8 Uncommon Reasons to See a Lactation Consultant
Topics
Introduction To Lactation Consultants
Unexpected Lactation Concerns Parents Don’t Always Realize
1. Latch Difficulties and Painful Nipples
2. Oversupply Can Be Just as Challenging as Low Supply
3. Gassiness and Digestion Issues
4. Weird Taste After Thawing Frozen Breastmilk
5. Oral Restrictions of the Tongue or Lips With Audible Clicking
6. Baby’s Facial, Neck, and Body Tension Can Affect Latch
7. Mouth Breathing Or Loud Snoring
8. Breastfeeding Struggles Can Impact Mental Health and Breastmilk Supply
How Allay Supports Your Breastfeeding Journey
Introduction To Lactation Consultants
Breastfeeding is a learning process and it doesn’t always come easily. Many new parents encounter challenges such as painful latch, low milk supply, clogged ducts, or concerns about infant weight gain, making professional lactation support essential. Having a lactation consultant on your postpartum and newborn care team can make a significant difference in your breastfeeding success and overall postpartum experience.
Many families reach out to a lactation consultant only when challenges arise, but support is valuable throughout all stages of newborn care. From establishing a good latch in the first week to introducing a bottle, returning to work, and starting solids, a lactation consultant can help ensure a smooth feeding journey every step of the way.
When it comes to choosing lactation support, two primary options are available: in-home lactation consultations and outpatient lactation consultations at a doctor’s office or hospital. Both provide expert guidance and hands-on help, but they offer different benefits depending on your needs and circumstances.
In this blog, we’ll explore the differences between in-home and outpatient lactation consultations, the advantages of each, and how to decide which is best for you.
Unexpected Lactation Concerns Parents Don’t Always Realize
Breastfeeding takes practice sometimes doesn’t always come easy. Many parents expect challenges like painful nipples or low milk supply, but there are other common—yet often overlooked—issues that can impact breastfeeding success.
1. Latch Difficulties and Painful Nipples
While difficulty latching and nipple pain are among the most common reasons parents seek lactation support, it's essential to take a deeper look at these issues. Many people believe that some discomfort is normal, but breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful. If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, it could be a sign that something isn’t quite right.
A study found that nipple pain and trauma in breastfeeding mothers often leads to undesired early weaning, often associated with poor latch.
Correcting infant positioning and attachment within the first week postpartum is associated with reduced nipple pain and longer breastfeeding duration (Kent et al., 2015).
🔹 How Lactation Consultants Help Identify The Root Cause Of Poor Latch or Nipple Pain:
Evaluate Positioning & Latch: Ensure optimal milk transfer and comfort by assessing positioning and latch technique. A well-adjusted latch can significantly reduce pain and improve the breastfeeding experience.
Assess Breast & Nipple Health: Identify conditions that may impact latch, such as engorgement, nipple trauma (cracks, blisters, blanching), or infections. Provide strategies to soothe sore or cracked nipples, including adjusting nursing positions to reduce pressure.
Examine Baby’s Oral Anatomy: Check for potential concerns like tongue-tie, lip-tie, or a high palate, which may affect the latch and overall feeding efficiency.
Disclaimer: Lactation consultants cannot diagnose a tongue-tie but are trained to recognize oral restrictions that may impact latch.
2. Oversupply Can Be Just as Challenging as Low Supply
While many parents worry about not producing enough milk, making too much milk can also cause challenges like engorgement, forceful letdown, and infant reflux. Additionally, oversupply can lead to green, frothy poops, which indicate that a baby may be taking in too much foremilk (milk produced at the beginning of a letdown and tends to be lower in fat content) and not enough hindmilk (higher in fat content that makes the baby satiated).
Hyperlactation syndrome — causing milk stasis, blocked ducts, inflammatory or infectious mastitis, and breast abscess — can lead to infant gas, excessive spit-up, colic, increased feeding frequency, and difficulty latching (Livingstone, 1996).
🔹 How Lactation Consultants Help With Oversupply:
Feeding Techniques: Lactation consultants can guide mothers on feeding strategies, such as adjusting the frequency and duration of feeds, to help regulate milk supply and prevent engorgement.
