What does a lactation consultant do and when do you need one?

A lactation consultant is a specialist in breastfeeding and everything that comes with it. You call one in when breastfeeding is going differently than expected: if you have doubts about latching, pain while feeding or a baby who is not growing well. During a home consultation the lactation consultant observes a feed, examines your baby's mouth and gives tailored advice, with aftercare until your question has been resolved. A consultation is often partly or fully reimbursed through your supplementary health insurance.

Who is Roxane Liewes?

Kideo.store works with a number of wonderful professionals and specialists, including a lactation consultant. Below, Roxane introduces herself and explains what a lactation consultant can do for you.

My name is Roxane Liewes. Together with Bianca Jansen I am the face of Babypraktijk Noord. At Babypraktijk Noord we offer various services around pregnancy and babies, but above all we work as lactation consultants in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe. Do take a look at our Instagram for more information: @babypraktijknoord.

What exactly does a lactation consultant do?

A lactation consultant is a specialist in the field of breastfeeding and everything that comes with it. We provide care around breastfeeding when it is going differently than expected. Think of doubts or worries about latching, pain while feeding or a baby who is not growing well.

When do you call in a lactation consultant?

I could put down a whole laundry list here, but to keep it clear and pleasant to read, here is a selection. You can call in a lactation consultant for:

• pain in your breasts, for example while feeding
• insufficient growth in your baby
• a restless baby who cries a lot
• illness or disability in mother or child
• a baby born too early
• medication or an operation while breastfeeding
• spitting up and colic
• mastitis
• thrush
• too much or too little milk
• expressing and going back to work
• mouth problems while drinking

What does a consultation look like?

During a home consultation we observe a feed: how does the baby latch on to the breast and how does he drink (sucking and swallowing)? We also always examine the mouth to check your baby's oral anatomy. On top of that, we ask lots of questions about how things have gone, from the pregnancy up to the moment of the consultation.

Based on that, we give tailored advice. After a consultation we offer aftercare: you can keep contacting us by phone or app with your questions, until the issue we came to help you with has been properly resolved.

Working together with a pre-verbal speech and language therapist

To provide the best possible care around oral motor skills, we consider working together with a pre-verbal speech and language therapist essential. Lactation consultants and pre-verbal speech and language therapists overlap in their work, but each also has their own expertise. It is precisely that last part which is so interesting for supporting families as well as possible.

Our colleague Anne specialises in questions around oral motor skills, problems with drinking from a bottle, the transition from breast to bottle and much more. If that is where the questions lie, we bring Anne in for extra care without any fuss.

Specialisation in oral motor skills

Usually we can support babies and parents with practical tips about latching, positions and the like. But sometimes all of that goes very well and there are still problems with suction, sucking, swallowing or gagging quickly.

Within our practice, Roxane specialises in oral motor skills. That means she can provide extra care through suck training, to stimulate the muscles in young babies.

Is a lactation consultant reimbursed by health insurance?

A lactation consultation can be partly or fully reimbursed if lactation care is covered by your supplementary health insurance. It is a good idea to check that during your pregnancy, so you may be able to make use of lactation care even more easily. Pre-verbal speech and language therapy is reimbursed after a referral from your GP.

Summary

• A lactation consultant is a specialist in breastfeeding and helps when feeding is going differently than expected.
• Reasons to call one in include pain while feeding, insufficient growth, mastitis, thrush, too much or too little milk, and expressing and going back to work.
• A home consultation consists of observing a feed, examining the mouth, questions about how things have gone and tailored advice, with aftercare by phone or app.
• For problems with oral motor skills, Babypraktijk Noord works together with pre-verbal speech and language therapist Anne; Roxane provides suck training.
• Check during your pregnancy whether your supplementary insurance covers lactation care; pre-verbal speech and language therapy is reimbursed after a GP referral.

Frequently asked questions

What happens during a consultation with a lactation consultant?

The lactation consultant comes to your home, observes how your baby latches and drinks, examines the mouth and asks questions about how things have gone since the pregnancy. You then receive tailored advice and aftercare by phone or app.

Is a lactation consultation reimbursed?

Partly or fully, if lactation care is included in your supplementary health insurance. Check that during your pregnancy. Pre-verbal speech and language therapy is reimbursed after a referral from your GP.