Find an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) through Partum Health in Chicago, Illinois. IBCLCs are the highest level of trained and accredited professionals offering lactation and breastfeeding support.

It’s common to receive some breastfeeding education in the hospital after giving birth, but for many new parents, this is not sufficient to address all feeding challenges that can arise during the first weeks of life. In some cases, especially when infant weight gain is a concern, a pediatrician may also make a referral to a lactation consultant. With Partum Health, an IBCLC will come to your house in Chicago to provide an in-home assessment, support with practical advice, and diagnose problems associated with latching and positioning.

In a lactation consultation, you will receive education, guidance, and support to meet breastfeeding goals. A typical lactation consultation might include:

• Assessment: The lactation consultant will review your infant’s health history, your history of breastfeeding, and current feeding schedule. 
• Observation: The consultant will observe your breastfeeding to assess latch, suckling, swallowing, and breathing as the baby feeds.They will also examine your baby’s mouth for any structural issues that might affect breastfeeding, such as a lip tie or cleft palate.
• Hands-on support: Your IBCLC will suggest new positions, demonstrate proper latch, and give pointers and hands-on adjustments for more comfortable breastfeeding. 
• Problem-solving: The lactation consultant can help to address issues such as engorgement, nipple soreness or itching, maintaining milk supply, and increasing expression.
• Education: You’ll learn how to read hunger cues and signs that your baby is getting enough to eat, find the best breastfeeding position, and develop a feeding schedule that ensures infant weight gain.
• Progress monitoring: Follow up appointments can be scheduled as needed, often with the option for telehealth, to monitor progress toward your feeding goals. When indicated, lactation consultants can also provide referrals to other specialists, such as speech-language pathologists or lactation support groups.

A lactation consultant can help with the full range of challenges related to breastfeeding and lactation that occur in both mom and baby. The role of a certified lactation consultant is to support new parents in meeting their breastfeeding goals, whatever they may be, ensure that infants are well-nourished and mothers are emotionally supported.

Common challenges that a lactation consultant can help with include:

• Breast or bottle refusal
• Sore, cracked, and painful nipples
• Milk supply issues, including low milk supply and hyperlactation
• Breast inflammation, engorgement, and infection
• Baby reflux and thrush
• Painful latching

It’s important to note that the support of a lactation consultant is not limited to parents who are breastfeeding or chestfeeding. Lactation consultants can also help provide recommendations for pumping technology, ensure your pump flange is well-fitting to your breast and nipple, and check if your bottle fed baby is gaining weight.