Improving Breastfeeding Outcomes Through Family Support

by Heather Hamilton-Post

“W IC was all I knew for help, but I didn’t qualify. I pushed through nursing, but I had mastitis six times. Looking back, I was definitely doing something wrong,” says Kala Hernandez, a breastfeeding mother in Idaho. “More knowledge of resources and easy access could have made life much easier.”

Hernandez isn’t the first to experience hiccups in the breastfeeding relationship. For many women, breastfeeding support offers a crucial piece of puzzle that keeps breastfeeding relationships going. In her case, support could have prevented repeated illness, complications, and frustrations. But Hernandez wasn’t doing anything wrong–she was simply doing it alone.

In Idaho, the CDC reports that 94.6 percent of infants are ever breastfed. By six months, this number drops to 63.4 percent, and by a year, 38.3 percent. The data tells us that parents understand the importance of breastfeeding early on, but as infants age, these numbers decrease. Many of these dyads represent instances of combination feeding, in which an infant is receiving breastmilk and formula in combination. Often, this isn’t the plan, but a necessity born of inadequate support given to the breastfeeding parent or lack of access to resources.

Whether parents access support within a hospital, at a private practice, via a support group, or even in a virtual space, it is an essential part of building a breastfeeding relationship with the positive outcomes parents desire.

Plan to Attend!

Idaho Breastfeeding Summit - Nourishing Partnerships to Benefit Idaho Families

June 24-25, 2021, JUMP (Jack’s Urban Meeting Place) - 1000 W. Myrtle Street, Boise

For many parents, breastfeeding is always part of the plan. But, in an effort to keep them committed early on, nobody mentions or plans for potential complications. For Hernandez, breastfeeding was ‘much harder than I expected’, which she now attributes to likely tongue and lip ties that remained undiagnosed because she wasn’t interacting with individuals specifically trained in breastfeeding and working toward the goals of breastfeeding families.

Getting breastfeeding families access to the right kind of support matters. Specific breastfeeding support helps troubleshoot, brainstorm, and establish great habits at every phase of the breastfeeding relationship.

Types of breastfeeding support professionals

Because breastfeeding support is so varied, it is important to understand some of the types of support available. Generally, they fall into six categories: breastfeeding medicine specialists (doctors with additional training in lactation), International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLS), certified breastfeeding specialists and lactation counselors (CLCs), doulas and childbirth educators with lactation training, peer counselors, and lactation educators (CLEs) who train others.

Where to look for breastfeeding support

Many factors can contribute to determining the kind of support that will help sustain a breastfeeding relationship. Location, access to technology, comfort in group situations, and stage of breastfeeding or specific obstacles to breastfeeding all help determine the best option for helping families. In addition to books by professionals, here are some of the myriad of services available to families:

Hospitals and Birth Centers

Often, places that help facilitate the birth of babies offer some form of lactation support. Many have certified lactation consultants onsite, or can recommend an outside professional to families. This resource is especially helpful as breastfeeding begins, but many facilities also extend care for a few months. Hospitals and birth centers typically offer prenatal breastfeeding support, assist with breastfeeding after delivery, and can offer follow up in your home or at a clinic. They are often also able to bill insurance for lactation services.

Support Groups

At any stage, breastfeeding support groups like La Leche League and Breastfeeding USA can help build community and offer advice through peer support. These frequently happen in online spaces too.

Private Practice Lactation Support

These licensed professionals are an excellent resource for families experiencing difficulty breastfeeding. Like professionals in a hospital setting, private practice consultants are trained in breastfeeding issues across the spectrum and can help connect families as needed.

Complimentary Services

A variety of professionals support breastfeeding through things like chiropractic care, craniosacral therapy, and even massage. Often, lactation professionals have relationships with related businesses who also help maintain breastfeeding relationships.

Additional Resources

The Idaho Breastfeeding Coalition is a nonprofit 501(c)3 who strives to establish breastfeeding as a biological norm for a healthier Idaho by working in five focus areas (legislative, breastfeeding research, coalition support for breastfeeding as a norm, community outreach and education, and support of national initiatives). In support of breastfeeding families, we have developed a robust bank of resources, listed by Idaho Health Department District, on www.idahobreastfeeding.org/ community-resources. Please let us know if there’s something we can do to support you.

Heather Hamilton-Post is a passionate advocate for breastfeeding after embarking upon very different breastfeeding relationships with each of her children. She holds a degree in Agricultural Communications from University of Idaho and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from University of Arizona. A lifelong Idahoan, she now works as a writer and editor in Caldwell.