Who should see a lactation consultant? Anyone who has questions, concerns, problems, or needs reassurance! However, there are some cases where seeing a lactation consultant is a good idea, even if there are not any problems yet. Sometimes a problem already exists but the mother does not recognize that it is an issue. Breastfeeding problems are much easier to prevent than to treat, or to treat earlier rather than later.
These situations tend to be a much higher risk for breastfeeding problems:
- late preterm infants (35-36 weeks), and sometimes early term infants (37 weeks)
- babies born small for age or underweight
- babies born large for age
- history of breast surgery
- jaundice
- history of hypoglycemia in infant
- using a nipple shield, inverted or flat nipples
- painful latch
- baby won’t latch
- painful, cracked, and/or bleeding nipples
- breast pain