Special to IFN
Rhea Lamb, a registered nurse and international board-certified lactation consultant at Iredell Memorial Hospital, is on a mission to get families off to the best start possible through breastfeeding education and support.
“Some people have not had family support or friends around them who have breastfed,” said Lamb. “They need education, or they just need to have a conversation about it to ask whatever questions they might have. Some people come alone or with a partner, and some enjoy group classes.”
The breastfeeding journey is deeply personal, and Lamb has never had two moms who were exactly alike.
“Women need a safe space to come in and speak to someone who is not going to judge them for what they can or cannot do related to breastfeeding. I have strong feelings around that as a mom who delivered twins who were three months premature. My breastfeeding experience was a huge struggle, and I grieve for that. I know the emotion behind some of the decisions that you have to make related to breastfeeding.”
Past experiences or family dynamics may contribute to breastfeeding difficulties.
“If I’m sensing that mom is not comfortable nursing her baby in front of me, I’ll talk with her about what she’s comfortable with. I stop and ask her ‘What’s is your plan? What do you want? What are you comfortable with?’ If you don’t know that up front, you may give her an hour’s worth of information and it’s not what she actually needed from you.”
Some women may have experienced abuse or lived with body shaming, so they are uncomfortable disrobing. Others may have an expectation of how they should breastfeed, but it’s not what they truly want.
“I have moms who come in who were being strongly encouraged by family or friends to breastfeed and feel like a failure because they simply could not do what they thought they were supposed to do. Part of my role is to give them the confidence to know they’re doing the best job they can, and that’s okay. It’s a beautiful thing to see moms relax and feel like they have hope.”
“We’re moms in different ways. It’s all about respecting where their journey is and doing what we can to help them through it.”
Some moms choose not to breastfeed, whether due to anxiety or depression, a history of abuse, or other contributing factors.
Sometimes, babies may not nurse as expected. A lactation consultant can help.
“I encourage patients to come in person because you can’t glean enough information from a phone call. The baby may not nurse well due to a health issue. Sometimes there’s something else going on with mom. Maybe she doesn’t have enough milk making tissue to give her baby a full feeding. In a consult, we are able to evaluate some of those things.”
Oftentimes, a consult involves feeding baby in the lactation office.
“Mom feeds baby, and we weigh them before and after. I watch her technique and how the baby is nursing. We typically come up with a reason why an issue is occurring, and how we can address it.”
An example would be baby having a tongue or lip tie, which often results in a referral to a pediatric dentist.
“A lot of babies with tongue and lip tie issues are having reflux because of the way they’re suckling, so they are spitting up a lot and they’re not satisfied. Mamas are miserable, too. They might have sore nipples or engorgement. There are protocols we can follow to assist mom with that before it becomes a bigger issue.”
Lamb can also address minor things such as positioning, properly latching baby, and feeding schedules. Her goal is for her patients to leave her office with the confidence and the tools to succeed.
“I love seeing moms succeed and watching the bonding and sense of satisfaction they have when they’re able to nourish their baby and feed them when they come into the world.”
Supporting breastfeeding moms is simpler than you may think.
“Be an encourager,” explained Lamb. “You have to let them know that you might not understand everything about the process, but you’re there for them. Make sure they have a safe space to breastfeed or bring them food. Offer to give them rest time and take their baby while they go take a shower. Just having the time to take a shower is a huge thing for a new mom.”
Support is not only physical, but also emotional.
“It’s important to support the decisions mom makes, even if you don’t agree with them. Having that compassion and respect will help her in her postpartum and through all the difficulties she’s going through with having a new baby in the house.”
If you are struggling to breastfeed, don’t lose hope.
“If breastfeeding is something that is important to you, there is help out there.”
LEARN MORE
Iredell Health System offers free lactation services to everyone, no matter if you deliver your baby at Iredell Memorial Hospital or elsewhere. These services include prenatal and postpartum group classes and one-on-one consultations. Call 704-878-4555 for more information.
About Iredell Health System
Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Davis Medical Center; Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital; Iredell Mooresville; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest nonprofit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare organization has 391 licensed beds; more than 2,000 employees; and has approximately 365 healthcare providers representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The health system’s Iredell Mooresville campus is home to the area’s only 24-hour urgent care facility, as well as an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, rehabilitation services, and physician practices. The mission of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.