So y’all may not know this, but we have a celebrity here in Austin (and I’m not talking Lance Armstrong or Sandra Bullock). I’m talking a celebrity in the world of breastfeeding! I mentioned in this post from a couple months ago that I had to see a lactation consultant named Linda Hill in the rocky early months of breastfeeding. She was kind, she was comforting, and she was incredibly knowledgable . . . I walked away from both appointments with the answers I needed to put me on the road to successful nursing.

A shoutout to Linda in Baby 411!

After my second appointment, I also walked away with a copy of the popular baby handbook Baby 411 which was sitting on the desk when I checked out (I did buy it before walking away, haha). Flipping through the book, I saw to my surprise that the author, an Austin pediatrician, referenced MY lactation consultant! Well ladies, she’s now YOUR lactation consultant too, as Austin Moms Blog was lucky enough to get her to answer a few questions for you.

What is the #1 nursing issue you see when women come to see you? And what other issues do you see? The #1 reason for a visit to a lactation consultant is nipple soreness. It is normal to have nipple tenderness, especially in the beginning, but you shouldn’t have cracks or scabs. If you have those, something isn’t quite right. A LC can often tell what is going on just by how the nipple wound looks. The #2 reason is perceived or actual low milk supply. Parents should take a breastfeeding class before their baby is born so that they can know how to tell if their baby is getting enough and know when to seek the help of their doctor or LC. Again, LC’s have many tools to help moms increase their supply!

Even with all the problems you see, do you still believe breast is best, and why? Nothing saddens me more than the mom who desperately wants to breastfeed but her body is not able to make enough milk! This is the hierarchy of milk choices: 1) breastmilk from mom, 2) breastmilk from milk bank*, 3) formula. You always hear about the “benefits” of breastfeeding, but how can there be benefits to doing what is normal? The expected “normal” behavior and design is for the human baby to have human milk. So what are the risks involved when the human baby drinks cow milk instead? Poorer vision, a lower IQ, more diabetes, more childhood cancer, less well-developed nerves, a less effective immune system, more allergies, and more . . . not to mention the risks to women who do not breastfeed, such as more premenopausal breast cancer, more osteoporosis, and other risks. And I have the studies to prove it!

What advice do you have for someone who is planning to nurse their baby? Take a breastfeeding class before delivering if you can so that you know what to look for in a good latch. It is important to know when to ask for help! It is important to know how to read the signs to know if your baby is getting enough! Also, read a book about it! I like The Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins. The electronic version of Baby 411 is good too as there are video clips you can watch that are helpful. I like the book too. 🙂 Lastly, have support lined up! Your partner being the best support person, but it is also helpful to have some girlfriends who breastfed or are currently breastfeeding. If you don’t have any of those – then find an Attachment Parenting group or a La Leche League group. (Jessica’s note: my husband made all the difference in the world in making it work! He even took me to see Linda in the first place.)

 

Check out Linda’s helpful video on breastfeeding positions here!

 

In the interest of space, I had to pick and choose parts of the interview, but if you would like the full transcript email us at [email protected]. Or better yet, make an appointment yourself with Linda Hill at the Capital Pediatric Group Lactation Center. And please pass this info on to any pregnant/ nursing mamas you know. You never know how it may help or encourage them! They don’t have to cry with every feeding like I did many times before I found Linda.

*And before we let you go, can YOU help babies in need? Linda mentioned milk bank breast milk in the second question, but continued with info on a different kind of charitable “giving” than we are probably used to . . . The Austin Mother’s Milk Bank. The problem with breast milk from a milk bank is the cost! Breastmilk costs $4.50 an ounce. For a newborn eating 3 oz/feeding, that’s $13.50 per bottle or $108/day, and milk banks don’t often have any extra milk for the healthy newborns, as most of the milk is going to the fragile premature babies all over the US. The Austin Milk Bank not only serves all our area hospitals, but sends milk to 70 plus other hospitals in at least 10 other states! So if you know anyone who is making a lot of milk and would be interested in saving some tiny babies’ lives … send them to the Milk Bank for more info! 494-0800.

 

7 COMMENTS

  1. I donated over a thousand ounces (and have the certificate to prove it) to Austin’s milk bank. It’s a wonderful thing they do!!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here