One of the biggest misconceptions about breastfeeding is that the hospital lactation consultant is going to "teach you how to breastfeed" before you go home.
I want families to understand this with love and honesty: most hospital lactation consultants simply do not have the time...not because they don't care, not because they aren't skilled, but because the hospital system is stretched thin.
One lactation consultant may responsible for:
-all the postpartum rooms -pumps and paperwork
-NICU -babies with medical complications
-discharges -charting and insurance requirements
So, you're 24 hours postpartum, tired, learning about a new human and someone pops in for a few minutes while your baby is asleep.
Breastfeeding isn't a one-time lesson, it's a beautiful dance that the two of you learn over several days and weeks.
Too often, the staff is reactive and suggest interventions that actually disrupt successful breastfeeding.
Then you go home, overwhelmed with all the advice and suggestions. Since your milk production really ramps up between 3-5 days postpartum, your challenges begin:
-milk coming in -engorgement
-cluster feeding -nipple pain
-oversupply -low supply worries
-weight gain concerns -sleep deprivation
This is why lactation training and postpartum support matters.
-Please take evidence-based prenatal education
-Have lactation support lined up before delivery
-Don't wait until you're miserable before asking for help
-One good postpartum visit can improve your breastfeeding journey
And if breastfeeding felt harder than expected after leaving the hospital, you did not fail a class everyone else passed, you were discharged from a major event while learning a very very important skill.
I'm here to help!
-Paulette
Do you want to set up a session?