When it comes to breastfeeding, working moms face a few challenges. One of the biggest challenges is finding an experienced, knowledgeable, and board-certified lactation consultant to help you through the process. If you are considering hiring a lactation consultant, here are some things to think about before making that decision.
What is a Lactation Consultant?
A lactation consultant is a professional who helps mothers with breastfeeding and parenting skills. They provide assistance to moms during feedings, pumping sessions, and checking the health of their milk supply.
Additionally, a board-certified lactation consultant assists mothers to establish breastfeeding techniques, such as positioning the infant correctly to latch on to the breast and matching the baby’s suckling pattern. They also advise and counsel new or struggling moms on how to get their babies to latch on properly, what foods and beverages are safe for them while breastfeeding, and offer education about postpartum depression.
Lactation consultants are available by phone or in-person and can be found through many different avenues, such as hospitals, clinics, or private practices.
Why You Should Hire A Lactation Consultant
1. Hiring a lactation consultant could save you time
If you are struggling to find the time to pump and store breast milk, hiring a lactation consultant is worth every penny. Because of their experience, lactation consultants will be able to help you make the best use of your time by offering strategies for how to effectively pump and store breast milk.
2. Hiring a lactation consultant can provide more benefits than simply breastfeeding
As a working mom, you might find that your schedule gets in the way of breastfeeding frequently enough to warrant the use of a breast pump. If this is the case, hiring an experienced lactation consultant may be important in order for you to continue breastfeeding despite your busy schedule.
3. Hiring a lactation consultant means that you can get advice on feeding your baby
The advice that professional lactation consultants have is invaluable. They know what things work well for other babies and can help determine what will work best for yours as well. You’ll be able to get expert advice without having to go through hours of trial-and-error yourself or spend hundreds of dollars on new bottles or food formulas when all you want is one expert opinion.
4. The cost of hiring a professional lactation consultant is worth it
Hiring a lactation consultant can actually save you money in the long run because they will help provide guidance about how to feed your baby and make sure that everything goes smoothly with breastfeeding and pumping during those first few weeks after birth.
Conclusion
When choosing a lactation consultant, working moms should consider their needs and their budget. If you are considering hiring a lactation consultant, you should consider the pros and cons of each candidate.
It is important to find someone that has knowledge in both breastfeeding and pumping. You might want to speak with other parents who have used this person for advice before making your decision. Choose someone you can trust to help guide you through the challenging process of breastfeeding.