birth collective
278 Southland Drive suite 150
lexington, KY 40503

Located behind the Healing Arts Academy on Southland Drive

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