Managing Forceful Letdown: They offer positioning suggestions to manage forceful letdown, helping to prevent choking and discomfort in babies while ensuring a more comfortable feeding experience.
Breast Compression & Flow Control: Consultants teach techniques like breast compression to help control milk flow during letdown, making it easier for the baby to latch and feed without becoming overwhelmed.
Emotional & Practical Support: Lactation consultants provide ongoing support, offering solutions that make breastfeeding more comfortable, prevent undesired early weaning, and support a positive breastfeeding experience.
3. Gassiness and Digestion Issues
Some babies experience excessive gas, fussiness, and discomfort after feeding, which can be categorized as colic, but may actually be due to how they are feeding. Besides food sensitivities or pathologic gastrointestinal disorders, causes can include fast milk flow, shallow latch, infant oral dysfunction or restrictions, or poor positioning leading to excessive air intake.
🔹 How Lactation Consultants Help With Gassiness Due To Excess Air Intake:
Assessing Feeding Positioning: Lactation consultants are able to assess if the baby is positioned correctly and suggest adjustments to minimize air swallowing during breastfeeding. They may suggest keeping the baby’s head higher than the stomach or ensuring the body is in alignment for better latch and suction.
Improving Latch: A poor latch can cause babies to suck in air while feeding. Lactation consultants guide mothers to achieve a deeper, more effective latch to reduce the intake of air.
Suggesting Burping Techniques: Different burping techniques can help your baby release excess gas. You can use the traditional method by holding your baby over your shoulder and giving them a firm pat on their back. You can also try keeping them upright after feeds to help with digestion and relieve discomfort.
Addressing Milk Flow Issues: If milk flow is too fast or too slow, the baby may swallow more air. Lactation consultants may suggest techniques for managing fast letdown or help with positioning adjustments to ensure smoother milk transfer.
Evaluating Bottle Feeding Techniques: For babies who are bottle-fed, lactation consultants may provide tips on bottle types, nipple flow rates, and positioning to minimize air intake while feeding.
Identifying Other Contributing Factors: Lactation consultants evaluate whether other factors, such as overactive letdown, engorgement, or feeding frequency, could contribute to excessive air intake and advise accordingly.
4. Weird Taste After Thawing Frozen Breastmilk
You may have heard of “High Lipase Milk” causing a soapy taste in frozen breast milk. While no studies directly confirm that lipase is responsible for this taste change, research indicates that breast milk is susceptible to lipolysis—the breakdown of fats. Elevated levels of free fatty acids and increased acidity contribute to the rancid flavor observed in thawed milk.
Thawed breast milk with a soapy taste is completely safe for your baby to drink. However, some babies may be sensitive to the altered flavor and refuse to drink it. Since this is a common occurrence, it’s important to work with your lactation consultant to determine if your milk is affected. Testing around the time you introduce a bottle can help you identify any changes and find solutions early on.
🔹 How Lactation Consultants Help With Altered Breastmilk Taste:
Testing Stored Milk: Thaw a small amount of your oldest frozen breast milk to check for any unusual odor or taste. Refer to CDC guidelines for safe thawing instructions. If the milk smells soapy or rancid, it may have increased acidity and free fatty acids.
Evaluating Baby’s Response: A lactation consultant can help determine whether your baby will still accept the milk despite the altered taste or if adjustments are needed.
Mixing Strategies: If your baby is hesitant, they may suggest mixing a small amount of thawed milk with freshly expressed milk to dilute the taste and improve acceptance.
Storage & Freezer Checks: They can guide you in ensuring your freezer maintains optimal storage temperatures to prevent premature fat breakdown.
Ongoing Support: Lactation consultants provide reassurance and personalized strategies to help maintain your breastfeeding journey while ensuring your baby receives adequate nutrition.
5. Oral Restrictions of the Tongue or Lips With Audible Clicking
Oral restrictions—such as tight frenulums from tongue, lip, buccal, or submucosal ties—can lead to latching difficulties, inefficient milk transfer, and nipple pain. Babies with these restrictions often fatigue quickly at the breast and require extra stimulation to stay awake while feeding. While some healthcare providers may not diagnose or provide interventions for a tongue tie if a baby is gaining weight well, a comfortable and effective latch is essential for both mother and baby.
