Lactation: Missing Postpartum Appointment
When you give birth, you’re given instructions for two postpartum appointments after hospital discharge: 1) you’re told to choose a pediatrician to follow up with in the first week of your baby’s life, and 2) you’re told to make an appointment to see your obstetric provider at 6 weeks for a follow-up (some providers will ask to see you around 2 weeks postpartum, also).
We could probably discuss at length the changes we’d make to maternal postpartum care, but that conversation is for another day. Today, we’re talking about the missing postpartum appointment. It’s not pediatrics… It’s not obstetrics…
It’s lactation.
Thankfully, hospitals in Albuquerque do staff lactation providers. Unfortunately, lactation isn’t always available and they may only work certain shifts meaning you can’t always see one as soon as you feel you need one. In general, though, an in-hospital lactation visit will be available to you before discharge.
However, due to the nature of care, timing, and other responsibilities, many families are left more confused or frustrated after these visits. It’s not news to anyone that health care is going through some *stuff* these days, and the ramifications have reached literally every aspect of care. New parents really do need more in depth lactation support in the early days of breastfeeding, beyond a 15 minute appointment while they’re depleted mentally, emotionally, and physically from birth.
After hospital discharge, the first pediatrician appointment rolls around. At this appointment, baby’s weight is checked and it’s very common for the pediatrician to suggest supplementation due to weight loss. This can be a blow to the confidence of many new parents. Without additional lactation support by a qualified provider, many parents are left to question if breastfeeding just isn’t in the cards for them. This lack of support in the early days of breastfeeding is why many parents give up or have a hard time meeting their feeding goals down the line.
The first weeks of lactation are so important for breastfeeding success. Feeding on demand helps “bring in” mature milk and begins to establish your baby’s perfect milk supply. Because pediatricians are (usually) not lactation experts, the advice given doesn’t always help support lactation, but in turn can be detrimental to it.
It’s your pediatrician’s job to make health recommendations for your baby, sometimes suggesting supplementation, but it’s not in their expertise to support your desire to breastfeed. This is where lactation providers step in. It’s a lactation consultant’s job to help work with the parent-child dyad in troubleshooting breastfeeding problems and supporting healthy lactation. Lactation consultants help parents meet their baby’s needs (per the pediatrician’s advice) while also being mindful of the impact of advice on current and future lactation.
Parents and pediatricians agree that we will do what it takes to support healthy growth and development, and proper lactation advice only supports that goal. Lactation providers help babies and parents meet their immediate and longterm feeding goals, which may impact decades of health for both.
When thinking about postpartum appointments, we recommend thinking outside of the box. Yes, you need to follow up for your own postpartum medical care. Yes, your baby needs to follow up with a pediatrician. And yes, if you plan to feed your baby with your body, making an early lactation appointment, even in the absence of any perceived issues, can be incredibly beneficial. Many lactation providers, like the lactation consultants at New Life, will also provide in-home visits, which means less stress and more comfort for you.