Why not wait till you’re desperate for breastfeeding support
Recently I have been thinking a lot about WHEN clients find me, an IBCLC. As a result, I have come up with this metaphor: the iceberg model of breastfeeding support.
They usually come with issues from the ‘tip of the iceberg’ category: when there is obvious suffering or health issues – baby’s or mum’s. This could include:
- cracked or bleeding nipples, severe pain
- triple feeding
- severe weight gain issues
- allergies, extensive crying and more
The problem with this ‘firefighting’ type intervention is that, by this point, mother and baby have most likely experienced unnecessary escalation of the issues and pain and suffering.
Let’s think of a couple of examples.
Scenario number 1: You have bleeding nipples. You can’t feed directly from the breast so you start pumping and bottle feeding. This is helping keep baby fed but by the time your nipples heal, baby starts preferring the bottle, so you end up triple feeding. You feel lost and desperate. A mighty challenging scenario to reverse and at this point you WILL need expert support to turn it around, alongside a lot more work, maybe money spent and effort on your part.
Scenario number 2: Or another scenario: during your baby’s 8 week check it’s been discovered that your baby is falling through the per centile lines and needs urgent supplementing. You’re upset and disappointed. A nightmare scenario ensues with you trying to build your supply and manage bottle feeding and supplementing at the same time.
Let’s see how this could have been prevented.
In scenario number 1: You start feeling uncomfortable during breastfeeding sessions with similar pain levels on both sides. You wonder why it may be, as you heard somewhere that breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful. You are determined to figure it out before things get worse. You phone your local IBCLC, who visits you in your home and you discover your baby has a tongue tie. It gets divided and you go onto breastfeeding pain free for many months to come.
In scenario number 2: In the early days of breastfeeding you notice your baby is spending long hours on the breast and you never really feel like they are coming off satisfied. Nappies are a bit hit and miss, sometimes baby can go 2 or 3 days between producing a dirty nappy. Instead of pushing your feelings down, you get on the phone to the National Breastfeeding Helpline. They advise you to find your local breastfeeding cafe, where you see a breastfeeding counsellor. They make a connection between your early breastfeeding history and postpartum blood loss. They point you towards some resources to increase your supply and it works! Your baby starts pooing and peeing daily and gaining weight as expected.
These last two case studies show examples of families asking for help WHILE in the MIDDLE SECTION of the ‘iceberg’: ‘Is this normal?’
So I am on a bit of a mission to persuade parents to reach out for help WHILE IN THE MIDDLE ZONE! Have a think. Have you ever been in that situation? With breastfeeding or anything else in life? Gardening? Diet? House maintenance? A small crack in the wall could lead to your house falling down some time later. (Dramatic I know.) Weeds poking their heads up may suffocate all the lovely vegetables you planted, and you have no crops that year. So filling in the cracks or the occasional weeding may be a good idea? (Excuse my rubbish metaphors… but you get the idea!)
If you are in the ‘Happy place’, great! So pleased for you! It may still be a good idea for you to join a local mother group or breastfeeding group, as we all do so much better as part of a community!
I also have some suggestions for you about where you may reach out for FREE support while in the MIDDLE ZONE. You are going to save SO much pain, energy and frustration, even money. My antenatal preparation for breastfeeding series: ‘Beyond the birth, Prep for feeding’, as well as my troubleshooting common breastfeeding issues video series will stand you in good stead during these times of transition.
