An Interview with a Lactation Consultant
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At Renew & Restore Wellness, we pride ourselves in not only providing great care in the office, but also being a solid resource for our patients. This can, often times, come in the form of a referral to another professional in the community who is exceptional at what they do. Any recommendation we make is going to be someone who we would fully trust with the care of our own family members, because our patients are like family!
This week I wanted to do something different and have everyone learn a little bit from one of those trusted connections in the community! As a chiropractor who focuses so much on the prenatal, postpartum and pediatric population, I have the privilege of co-treating my patients with a number of other professionals. Lactation consultants are one of those professionals whom I believe to be crucial during the prenatal and postpartum period. With that being said, here is a Q & A session with lactation consultant, Tenise!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you ended up becoming a lactation consultant!
My name is Tenise, and I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I spent approximately 18 years in a totally unrelated field and came into my passion and purpose of helping families achieve their breastfeeding goals in 2020. I had really great lactation support with my children, but I soon came to realize that I was the exception and not the rule. I want to affect positive change, as it relates to breastfeeding, in my community.
What does a lactation consultant do and what are the most common reasons that moms reach out to you for your services?
I would say 90% of my job is confidence building, but I also help with those experiencing an over supply, low supply, babies with oral anomalies, poor weight gain, back to school/back to work concerns, latch issues, etc. While breastfeeding is natural, it is not always intuitive and sometimes it is just little tweaks here and there that can make a world of difference.
What recommendations do you have as far as a mom protecting her back and neck when breastfeeding?
Get comfortable first!!! All too often I see mamas bringing their breast to the baby instead of bringing baby to the breast. This can result in a poor experience for both mother and baby. I always encourage my parents to get comfortable first – utilizing pillows and a step stool if necessary and then get baby latched. Also, the early days of breastfeeding look entirely different in 2-4 months later when latching becomes more varied as babies become more efficient at feeding.
Are there any times in which you recommend a mom seek the care of a chiropractor for her baby?
YES! Quite frequently actually. I view chiropractic and lactation care as team members to the overall health of the dyad. Babies can really get cramped in the womb and can come out with stiff or sore muscles which can interfere with feeding. It is not the developmental norm for a 2 week old baby to roll over or for an infant to only keep their head turned to one side. These are the most common “red flags” that I see warranting a pediatric chiropractic visit.
What’s the number one tip you can give to soon-to-be moms or moms who are breastfeeding?
Take a prenatal breastfeeding class! In general, we don’t know what we don’t know and this type of education can help you prepare and manage expectations for a successful breastfeeding journey.
Anything else you would like for people to know about breastfeeding or lactation consulting?
Breastfeeding is the biological norm in feeding our children but it doesn’t just look one specific way. I definitely encourage seeking lactation advice/support to achieve your specific family/situation breastfeeding goals.
How can people find you and your services?
We are on all of the social media sites – our handle is @mothersmagicamilk
We offer home visits and will be moving our offices to 1015 E. Dallas St, Mansfield, TX 76063 effective September 1, 2022.
I, Dr. Nikki, can personally attest to the value of taking a prenatal breastfeeding class! My husband and I took Tenise’s prenatal course and can’t recommend it enough! We found it to be extremely informative and it helped me to feel a little more prepared for the arrival of our son. It was also comforting to already have established that relationship with Tenise in case we were needing assistance with breastfeeding once he was born.
If you find yourself facing challenges with breastfeeding, please reach out to Tenise! And if you’re noticing some of the issues she mentioned above, where your baby is struggling to latch on one side or only turning their head in one direction, please don’t hesitate to give us a call! Curious as to other reasons why people bring their baby to a chiropractor, check out this previous blog post here.