A private appointment before your baby is born can help you prepare for successful breastfeeding and solve potential problems before they occur. People who may benefit from a prenatal consultation include those who:

• Experience medical issues prenatally
• Have questions about existing medications
• Have had past breast surgeries

One to two days after you and your baby leave the hospital, you will have an appointment with a board-certified nurse who specializes in lactation and mother/baby postpartum care. During the appointment, the nurse provides:

• Maternal assessment:
  • Nursing assessment of vital signs, including pain scale measurement
  • Evaluation of delivery site to monitor healing or look for signs of infection
  • Examination of breast and nipple tissue, and treatment for engorgement, sore nipples and relief for other breast/nipple pain issues if needed.
  • Education and technical assistance for basic breast, breast pump and or bottle feeding
• Infant assessment:
  • Assessment of vital signs and brief review of indicators that your baby is well
  • Review of pre-discharge bilirubin lab result and complete a visual jaundice inspection
  • Evaluation or development of feeding plan, check weight gain since discharge, and infant voiding
  • Observed feeding assessment, including pre- and post-feeding weight check

You and your baby can meet privately with a lactation consultant to address specific infant feeding questions. They explain techniques, develop a feeding plan for your baby, and provide hands-on assistance.

You can get a consultation on a wide range of topics, including strategies for increasing milk supply, latch and positioning, optimal breast pumping techniques, and returning to work while breastfeeding.

Sometimes urgent issues arise and need to be addressed right away. If you have concerns about slow infant weight gain or weight loss, breast infections or recurrent pain during feedings, call us. Same-day appointments are often available.

Breast pumps are available onsite and direct billing to qualifying insurance is provided.

• The easy-to-read Breastfeeding Guide from Women'sHealth.gov provides how-to information and support needed to breastfeed successfully. Expert tips and illustrations help new moms learn how to breastfeed comfortably and how to overcome common challenges.

How to become a milk donor: To make this generous act easy and convenient, visit Northwest Mothers Milk Bank to learn about becoming a breast milk donor.