If you hear clicking sounds while breastfeeding, it may indicate that your baby’s tongue is losing suction and breaking the seal. Maintaining suction is important for effective milk transfer. When the seal repeatedly breaks, babies may compensate by using their lips or mouth muscles to hold onto the breast, which can feel like chomping or biting. This can lead to muscle tightness, discomfort, and further latching challenges.
A study in Pediatrics found that oral restrictions can significantly impact breastfeeding success, and tongue-tie releases (frenotomy) improved feeding outcomes in affected infants (O’Callahan et al., 2013).
Disclaimer: Lactation consultants cannot diagnose a tongue-tie but are trained to identify oral restrictions that may affect latch. While a frenotomy can improve feeding in some infants, results vary. To optimize outcomes after the procedure, it’s essential to work with a lactation consultant on post-frenotomy exercises and ongoing latch support.
🔹 How Lactation Consultants Help Babies With Oral Restrictions:
Assess Feeding Challenges: Assess oral restrictions that may impact latch, milk transfer, and overall feeding efficiency. Evaluate the mother’s milk supply to ensure she is producing enough milk and that her breasts are receiving adequate stimulation to signal her brain to produce the necessary hormones (prolactin and oxytocin) for milk production.
Optimize Feeding Techniques: Offer positioning adjustments, suck training, and strategies to improve milk transfer, suck strength and reduce discomfort.
Educate & Support Parents: Explain how oral restrictions impact feeding and guide families in making informed decisions. It is important to find a lactation consultant that provides options that align with and support your breastfeeding goals.
Refer to Specialists: Connect families with pediatric dentists, ears, nose, throat (ENT) doctors, or other healthcare providers if a release is needed.
Provide Post-Frenotomy Care: Support families with post-release exercises and continued latch improvement for the best outcomes. Look for a lactation consultant with experience in using non-invasive and gentle methods for performing the post-frenotomy exercises.
6. Baby’s Facial, Neck, and Body Tension Can Affect Latch
Tension in a baby’s jaw or neck, which can result from factors such as sitting on one side of the pelvis during pregnancy, the birth process, stalled labor, birth trauma, muscle tightness, or poor vacuum seal with the tongue, can significantly impact their ability to latch effectively. When tightness occurs in the neck or facial muscles, babies may struggle to open their mouths wide enough for a deep, effective latch. This can lead to inefficient milk transfer, nipple pain for the mother, and feeding difficulties. Lactation support combined with early intervention to address muscle tension, such as infant craniosacral therapy or chiropractic care, can greatly improve the latch and overall breastfeeding experience for both mother and baby.
A review analysis study of 27 research articles found that newborns with nursing dysfunction often struggle with musculoskeletal issues on physical exam (Hewitt et al., 2018).
🔹 How Lactation Consultants Help With Facial, Oral, and Body Tension:
Assess Oral and Muscular Restrictions: Lactation consultants evaluate for oral restrictions and check for muscle tightness in the baby’s face, jaw, and neck. These restrictions can impede the baby’s ability to latch properly, leading to inefficient milk transfer and discomfort for both baby and mother.
Recommend Specialized Therapies: If oral or body tension is identified, lactation consultants may recommend therapies like craniosacral therapy, pediatric occupational therapy, or chiropractic care to help release restrictions, improve mobility, and enhance the baby’s ability to latch and feed effectively.
Provide Feeding Techniques and Positioning Tips: Adjusting the baby’s positioning and ensuring a deep latch can help relieve facial and oral muscle tension, making feeding more comfortable for both the baby and the mother.
Guide Families on Follow-Up Care: After recommending therapies or adjustments, lactation consultants provide ongoing support and guidance to ensure the baby continues to progress and address any lingering issues. This may include follow-up visits or coordinating with other healthcare professionals for continued care.
7. Mouth Breathing Or Loud Snoring
Mouth breathing, often accompanied by loud snoring, can have significant effects on an infant’s development, particularly regarding their ability to latch and feed effectively. When a baby consistently breathes through their mouth, it can lead to changes in the structure of their mouth and face, such as an elevated palate. Over time, mouth breathing can result in nasal obstruction, making it harder for the baby to breathe through their nose and potentially causing further feeding difficulties.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch For:
Mouth Breathing: If your baby consistently breathes through their mouth during naps or when sleeping at night, this can affect the development of nasal and oral structures.
