F.A.Q.'s
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Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding the Role of a Lactation Consultant
A lactation consultant is a healthcare professional who specializes in supporting families with newborn feeding. These experts are available to provide guidance throughout various stages, including during pregnancy, immediately after childbirth, and at any point during the feeding journey.
Qualifications and Certification
Lactation consultants undergo extensive education and training to ensure they are equipped to help families. To earn the credential of International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), they must successfully pass the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) exam. This rigorous process ensures that lactation consultants possess the comprehensive knowledge and skills required to address even the most complex newborn feeding challenges.
The Value of Midwives in Lactation Consulting
Comprehensive, Individualized Care
Midwives provide families with care that is uniquely tailored to their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs. This client-centered and empowering approach to maternity care is utilized worldwide and consistently yields the best maternal and infant outcomes.
Benefits of Specialized Training for Lactation Consultants Who Are Also Midwives
The specialized training that midwives receive provides significant advantages when they serve as lactation consultants. This expertise allows them to care holistically for both the parent and newborn, viewing them as an interconnected unit whose well-being is closely linked. Long-term health for parent and baby relies on proper care during this crucial time.
Newborns are entirely dependent on their parents for every need, making the early days and weeks especially challenging for families. In these moments, families may need more than routine or basic support—they deserve a provider who is equipped to address a broad spectrum of concerns. A midwife who is also a lactation consultant brings the ability to counsel on maternal, parental, and newborn health, provide guidance on feeding, and offer both basic and complex postpartum care. Additionally, their understanding of normal newborn behavior helps families navigate the unique challenges that arise during the initial months after birth.
Northshore aims to ensure families see the same lactation consultant throughout their visits for consistency and relationship building.
Most visits are scheduled for one hour.
Andrea’s Expertise and Experience
Andrea stands out in the community for her extensive experience as both a midwife and a lactation consultant. She has been practicing as a midwife since 2007, bringing years of firsthand knowledge in supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. In addition, Andrea became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2010, further enhancing her ability to guide families through the complexities of newborn feeding.
Throughout her career, Andrea has assisted thousands of families during the uniquely vulnerable time following a baby’s arrival. Her expertise covers all aspects of pregnancy, birth, postpartum care, newborn behavior, and feeding. Andrea’s approach helps families feed their babies in ways that best suit their individual needs, while also navigating the challenges that arise during the first few months of parenthood. To learn more about Andrea’s background and approach, visit her bio.
Consistent Support Through Northshore
Northshore emphasizes the importance of continuity by ensuring families see the same lactation consultant throughout their visits. This approach fosters consistency and relationship building, which are essential for effective support. Most visits are scheduled for one hour to provide ample time for personalized care.
Importance of Prenatal Lactation Consultations
We strongly recommend that all parents who have never cared for or fed their own newborn schedule a visit with a lactation consultant before the birth. Meeting with a consultant prior to delivery can provide essential guidance, helping families begin feeding with confidence and setting a positive foundation for their baby’s nutrition.
Our approach emphasizes the value of preventing feeding challenges before they arise, rather than solely addressing issues after they occur. By focusing on proactive education and support, we aim to empower families with the skills and knowledge they need for successful newborn feeding.
In fact, our community midwives often notice a clear difference in the confidence of parents who have attended a prenatal lactation consultation. These families typically demonstrate greater assurance and capability in feeding their newborns immediately following birth, reflecting the benefits of early preparation and support.
Understanding Pain During Newborn Feeding
Feeding your newborn should not be a painful experience. If you are experiencing discomfort or pain while feeding, it is important to address these concerns promptly. Our team is committed to identifying the underlying cause of any pain you may encounter, ensuring that feeding becomes a positive and enjoyable experience for both you and your baby.
Preparing for Your Lactation Visit
To ensure you get the most benefit from your appointment, we ask that you arrive with your baby ready to feed. By doing so, the lactation consultant can observe a feeding session and provide personalized guidance tailored to your family’s needs. This approach maximizes the effectiveness of your visit, allowing ample time to address any feeding concerns or questions you may have in real time.
Prenatal:
What to Expect During Your Prenatal Lactation Visit
Before your visit, you will be asked to activate your chart and complete your demographics and health history. This allows us to be fully prepared for your appointment as soon as you arrive.
Upon arrival, you and your family will be warmly welcomed into our beautiful space, designed to feel like home and complete with snacks, tea, and coffee for your comfort.
During the visit, we will spend time getting to know each other and discussing your specific goals for birth and newborn feeding. We will review effective latch techniques and talk about the important timing of newborn feedings, among other essential topics.
At the end of your visit, you will receive a written care plan, which includes accompanying videos to support your learning and preparation.
Postpartum:
Preparing for Your Prenatal Lactation Visit
To help us provide the best possible care during your lactation visit, we ask that you take some steps before your appointment. Please activate your chart and complete all necessary information, including your demographics, health history, and details about your birth experience. Completing these items in advance ensures that we are fully prepared for your visit when you arrive, allowing us to focus on your individual needs and make the most of our time together.
What to Expect During Your Postpartum Lactation Visit
When you arrive for your postpartum lactation visit, you and your family will be warmly welcomed into our inviting space, designed to feel like home and complete with snacks, tea, and coffee to help you feel comfortable.
We begin by weighing your baby to establish a baseline. As you feed your baby during the visit, we will take the opportunity to discuss your birth experience, your baby’s feeding patterns, and your overall physical and emotional well-being. This is also the time to address any questions you have and to talk about what is going well for you and your baby. While your baby is feeding, we will work together on latch and observe your baby’s feeding behaviors to ensure everything is progressing as it should.
After your baby finishes feeding, we will weigh them again to determine how much weight was gained during the feeding session. This helps us assess milk transfer and feeding effectiveness. Additionally, we will examine your baby’s mouth thoroughly to check for any oral ties or other factors that could be affecting feeding.
At the end of the visit, we will develop a verbal care plan together and then provide you with the plan in writing. We will also send your visit records to your pediatrician or referring provider to ensure continuity of care.
Insurance and Billing Information
We understand that navigating insurance and billing can be complex, so we strive to make the process as easy as possible for you. Our office will bill your insurance directly for the services provided. Northshore is in-network with all local insurance companies, including every Medicaid plan. If you have any questions or concerns about your coverage or claims, our professional billing specialist is available to assist you and ensure that you receive the support you need.
Understanding Tongue Ties and Oral Restrictions
A tongue tie occurs when the tissue underneath the tongue is unusually tight or extends close to the tip of the tongue, interfering with the tongue’s normal movement. These oral ties can limit a baby’s ability to feed effectively and, in some instances, may be linked to speech difficulties. Tongue ties are often associated with painful feeding experiences, reduced milk supply, slow weight gain in newborns, and newborn reflux.
Screening and Referral Process
As part of our standard care, we routinely check all newborns for oral restrictions during the lactation visit. If a tie is identified and found to be affecting feeding or causing other problems, we will refer you to an oral specialist within the community. The specialist can provide a second opinion and discuss potential options for release if necessary.
The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding
The Importance of Breastfeeding
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52687/
JAMA: Interventions to Support Breastfeeding
Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2832390
International Breastfeeding Journal: Mothers’ experiences and perceptions of breastfeeding peer support: a qualitative systematic review
https://internationalbreastfeedingjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13006-024-00614-3
PubMed: The experience of nursing women with breastfeeding support: a qualitative inquiry
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4593410/
UNICEF’s latest studies on interventions to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
American Academy of Pediatrics: Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk
World Health Organization
https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_1
PubMed: The Psychological Benefits of Breastfeeding: Fostering Maternal Well-Being and Child Development