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Lactation Consults
Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it doesn’t always come easily to mother or baby. At Reston Women’s Center, the expert medical team offers lactation consultations to get you started with breastfeeding successfully and address any problems that arise along the way. If you live in Reston, Virginia, take advantage of lactation support by calling the office or booking an appointment online.
Lactation Consults Q & A
Why should I choose to breastfeed my baby?
If it’s possible, breastfeeding—even for a short time—provides your baby with valuable nutrients made especially for them. Compounds in mother’s milk protect babies from illness and lower the risk of:
- Asthma
- Childhood obesity
- Ear infections
- SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome
- Type 2 diabetes
Breastfeeding also provides benefits for mothers. It can help you bond with your baby and release feel-good chemicals in your body that combat postpartum depression. It also helps mothers achieve a healthy weight and quicker recovery from birthing.
How Can Lactation Consultations Help Me?
Chloe Rios — a nurse-midwife and a lactation counselor — helps you with all aspects of breastfeeding. She can offer advice before your baby’s birth, so you feel ready when it’s time to breastfeed.
A lactation consultation with your baby can help you establish a good latch, which is essential to successful breastfeeding. You’ll learn how to create a calm environment and read your baby’s hunger cues. You’ll also learn how to position your baby’s head and rest your breast to make the process easy for both you and your infant.
Chloe can also physically assess the breastfeeding health of your baby. She may feel your baby’s mouth and look for any features that might make breastfeeding more difficult. She can also analyze your baby’s sucking strength and organization.
How Long Should I Breastfeed My Baby?
Current recommendations say that a baby should be exclusively breastfed for six months and slowly weaned off after one or two years as they’re introduced to solid foods. Of course, this is only a recommendation, and a consultation with a lactation expert can help you make an informed choice about the best pattern for you.
What if I Can’t Breastfeed My Baby?
Talk to your lactation consultant about options if breastfeeding is impossible for you. Chloe and the other midwives and nurses at Reston Women’s Center can recommend the best formulas to support a healthy baby.
If it’s determined before or after your child’s birth that you’ll have trouble providing milk, you may also talk to Chloe about securing donated breast milk to feed your baby.
Whether you’re considering breastfeeding or are having trouble, an expert lactation consultant at Reston Women’s Center can help you through the process. Call the office or book online to schedule an appointment today.