7 Things I Learned from My Lactation Consultant
Becoming a parent comes with a steep learning curve, and breastfeeding was one of the areas where a little professional guidance made a huge difference. Working with a lactation consultant transformed anxious, sore, and uncertain feeds into calmer, more confident moments. Sometimes, when I needed a short break between feeds, I’d turn to something light-hearted like awesome children’s movies from the 80s. Below are seven practical lessons I took away from those sessions — lessons that helped me and can help other parents too.
- Trust the latch, not just the nipple
- A correct latch is the foundation of comfortable breastfeeding and effective milk transfer. The consultant taught me to watch for a wide-open mouth, the baby’s lower lip flanged out, and more areola visible above the top lip than below the bottom lip. If feeds are painful or the baby seems frustrated, unlatching and trying again with a subtle repositioning can make all the difference.
- Learn to read feeding cues early
- Watching for early cues — lip smacking, rooting, hand-to-mouth movements, and turning the head — means you can offer the breast before your baby starts crying. Early offering reduces frantic feeding and helps maintain a positive association with the breast.
- Positioning matters as much as latch
- There isn’t a single “right” position. Whether it’s cradle hold, football hold, side-lying, or laid-back nursing, comfort for both you and the baby is crucial. Small adjustments like bringing the baby’s nose in line with your nipple or supporting your arm with a pillow often resolved issues I had thought were latch-related but were really position-related.
- Supply responds to demand — but rest helps it too
- Frequent, effective milk removal signals the body to make more. However, the consultant emphasized that stress and exhaustion blunt supply signals; regular rest, hydration, and responsive feeding rhythms were part of supporting production, not just pumping more.
- Pumping is a tool, not a replacement
- Pumping can be lifesaving — for returning to work, building a freezer stash, or handling engorgement — but it isn’t a perfect mimic of baby feeding. I learned that combining skin-to-skin time, direct feeding, and targeted pumping sessions achieved the best results when supply needed a boost.
- Know when pain is normal and when it isn’t
- A bit of initial tenderness can be expected as breastfeeding establishes, but sharp, persistent pain usually indicates a problem such as a poor latch, thrush, or mastitis. The consultant taught me to track pain patterns, inspect nipples for signs of infection, and seek help early rather than waiting for things to worsen.
- Accept help and protect your mental health
- Asking for help isn’t a failure. The consultant encouraged practical support (help with chores, meals, or a hands-on partner during feeds) and emotional support (validation, guidance, and encouragement). I also found strategies from other parenting resources useful when juggling feeding with toddler challenges; for example, reading practical tips about picky eating helped me handle feeding dynamics at home alongside breastfeeding strategies like balancing snack temptations with mealtime structure described in my 2-year-old won’t eat anything but snacks.
Beyond the checklist
A lactation consultant’s advice wasn’t just technical — it was reassuring. They normalized setbacks, helped me build confidence with small wins, and equipped me with problem-solving skills that applied beyond nursing. Whether it was a quick reposition to fix a stubborn latch or a plan to manage a temporary drop in supply, the guidance made feeding feel manageable rather than mysterious.
Conclusion
For families looking for programmatic support and benefits, consider reviewing Texas WIC enrollment details to learn about nutrition assistance and breastfeeding support in Texas. If you want clinical breastfeeding help or to find local lactation consultants and classes, you might explore Sanford Health’s breastfeeding support services.
