Breast/Bodyfeeding Tips from a CLC

As a postpartum doula, I probably get more questions and concerns surrounding lactation. Because let's be honest, lactation is hard. Anyone who tells you otherwise, either has been blessed with a simple and immediate successful experience or doesn't fully understand lactation in its entirety. Me, personally, I did not have a successful lactation journey and many of others I know share in this.

If you are someone prenatal or know someone who could use some general and beginner advice, I hope this helps.

Tip 1: IBCLC, CLC, CLS

I cannot stress this enough. Find a lactation specialist. Your pediatrician is not…let me say it again, YOUR PEDIATRICIAN IS NOT an expert on lactation; unless specified. Meaning they went and got certified in lactation and have any of the credentials I listed above or below. If you are unsure what these mean, here’s a brief overview.

IBCLC: International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) are the highest level of lactation care accreditation. They have a clinical scope and can assess oral function & work with providers. This title is the only breastfeeding certification recognized by the US Surgeon General, and the only one used as a quality metric by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CLC, CLS: Certified Lactation Counselor/ Certified Lactation Specialist are very similar credentials. Both have completed at least 40hrs of lactation education and can assist families with education and simple, non clinical lactation issues unless specifically and separately trained for them. Many sources will agree that CLCs and IBCLCs scope of practice are no different. As someone studying to be an IBCLC and is a CLC; I do not find the requirements equal. Training and experience matter.

Other lactation supporters: Certified Lactation Educator (CLE), Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC), Peer Counselor, La Leche League Leader (LLL). All of these have some hours of training/ education, and/or personal experience of at least 6 months. None of them have clinical scope.

Now with the brief understanding of what people with these letters do and their scope, you’re better equipped to 1. Research further for yourself and 2. Find one of them for your postpartum team, village, and lactation journey.

CLC/CLSs, Peer counselors, and LLLs are wonderful resources to those who seek general questions surrounding lactation, want help with latching and positions, and education.

When questions about oral restrictions arise, please seek out an IBCLC, who has the scope to perform the assessment, then refer you to the right people if you choose to have any ties released.

Tip 2: Do NOT compare your supply to others, especially online

As a postpartum doula and student IBCLC, I’ve seen this happen personally. If you follow tip 1, you’ll learn that the normal average pump output is 0.5-2oz TOTAL per pump session. Your lactation specialist should also educate you that your pump output does not directly correlate with your supply when you are a latched parent (actually breast/chest/bodyfeeding) because your baby is the best way to empty you.

Something is in the air, but it seems all we find on the internet are over suppliers… it’s infuriating and I’m not even lactating. My friends, please, do not take these TikToks, Facebook & IG people to heart. Their output does not accurately depict the reality of the majority. Without getting too sidetracked with the details of supply, over supply is not something easy, fun, or necessary to have a successful lactation journey. It can lead to latch complications, frequent engorgement and/mastitis, as well as simply deteriorating one’s mental health. Over supply is not the goal. A healthy balance and nutritional satisfied child is.

If you really do believe there’s a supply issue and/or your pediatrician has brought up a weight issue, refer back to Tip 1. Formula is also not the end all be all for the first sign of a problem. Someone who specializes in lactation is your best resource to resolve these types of issues.

Tip 3: Remove milk! Remove remove remove.

I cannot stress this enough. All the lactation cookies, brownies, tinctures and pills in the world mean NOTHING if you do not effectively and timely remove milk.

While I would like to give all of the tips and tricks for successful lactation…I promised three. So yes, I will quickly add that nutrition is extremely important for these goals. Your body is doing so much work still! From gestation to birth and now to lactation. Stay hydrated. Speak to your experts about foods that support milk production, but in the end, simply eat. Eat for you. Take care of yourself because that helps a lot!

Back to the tip. Removing milk is my third tip above others because it’s the best way to regulate your supply. If there are other issues (for example, baby has oral restrictions), there are solutions for those, but if your supply isn’t maintained, it may feel like “well I did that for nothing” or “what was the point?”. Working positions, proper latch, supply, oral restrictions all take time. To continue your journey as long as you’d like, you have to be sure there’s milk to keep things flowing. You do this by removing milk and signaling your body to continue making it.

Whether that’s pumping on schedule for my exclusive pumpers, latching baby for my exclusive breast/bodyfeeders, or pumping when baby can’t/doesn’t empty your milk makers. And please don’t forget about that overnight removal.

Keep in Minds

This blog is about overall, general tips. I know there are so many other tips I can share, especially specific to supply, latch, or pumping etc. There is a high chance that I may do more specific blog posts, but TIP 1 is your greatest resource. **sign up for reminders below for the next ones**

When it comes to lactation, someone who specializes in it is always best. Pediatricians are wonderful for their expertise in infant-child care; Lactation specialists took this off their shoulders.

CLCs, CLSs, IBCLCS and other lactation experts are not created equal. We’ve all we been trained, mentored and certified by different entities. I will say as someone who identifies as queer & strives to have LGBTQIA+ friendly…THERE ARE NOT MANY OF US. Be careful in choosing.

BLACK BLACK BLACK, Indigenous AND POC IBCLCs are so important, especially for those of us who are a part of those communities. AGAIN, there are not many of us. If you can find one, I highly suggest it.