5 Ways to Find a Lactation Consultant

Estimated read time: 7 minutes

Feeding your new baby can be a magical and beautiful experience.

While breastfeeding is natural, it is not necessarily easy.

The truth is mamas and babies both need to learn how to breastfeed. An in-home lactation visit is often the difference between giving up and having a successful breastfeeding relationship. 

Lactation consultants are something you should consider early and often. The first two weeks of your breastfeeding journey are critical. Problems with a latch, transfer, or milk issues can develop and blossom in the first few weeks. These breastfeeding struggles can make it difficult to get the reassurance needed on how much your baby is taking in.

During this time, you are measuring signals and output from your baby, all while settling into new motherhood – it can be overwhelming. It’s hard to know if your baby is getting enough if you’re making enough and if any of what you’re experiencing is normal.

For many new moms, breastfeeding is a really unnatural-natural process that takes a lot of trial and error, coaching, and encouragement. Having a lactation consultant at the ready, before issues arise, is critical in an ongoing breastfeeding journey.

But how do you find a lactation consultant? 

We've put together 5 ways to find a lactation consultant to help you during your breastfeeding journey. 

#1 Search on BeHerVillage

BeHerVillage is a gift registry where you can find and fund the support services you want for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. You can use the Registry Guide on BeHerVillage to find a Lactation Consultant in your area.

This is a super helpful resource.

#2 Connect with La Leche League 

La Leche League is a nonprofit that offers breastfeeding support to anyone who wants to breastfeed. You can access a breastfeeding community and find local breastfeeding support. 

They encourage, inform, educate, support, and promote the use of human milk and the intimate relationship and development that comes from nursing a child for as long as mutually desired.

#3 Ask your midwife/OB doctor

While this all feels like uncharted territory, the midwife or OB in your life is a fantastic resource for getting you the breastfeeding support you are looking for. Reach out and ask to get connected to a lactation consultant.

#4 Ask a doula

Doulas tend to be well-connected with other businesses dedicated to helping new moms and babies. It’s likely that the doula you trust has a few colleagues she can recommend based on what your needs are.

#5 Ask other parents who have achieved their goal

Behind many successful breastfeeding stories are lactation consultants who helped make it possible. Those who have had positive experiences with lactation consultants are always happy to share resources of any kind with moms who have breastfeeding goals.

How do you choose the right lactation consultant for you?  

It is important that you get the help you need and deserve. Finding the right lactation consultant may take some time, so we recommend that you get in touch with lactation professionals prior to your baby's arrival. That way you can meet with them and discuss your goals before you need the help immediately.

The right one for YOU 

It’s ideal to speak to at least a couple of lactation consultants before deciding on who to hire. First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure that you feel comfortable around the person. Chances are when you do end up calling them for assistance, they’ll be visiting you at home, fresh off your birth, where you’ll be half-naked and slightly sleep-deprived.

If you’re comfortable with the lactation consultant beforehand, you’ll be more open to the guidance and tools they have to offer. It’s also okay if you don’t exactly vibe with some of the lactation consultants you meet! The important thing is that you find one that fits your personality, and is open to your goals.

The right fit for your goals

It’s not every mom’s goal to exclusively breastfeed for two or more years. Some moms want to nurse and pump, some moms want to nurse and use formula, and some moms want to nurse for the first couple of months and switch to formula.

When deciding on which lactation consultant to hire, consider what your true goals are surrounding breastfeeding. (It’s okay if you don’t know these yet OR if you change your mind). You’ll want to make sure that you hire someone who can respect and help you meet your goals when it comes to nursing.

The right price

Like many service providers, lactation consultants set their own prices. And since many insurance providers don’t cover the cost of a lactation consultant, price point is definitely something to consider when shopping.

The positive side to finding a lactation consultant and putting one on your BeHerVillage registry, is that you can ask your family and friends to contribute to the cost. This way you’ll be able to choose based on the factors that are most important to you, rather than settling for a less favorable choice due to the price tag.

The right skills

Lactation consultants are trained differently across the country, and by various methods, so it’s important that when you’re interviewing them you’re checking to see if they have the right skills specific to your needs.

Some lactation consultants are able to diagnose tongue ties, some can offer advice on best practices for moms to increase milk supply, as well as knowing the best breast pumps, and tricks to get baby to latch. The potential skills lactation consultants have that benefit mom and baby are endless.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their skill sets and any potential roadblocks you’re worried you might encounter.

A lactation consultant can make all the difference

Hiring a lactation consultant is often the difference for moms between a fruitful breastfeeding journey and one that gets cut short. Having a person on your side who is dedicated to helping you feed your baby is invaluable.

Choosing the right lactation consultant might feel daunting, but with some consideration and asking the right questions, you’ll be able to find someone just as dedicated as you are to help you meet your breastfeeding goals.

With the BeHerVillage registry, you’ll be able to easily browse through the lactation consultants in your area, and ask your family and friends to contribute to the cost. Instead of asking your family and friends to pay for other baby items, consider asking them to contribute to a truly meaningful gift: a well-fed baby, and a nursing mom with peace of mind.

 

Guest Post, About the Author: 

 

 

At Titty City Design, we believe that every boobie is beautiful, and that should be celebrated. We are a female-owned and operated, small business here to spread self-love and body positivity with our line of boob apparel, boob accessories, and boob-themed decor and products for the home. A portion of our proceeds goes to help support postpartum people and breast cancer patients.

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