When Should I See a Lactation Consultant? Your Questions Answered
Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn't mean it always comes naturally.
Feeding can look very different from one parent and baby to the next. You might be experiencing pain, struggling with attachment, worried about your milk supply, trying to navigate pumping or simply wondering whether what your baby is doing is normal.
And you don't have to wait until breastfeeding feels really difficult before asking for help.
A lactation consultation provides individualised support for you and your baby, during pregnancy, in the early days after birth and throughout your feeding journey.
Here are some of the questions we are commonly asked about lactation consultations.
What is a lactation consultant?
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a healthcare professional with specialised training and clinical expertise in breastfeeding and human lactation.
They work with parents and babies to assess feeding, identify factors that may be contributing to difficulties and provide practical, individualised support.
Importantly, seeing a lactation consultant isn't about telling you how you “should” feed your baby.
The aim is to understand what's happening, listen to your goals and help you find a feeding approach that works for you and your baby.
When should I see a lactation consultant?
There are lots of reasons you might book a lactation consultation.
These can include:
Difficulty getting your baby to latch
Pain during breastfeeding
Cracked, damaged or painful nipples
Concerns about low milk supply
Oversupply
Engorgement
Mastitis or recurrent breast inflammation
Recurrent blocked or “clogged” ducts
Concerns about your baby's weight gain
A sleepy baby who is difficult to feed
Very long or very frequent feeds
Clicking, slipping or difficulty maintaining attachment
Tongue-tie or concerns about oral function
Pumping or expressing
Introducing bottles
Combination feeding
Returning to work
Weaning
Feeding a premature baby
Feeding after previous breast surgery
Preparing to breastfeed before your baby is born
You can also book simply because something about feeding doesn't feel right and you're not sure why.
You don't need to diagnose the problem yourself before asking for help.
Do I have to be having breastfeeding problems to see a lactation consultant?
No.
Lactation support isn't only for when breastfeeding has gone wrong.
Some parents book because feeding is difficult, but others come because they want reassurance, have questions or would like someone to observe a feed and make sure things are progressing well.
Getting support early can also help address smaller feeding difficulties before they become bigger ones.
Can I see a lactation consultant while I'm pregnant?
Yes, and you don't have to wait until your baby arrives to start preparing for breastfeeding.
An antenatal lactation consultation can be particularly useful if:
This is your first baby and you'd like to understand breastfeeding before birth
You had a difficult breastfeeding experience previously
You're worried about milk supply
You've previously had breast surgery
You're expecting twins or multiples
You'd like to understand expressing and pumping
You want to feel more prepared for the first few days after birth
You simply have lots of questions about breastfeeding
Preparing antenatally can help you understand what to expect in those first feeds and give you somewhere to turn if things don't go to plan.
What happens during a lactation consultation?
Your lactation consultant will first spend time understanding what's been happening.
Depending on your concern, they may ask about your pregnancy and birth, your baby's feeding history, feeding frequency, wet and dirty nappies, weight gain, breast or nipple symptoms, expressing and any previous feeding difficulties.
Where appropriate, they may then observe your baby feeding.
This allows them to look at things such as:
Positioning
Attachment
How your baby latches
Sucking and swallowing
How your baby maintains attachment
How feeding feels for you
Your baby's behaviour during the feed
From there, you can work together on a plan that suits you and your baby.
Will you watch my baby breastfeed?
Often, yes.
Watching a feed can provide much more information than simply talking about what's happening.
Your lactation consultant may suggest different positions or small changes to attachment and observe how these affect both you and your baby.
But the appointment isn't about judging whether you're feeding “correctly”.
It's about working out what might make feeding more effective and comfortable for you and your baby.
Is breastfeeding supposed to hurt?
Breastfeeding can sometimes feel unfamiliar or sensitive initially, but ongoing or significant pain shouldn't simply be something you're expected to tolerate.
Pain may be related to factors such as attachment, nipple damage, breast inflammation or other feeding concerns.
If you're dreading every feed because it hurts, that's a good reason to seek support.
Can a lactation consultant help with low milk supply?
Yes.
If you're concerned about your supply, an IBCLC can look at the broader picture rather than simply telling you to “pump more”.
This may involve looking at feeding frequency, milk removal, attachment, your baby's feeding effectiveness, expressing and other factors that may be influencing supply.
Importantly, sometimes parents worry about low supply when their milk production is actually appropriate.
Assessment can help determine what's happening and what — if anything — needs to change.
What about too much milk or oversupply?
