With only 50% of babies being breastfed within the first hour of birth, and 55% being breastfed in the first 6 months, the need of the hour is having experts- lactation consultants who can encourage more women to actively breastfeed, and increase the chances of more babies receiving adequate nutrition in the first crucial months of their life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lactation is considered to be one of the most important phenomena in a mother and baby’s life. The topic is a matter of many research studies, and rightly so, since the practice has many benefits including providing lasting immunity, helping babies sleep better and even providing long term mental and physical health benefits.

The practice of meeting with a lactation consultant is not widely followed in India apart from large hospitals and medical centers. Here, we give you a list of advantages a lactation consultant brings to a maternity home or hospital.

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The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) provide a comprehensive definition of lactation consultants and their main roles in a hospital setting,

A lactation consultant is a health care professional whose scope of practice is focused upon providing education and management to prevent and solve breastfeeding problems and to encourage a social environment that effectively supports the breastfeeding mother/infant dyad.

The IBLCE also highlights the fact that considering the many health issues including postpartum depression, pain, and anxiety that women face after childbirth, lactation consultants can provide much more than lactation counseling if they are considered to be an important part of the maternal healthcare chain.

Pre-lactation consulting

Most good doctors in India are overwhelmed with patients and tend not to have time for answering detailed queries on breastfeeding. A lactation consultant can help in solving queries related to breastfeeding. Lactation consultants conduct a few pre-birth checks with the patients such as conducting physical examination of the breasts, nipples, and solving any last-minute queries the mother might have before she is due to give birth.

Making an early start

Many family members sometimes insist on providing formula to the child immediately after birth, especially if there are latching problems at the beginning. On the other hand, sound medical advice dictates that the child should begin breastfeeding around an hour after birth.

Problems in feeding, latching, or suckling

Newborns need to nurse 8-12 times per 24 hours to receive enough breastmilk and to properly stimulate breasts to make enough milk. If baby consistently falls asleep at the breast or if swallowing is not heard, milk transfer may be inadequate. It is especially important for establishing future milk supply that the milk be effectively removed from the breast during the first few days. Either the baby must be effectively breastfeeding, or colostrum should be removed by frequent hand expression. Such practices and tips can only be provided by lactation consultants.

Ensuring exclusive feeding until six months

A survey of Indian mothers done in 2016 noted that nearly 45% of mothers were asked to feed other foodstuffs to the child earlier than six months, which makes the child much more prone to infections and digestive problems.

Addressing queries related to the baby’s health

Many babies face issues with digestion in the early stages of their life and are hence unable to breastfeed and gain the adequate amount of weight in the first year of their growth, a critical time for a baby in his/her overall development. Lactation consultants are trained to anticipate and address health problems among the baby and suggest possible ways to feed the child adequately while they are being treated for an illness and can therefore be very helpful in terms of addressing the many queries women might have during emergencies.

Addressing postural problems and issues for the mother

Many women need to be adequately guided and counseled about a proper posture for lactating and also helping the baby latch properly. Improper latching can cause pain during nursing, painful lumps in the breasts, infections, and other complications. Many-a-times, a purely medical solution is not advisable for these problems.

The IBCLC also states that the fragile mental state of the mother can cause anxiety among newer mothers, sometimes causing them to be unnaturally anxious about breastfeeding. Lactation consultants can be of immense help during such times.

Scientifically proven to extend breastfeeding durations

In the United States alone, ten major causes of illnesses among infants lead to economic losses worth $13.6 billion and nearly 900 infant deaths, while maternal health is also negatively affected when lactation guidelines are not met, although there is no quantifiable data linking them to discontinuation of breastfeeding.

Recommendations for doctors

Lactation consultants can be valuable allies in keeping the newborn and mother healthy. Following basic sanitary and hygiene practices and continuing breastfeeding during the early months of life drastically reduces chances of infections and illnesses among babies. Moreover, it also can reduce the workload on doctors when they have a trained consultant to deal with one of the major responsibilities of motherhood, leaving them free to tackle other cases.

This economizes the physicians’ time as well as provides mothers a necessary go-to resource to get their breastfeeding queries resolved. Especially in India, when many myths on complementary feeding persist despite awareness campaigns and studies, it is necessary to have certified professionals at hand to deal with this important phase of motherhood.