Why A Lactation Consultant
Maybe you did take the breastfeeding class or maybe you didn't. You read some of the recommended books and checked with your friends, but now that your baby is here, you are feeling somewhat overwhelmed, or uncomfortable. You may feel unsure of whether things are going well or not. It is only in the last 75 years that our culture has shifted dramatically to a bottle feeding culture. Many new mothers are bombarded with free formula samples, gifts, and promotional formula advertising. Many have had little or no exposure to breastfeeding prior to the birth of their own babies. There are helpful lactation consultants in many hospitals and birthing centers for the first 48 hours, but often as the mother and baby arrive home, and medications have worn off and fatigue and hunger set in, questions and concerns can arise.
Lactation consultants are members of the allied medical team and are board certified by the International Lactation Conssultant Board of Examiners. Ann Conlon-Smith, IBCLC, RLC has been board certified for ten years and has been helping mothers and babies breastfeed for 20 years. She is constantly kept up to date with the newest information on breastfeeding and has accrued over 5000 hours of breastfeeding counseling. As a Private Practice Lactation Consultant, Ann will see you in the comfort of your own home. A full history is taken of mother and baby, a special scale is used to determine exact intake, helpful recommendations are made, and a comprehensive report is sent to the health care provider as well as to the family.