Lactation consultants can also help with oversupply.
Too much milk can create its own difficulties, including uncomfortable fullness, forceful milk flow and recurrent breast inflammation for some people.
Management should be individualised rather than automatically adding more pumping or expressing, which can sometimes encourage the body to continue producing more milk.
Can a lactation consultant help with mastitis or blocked ducts?
Yes. Lactation support can be particularly useful when mastitis or breast inflammation keeps returning.
Rather than only focusing on the painful area, an IBCLC can look at feeding, milk supply, pumping and other factors that may be contributing.
At Yarra Valley Women's Health, this can also work alongside our Mastitis & Breast Care service when hands-on breast and musculoskeletal care is appropriate.
Some presentations require medical assessment or treatment, and your practitioner will recommend this when needed.
Can a lactation consultant help if my baby has a tongue-tie?
An IBCLC can assess how your baby is feeding and whether oral function may be affecting breastfeeding.
Importantly, the presence of a frenulum or suspected tongue-tie doesn't automatically mean a procedure is required.
Feeding needs to be considered as a whole, including your baby's attachment, milk transfer, your symptoms and how feeding is actually functioning.
Where further assessment is appropriate, your lactation consultant can help guide you towards the relevant healthcare professional.
Can a lactation consultant help with pumping?
Absolutely.
You might be exclusively pumping, expressing occasionally, trying to build a supply, returning to work or simply wanting to introduce an expressed bottle.
A lactation consultation may include guidance around:
Choosing and using a breast pump
Pumping frequency
Expressing milk
Milk supply
Storing breastmilk
Introducing expressed milk
Combining breast and bottle feeding
Returning to work while breastfeeding
The goal is to create a plan that is realistic for your circumstances rather than making feeding more complicated than it needs to be.
Can I see a lactation consultant if I'm combination feeding?
Yes.
You don't need to be exclusively breastfeeding to receive lactation support.
Families feed their babies in many different ways.
If you're breastfeeding and using expressed milk or formula, a lactation consultant can help you navigate combination feeding based on your goals.
Support should be about helping you make informed decisions, not making you feel guilty about how your baby is fed.
What if I want to stop breastfeeding?
A lactation consultant can also support you with reducing feeds or weaning.
Sometimes breastfeeding needs to end gradually for comfort and to reduce the likelihood of significant engorgement or inflammation.
And sometimes parents simply want guidance around how to transition away from breastfeeding in a way that works for them and their baby.
Lactation care isn't only about helping people breastfeed for longer, it's about supporting you through your individual feeding journey.
Is a lactation consultant the same as a midwife or maternal and child health nurse?
Not exactly.
Midwives and maternal and child health nurses can provide valuable breastfeeding support as part of their broader roles.
An IBCLC has undertaken additional specialised education and clinical training specifically in breastfeeding and human lactation.
The different professionals involved in your care can also work together when more than one type of support is needed.
Is a lactation consultation the same as mastitis and breast care?
No, but there can be overlap.
A lactation consultation focuses specifically on breastfeeding, milk supply, your baby and the feeding relationship.
Our Mastitis & Breast Care service can provide hands-on care where appropriate for breast inflammation, breast discomfort and surrounding musculoskeletal concerns.
If recurrent mastitis appears to be related to feeding or supply, for example, combining lactation support with breast care may be useful.
Your practitioners can help determine which service is most appropriate.
Do I need a referral to see a lactation consultant?
In most cases, no referral is required to book a private lactation consultation.
You can seek support directly if you're experiencing feeding difficulties, want antenatal breastfeeding preparation or simply have questions about feeding your baby.
When is the best time to ask for breastfeeding help?
Whenever you feel like you need it.
You don't need to wait until your nipples are damaged, your baby isn't gaining weight or feeding has become overwhelming.
You can seek support during pregnancy, immediately after birth, several weeks into feeding or months later when something changes.
Sometimes a small adjustment or simply understanding why something is happening can make feeding feel much more manageable.
Lactation Consultations in Healesville and the Yarra Valley
At Yarra Valley Women's Health in Healesville, our lactation consultations provide individualised breastfeeding and feeding support for you and your baby.
You might book during pregnancy to prepare for breastfeeding, in the early postpartum period to get feeding established, or later for concerns around attachment, pain, milk supply, pumping, mastitis, combination feeding or weaning.
You don't need to know exactly what's going wrong before you book.
Sometimes the reason for the appointment is simply:
“Feeding isn't going how I expected, and I need some help.”
That's enough.