{"id":20577,"date":"2021-12-02T14:29:05","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T13:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=20577"},"modified":"2022-01-03T09:15:43","modified_gmt":"2022-01-03T08:15:43","slug":"life-of-a-lactation-consultant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/life-of-a-lactation-consultant\/","title":{"rendered":"Life of a Lactation Consultant"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people who haven\u2019t nursed a baby think it\u2019s as straightforward as sticking your offspring on your chest and letting nature do its thing. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, that\u2019s not the case for many new parents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not uncommon for people to face difficulties when starting to nurse, or even later down the road.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New parents and babies face <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/baby\/tongue-tie\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tongue ties<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, infections like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/motherhood-and-mastitis-ouch\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mastitis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, pain and discomfort, low milk supply, and all sorts of other issues that get in the way of them feeding their babies in the way they\u2019d like to.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What is a Lactation Consultant?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A lactation consultant, simply put, is someone who supports people with lactation, aka feeding their baby.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>How Lactation Consultants Help<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A lot of times by the time people reach out to a lactation consultant, they\u2019re feeling desperate. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not uncommon to feel shame, frustration, pain, and doubt around nursing.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lactation consultants help parents feed their children in a way that\u2019s comfortable and sustainable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are some of the biggest issues that lactation consultants help with:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Position:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your body has changed after giving birth. You might have discomfort from a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/post-birth-care-cesarean-section\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">C-section<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> scar, your breasts are most likely a lot bigger than you\u2019re used to, and you have the aches and pains of a body returning to its non-pregnant state. <\/span>This can make nursing uncomfortable, or you might not know how to line your baby up to your chest in a way that works for both of you and helps with milk flow.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Milk Supply: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just because you\u2019ve carried a baby, doesn\u2019t mean your milk will keep flowing like a fountain. It\u2019s not uncommon to experience wanes in supply, or even no supply. <\/span>Lactation consultants may use herbs, chest massage, warm compresses, and other tools to help increase and regulate your milk supply.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tongue and lip ties: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes babies are born with what\u2019s called a tongue or lip tie. Essentially there are bits of tissue that restrict movement of the mouth\/and or tongue. Even minor ones can impact a baby\u2019s ability to nurse and get enough milk. <\/span>Lactation consultants can help to diagnose a tongue or lip tie, refer you to a specialist who can fix it, and then help with aftercare to get you and your baby back on track.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pain Management: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people experience pain and discomfort when nursing. This could be because of infections, clogged milk ducts, positioning, or any other number of issues that your lactation consultant can help you get to the bottom of.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Infant Nutrition:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 The baby\u2019s nutrition, health, and weight are common concerns for many parents. Healthcare providers may add to this anxiety, without giving proper tools as to how to fix it. That\u2019s where lactation consultants can help.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pumping: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding the right pump, getting on a pumping schedule, and being able to pump comfortably are all important parts of many people feeding their babies. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Undergoing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/breast-implants-and-lactation\/\">breast augmentation<\/a>, aka a boob job, doesn\u2019t mean you won\u2019t be able to nurse. While this isn\u2019t the most common thing lactation consultants help with, it\u2019s within their scope of practice. Lactation consultants aren\u2019t just for first-time parents. People can benefit from lactation support no matter how many babies they\u2019ve had. These specialists can also help parents who are concerned about how to navigate lactation with being in the workplace. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not just the birthing person (gestational parent) who is capable of nursing their baby. Non-gestational parents, aka a parent who didn\u2019t carry the baby, may be able to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">induce lactation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so that they can chest feed their baby.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is another thing that lactation consultants can help new parents with. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You see just how helpful and necessary a lactation consultant can be for parents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>How Do You Become a Lactation Consultant?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A certified lactation consultant goes through in-depth training before becoming licensed.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before becoming licensed, they must undergo 90 hours of training, 300 to 1,000 hours of clinical experience, and other related health sciences coursework. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This process is regulated and overseen by the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Licensed lactation consultants are also required to continue coursework and recertify every five years. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find more information about certification programs through the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/iblce.org\/step-1-prepare-for-ibclc-certification\/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IBLCE website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>How Do You Find a Lactation Consultant?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you give birth in a hospital, a lactation consultant is often brought into your room before you\u2019re discharged. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This doesn\u2019t always happen, however, and oftentimes problems come up after you\u2019ve gone home. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find a licensed lactation consultant in your area by looking on the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IBCLC directory<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or through the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">La Leche League website<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 another organization dedicated to supporting people who are lactating. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can ask your healthcare provider, midwife, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/whats-the-deal-with-doulas\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">doula<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a recommendation as well. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most lactation consultants will make home visits, and many are available for virtual support as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Your Body, Your Baby, Your Choice<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intimina is here for inclusivity and discussing all different parts of the human experience. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people choose not to nurse or to supplement nursing with formula or donor milk. However, you choose to feed your baby is up to you. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The decision of how to feed your baby should come from a place of informed choice and understanding what your options are. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember, your body, your baby, your choice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many people who haven\u2019t nursed a baby think it\u2019s as straightforward as sticking your offspring on your chest and letting nature do its thing. Unfortunately, that\u2019s not the case for&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":20579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.12 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why is Lactation Consultant and How They Can Help You<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The decision of how to feed your baby should come from a place of informed choice and understanding what your options are.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/life-of-a-lactation-consultant\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Natasha Weiss\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/life-of-a-lactation-consultant\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/life-of-a-lactation-consultant\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Natasha Weiss\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b6c60ecf47ec06a36c4b2f175253c5ff\"},\"headline\":\"Life of a Lactation Consultant\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-12-02T13:29:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-01-03T08:15:43+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/life-of-a-lactation-consultant\/\"},\"wordCount\":899,\"commentCount\":1,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Women's Health\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/life-of-a-lactation-consultant\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/life-of-a-lactation-consultant\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/life-of-a-lactation-consultant\/\",\"name\":\"Why is Lactation Consultant and How They Can Help You\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-12-02T13:29:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-01-03T08:15:43+00:00\",\"description\":\"The decision of how to feed your baby should come from a place of informed choice and understanding what your options are.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/life-of-a-lactation-consultant\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"description\":\"A Health and Wellness Resource for Women\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":543,\"caption\":\"Intimina\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCR_3_GPO6pkhDiFU9TZRdYA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b6c60ecf47ec06a36c4b2f175253c5ff\",\"name\":\"Natasha Weiss\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b65d7a92be626bc22ff8eb7ad41dbf0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b65d7a92be626bc22ff8eb7ad41dbf0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Natasha Weiss\"},\"description\":\"Natasha (she\/her) is a full-spectrum doula and health+wellness copywriter. 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