Peaceful Perinatal can help with:
Preparing for a new baby
Pain while feeding or pumping
Concerns with milk supply or weight gain
Improving positioning and latch
Induced lactation or relactation
Pumping and flange fitting
Returning to work after family leave
Introducing bottles to your baby
Nursing strikes and feeding refusals
Making a birth and postpartum plan
Sleep concerns while breast/chestfeeding
Taking care of your mental health
What does a lactation counseling appointment include?
The short answer? It depends! Every visit will be tailored to your and your family's unique situation and goals. Appointments are usually between 1.5 and 2 hours.
Here are some common topics:
Prenatal
Before your baby is born, we can work together to:
Set goals for breast/chestfeeding
Practice communicating your goals with partners, family, friends, and care providers
Talk about why human milk is optimal for babies
Make sure your birth plan supports lactation
Review what to expect during your baby's first week
Learn about breast/chest anatomy and the changes you may experience during and after pregnancy
Postnatal
After your baby is born, we can work together to:
Set goals for breast/chestfeeding
Practice communicating your goals with partners, family, friends, and care providers
Assess your milk supply and your baby's weight gain
Find breast/chestfeeding positions that are comfortable for you and your baby
Find the root cause of any pain, discomfort, or frustration due to breast/chestfeeding
Create a pumping schedule and find the correct size flanges for your body
Trauma-informed care is an important part of our work. To learn more about consent during lactation counseling sessions, please click here.
What can I expect during my lactation counseling appointment?
Every parent-baby pair is different, and so is every lactation counseling session. However, there are a few things you can expect from every appointment with me.
Before
Before our session together, I will:
Ask you to complete either the New Client Intake Forms or Returning Client Forms and send them to me over a HIPAA-compliant server
Confirm your payment preferences
Review your forms and contact you if I need additional information before the visit
During
Whether you are a new or returning client, I will always pay close attention to your needs and do my best to support you.
The specifics are up to you! Depending on your lactation concern(s) or question(s), we might:
Set short-term and long-term goals together
Learn about anatomy and physiology of infant feeding
Talk about and/or practice different feeding positions
Talk about and/or practice bottlefeeding or pumping
Look for physical issues that may be causing pain
Practice conversations you might have with your loved ones
Create an infant feeding plan that works for your family
After
After our session, I will:
Send you a summary of our visit and next steps
Be available to you for email communication and limited check-ins for 7 days**
(if appropriate) Refer you to other care providers who can help with your baby’s specific needs (for example, physical or occupational therapist, ear nose and throat doctor, pediatrician) or who can help to support you (mental health, OB/GYN, etc.)
(for postpartum clients) Check in with you to see how things are going approximately 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days after your appointment
I might also offer you worksheets, informational sheets, journaling prompts, or other resources to use after our session together. You do not need to use them, but they are there for you if you’d like.
Please note that many problems with lactation and breast/chestfeeding are not solved in a single visit. If one or more follow-up visits are needed, we can work together to create a timeline and payment plan that works best for your family.
**Postnatal lactation packages include 7 days of email communication and 3 free phone or video check-ins (up to 30 minutes) within 7 days of our appointment together. If support is needed after 7 days, please contact me to set up a follow-up appointment.