The Community Health Clinic is excited to announce a new partnership with Michiana Lactation to offer lactation & feeding support at no cost for our patients.
Lauren Dill is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) supporting families in their infant feeding journeys. Often feeding our babies looks different than what we’d imagine, and Lauren is here to walk with families through their options and support them in each of their unique paths.
Lauren’s journey to become a lactation consultant began because of the challenges she met with her own children, each with their own special circumstances. She has worked in a number of different settings, including the Branch – Hillsdale – St. Joseph County WIC clinic, a dental office, midwifery practice, and owning her own private practice here in Shipshewana. She has continued her education and expanded her skill set in such areas as postpartum mood disorders, tethered oral tissues, airway development, oral habilitation, and oral reflex testing. She desires to inform families of their options, give them practical skills to help their babies thrive, and support them in whatever best decisions they make for their families.
Why would you see a lactation consultant?
You are expecting & wish to breastfeed your baby.
Prenatal visits are especially beneficial for first time parents or families who’ve struggled with breastfeeding in the past. A prenatal visit will include a medical history, identifying and underlying issues that can make breastfeeding difficult, pregnancy health history, discussing pregnancy complications that can sometimes pose challenges to successful feeding, a short presentation reviewing realistic expectations for breastfeeding in the early postpartum period, and plenty of time for questions and discussion surrounding each family’s unique needs.
Mom is having pain with feeding.
While nipple soreness during feeds and some engorgement is normal during the earliest stages of breastfeeding, pain is not. Moms should not have to grit their teeth, curl their toes, or swear under their breath when they latch their baby, nor should they be repeatedly fighting off clogged milk ducts and mastitis. Typically pain is something that can be improved with deeper latch or improved oral motor function during feeding. This often means positioning changes, breast shaping, gentle massage, and some functional exercises to be done at home are the keys to improvement.
Baby is unable to latch or stay latched.
Babies are designed to feed. Lactation consultants recognize feeding as the very first milestone after delivery, and an inability to latch means there is something off. Sometimes that means Baby needs a little extra stimulation during a feed, and sometimes it means there is some weakness, tension, or dysfunction that can be worked out. Lactation consultants can help with this regardless of if a baby is breast or bottle fed.
Baby is not gaining weight well or mom suspects she has low milk supply.
While there are sometimes medical reasons why infants are not gaining weight well, more often it is a situation of poor milk transfer (getting milk from mom to baby) or low milk supply. In either situation, a lactation consultant can work with families to provide them tools and options to optimize milk intake for Baby.
You are transitioning feeding methods.
This can mean moving from tube, bottle, breast, or shield, to anything else. Infants are creatures of habit, and the transition can be challenging and sometimes time consuming. Lactation consultants can make the transition feel more fluid, comfortable, and ultimately successful. We are trained to not only make it physically possible, but also help carry some of the emotional burden as well.
Your feeding plan has changed.
Often postpartum doesn’t look like we’d envisioned. Sometimes instead of nursing our babies, we must pump or offer formula. Sometimes mothers must stop lactation sooner than they’d planned. Transitioning from breastfeeding to pumping or formula feeding can mean our bodies are going through changes they’re not ready for. A lactation consultant can provide the tools needed to make those changes more comfortable and achievable.
Your baby is fussy, gassy, or difficult to settle.
Sometimes babies who are struggling with gas, colic, or reflux are actually having feeding-related challenges. A lactation consultant can assess function, educate on dietary changes, and offer tools to help settle these babies, making it possible for families to really enjoy their children during this stage.
You just need encouragement.
Often a lactation consult really ends up being a reminder that families really are thriving. Some parents just flourish with the extra set of eyes on their babies and words of encouragement. A quick weight check, latch assessment, and discussion on what to expect moving forward can help achieve that.
Lauren is at the Community Health Clinic on Mondays and offers office visits to our community at no out of pocket cost. To schedule a visit with Lauren, call Michiana Lactation at 260.207.4020, and let them know you are a patient at the Community Health Clinic when you call.