Lactation/Breastfeeding Support

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Common reasons to seek Lactation Support:

• Low Milk Production
• Overproduction of Milk
• Engorgement
• Painful and/or difficult latch
• Sore, cracked or bleeding nipples
• Tongue tie, Lip tie, or other Anatomical Issue
• A baby who is "nursing all the time" and never seems satisfied
• Food Allergies or Sensitivities for mom or baby
• Sleep Issues Related to Feeding
• Pumping Help
• Jaundice
• Medical Issues for Mom or Baby
• Previous Breastfeeding Issues
• Assistance returning to work
• Slow Infant Weight Gain
• Prematurity or late preterm infant
• Baby Transitioning from NICU to Home
• Twins/Multiples
• Re-Lactation
• Baby Fussy or Frustrated at breast
• Reflux
• Supplementation
• Mastitis or Thrush
• Previous Breast Surgeries
• Breastfeeding an Adopted Baby
• Nursing an Older Baby
• Tandem Nursing
• Introducing Solid Food
• Weaning or any unresolved feeding issues or concerns
• Receiving confusing advice regarding breastfeeding
• Feeling unsure and needing extra support and guidance

** If there is an issue that I may not be able to help you with, I will refer you to another Health Professional that will be able to help you, or who will assist me in helping you. Sometimes the best solutions require more than one professional - two heads are better than one!

• Prenatal Consultation
• Private Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes
• Prenatal Q&A
• Postpartum Consultation
• Virtual Lactation Consultation
• In-Home Lactation Consultation
• Follow Up Lactation Appointments
• Lactation Q&A
• Tongue/Lip Function Evaluation
• Infant Toddler Feeding/Swallowing Assessment
• Post Frenotomy Care Training
• Safe Non-Toxic Baby Consultation
• Baby's First Foods
• Back to Work Consultation
• Older Baby Lactation Consultation (6+ mos)
• Weight/Intake Checks

SUCK TRAINING/ORAL MOTOR TRAINING SESSIONS FOR INFANTS

As a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and Certified Lactation Consultant, I am usually not the first stop on a family's breastfeeding journey. By the time a client finally finds me, they are usually frustrated and ready to give up. I am usually the “last stop” after many dead ends and false reassurances. 

Most of the time, the families who are finally referred to me have already been dismissed by their Pediatrician who has told them “everything is fine” without even performing an intra-oral functional exam. Many families have seen several other Lactation Consultants who have also completely missed the underlying issue. 

Lactation Consultants are skilled in basic lactation education and support, however most do NOT receive the additional intensive training required to properly identify significant oral dysfunction. Pediatricians (like most general medical practitioners) certainly do NOT receive specialized oral motor/function training, except for rarely some Pediatric Dentists or Pediatric Otolaryngologists who choose to specialize in Oral Restrictions. 

Supporting families on their lactation journey is my passion. Identifying oral restrictions and remediating infant feeding dysfunction is critical in the prevention of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD).

CONSEQUENCES OF UNTREATED TONGUE TIE:   

(Taken from; Tongue Tie – from Confusion to Clarity by Carmen Fernando)

For Infants:

• Impact upon milk supply
• Termination of breastfeeding
• The baby failing to thrive
• Poor bonding between baby and mother
• Sleep deprivation
• Problems with introducing solids

Maternal Experience:

• Pain
• Nipple damage, bleeding, blanching, or distortion of the nipples
• Mastitis, nipple thrush or blocked ducts
• Severe pain with latch or loosing latch
• Sleep deprivation from baby being unsettled
• Depression or a sense of failure

For Children:

• Inability to chew age appropriate solid foods
• Gagging, choking or vomiting foods
• Persistent food fads
• Difficulties related to dental hygiene
• Delayed development of speech
• Dental problems starting to appear
• Strong incorrect habits of compensation being acquired

For Adults:

• Inability to speak clearly
• Clicky jaws
• Pain in jaws
• Migraines
• Receding jaw
• Effects on social situations, eating out, kissing, relationships
• Dental health, a tendency to have inflamed gums, increased need for fillings and extractions
• Difficulty keeping dentures in place

⚠️If the ties continue to remain untreated, children may have difficulty with speech since the tongue and lips cannot form the proper positions to create certain sounds. Sounds like K, G, NG, SH, CH, TH, T, D, N, L, R, S and Z will most likely be affected.

⚠️And lastly, in children and adults, some common problems include TMJ disorders, frequent headaches, migraines, braces, palate expansion, chronic dental issues, and chronic neck pain. 

For more information, click here or visit www.lactationspot.com