Navigating Feeding Challenges: IBCLC Support With Brittany of Gather Birth Cooperative in Minneapolis, Minnesota
It’s been a busy time for Brittany, the IBCLC (Lactation Consultant) of the Gather Birth Team!
A few examples of challenges families have sought support for:
Difficulty getting a deep, effective, and comfortable latch
Sleepiness while feeding
Concerns with weight gain and infant transfer of milk
Fitting for pump flanges and overall pumping guidance
Bottle attempts have caused choking/leaking of milk/agitation/gas/reflux
Paced bottle feeding
Bottle refusal prior to returning to work
Photographs in this post are from a Birth Photography client last fall. You can read more about this birth story here.
Sometimes feedings click right away and seem effortless. More often than not though, there are varying degrees of challenges with feeding, especially in the first few days. At this birth I got to document and support this time as it was, celebrating all the things that were going well and making a plan for the aspects that could use improvement to achieve their lactation goals.
My biggest piece of advice as a Lactation Consultant, is to meet your baby and your body where they’re at. If your goal is to breastfeed/chestfeed/bodyfeed, attempt latching (ideally with support from a lactation professional) for 5-10 minutes. If no successful latch, feed baby another way. Repeat this cycle again at the next feeding.
Spoon feeding is a great option to supplement expressed milk during the first 3 days of life. If beyond day 3, paced bottle feeding of expressed milk/donor milk/formula works well for the infant’s volume intake goals.
This approach can alleviate the majority of stress that a lot of lactating parents put on themselves to “make it work”. Marathon feedings of trying to force latching leads to burnout and all the emotions that surround unmet goals and expectations.
Meet your baby and body where they’re at. Get support early on with challenges so that you can feel equipped and confident feeding your baby.
XO, Britt + the rest of the Gather Birth Team