Loud Snoring: Snoring, especially when it’s loud or frequent, could be a sign of airway obstruction, which may lead to poor feeding, poor sleep, and discomfort.
Difficulty Latching: Mouth breathing can hinder the baby’s ability to latch deeply and effectively, leading to inefficient milk transfer and potential nipple pain for the mother.
Restlessness During Sleep: Babies or toddlers who snore loudly or breathe through their mouths may not be getting restful sleep, which can affect their overall well-being and energy for breastfeeding.
Nasal Congestion: Persistent nasal congestion or blocked airways without association to allergies or sickness can contribute to mouth breathing and snoring, making it harder for your baby to feed comfortably.
🔹 How Lactation Consultants Can Help Babies Who Mouth Breath or Snore:
Evaluate Feeding Positioning: Lactation consultants can assess the baby’s latch and suggest positions that may improve airflow and help reduce mouth breathing while nursing.
Oral Assessments: Lactation consultants can perform oral assessments to check for any potential issues with the baby’s mouth, feeding mechanics, or oral restrictions that may contribute to mouth breathing or difficulty latching.
Referral to Specialists: Persistent mouth breathing or snoring may require a referral to a pediatrician or ENT specialist to address issues like breathing difficulties, nasal congestion or enlarged adenoids. Depending on the severity of oral malformations, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, or occupational therapy may be recommended to improve nasal breathing and feeding efficiency.
8. Breastfeeding Struggles Can Impact Mental Health and Breastmilk Supply
Breastfeeding difficulties can lead to increased stress, frustration, and even postpartum depression (PPD), which can have a profound impact on a mother’s mental and emotional well-being. When a mother is stressed or anxious, her body produces higher levels of cortisol, the "stress hormone." Elevated cortisol can interfere with the body's natural production of oxytocin, the hormone responsible for milk letdown or release. As a result, high cortisol levels can reduce milk supply, making breastfeeding even more challenging.
Research has shown that mothers who experience early breastfeeding difficulties are more likely to experience higher levels of stress and anxiety, both of which are well-established risk factors for postpartum depression (Chaput et al., 2016). This creates a cycle where breastfeeding struggles exacerbate mental health issues, and mental health challenges, in turn, make breastfeeding more difficult.
🔹 How Lactation Consultants Help With Breastfeeding Struggles Impacting Mental Health:
Offer Emotional Support: Lactation consultants provide a compassionate and reassuring presence, helping mothers navigate the emotional and mental challenges of breastfeeding. This support can reduce feelings of stress and help mothers feel more confident in their ability to breastfeed.
Provide Practical Solutions: By offering techniques to improve latch, milk transfer, and overall breastfeeding comfort, lactation consultants address the root causes of breastfeeding struggles. This practical guidance helps alleviate stress, which in turn can help reduce cortisol levels and support healthy milk production.
Recommend Mental Health Support: Lactation consultants may provide a referral or suggest seeking support from a mental health therapist specializing in postpartum care to address stress and anxiety.
How Allay Can Support Your Breastfeeding Journey
At Allay, we strive to provide personalized holistic care to prenatal and postpartum families while supporting, educating, and empowering them every step of the way. Our services include in home lactation support that comes directly to you. Our board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLC) assist with:
✔ Latch issues and nipple pain
✔ Low milk supply and oversupply
✔ Engorgement and clogged ducts
✔ Pumping guidance and return-to-work planning
✔ Breastfeeding with tongue and lip ties
✔ Post-frenotomy exercises
✔ Newborn weight gain concerns
✔ Bottle refusal or aversion
✔ Bottle introduction and initiating pumping
Insurance & Payment Options
We accept insurance through The Lactation Network, which covers:
✅ Anthem Blue Cross
✅ Blue Cross Blue Shield
✅ United Healthcare
✅ Sutter Health Plan
Visit this website to check if your insurance is partnered with The Lactation Network. If your insurance isn't listed, we recommend reaching out to your provider to inquire about partial or full reimbursement for out-of-network services. Upon request, we can provide you with a Superbill, which you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement of lactation services.
We’re here to support you every step of the way! Supporting families in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area. Schedule your in-home lactation consultation with Allay today!
Welcome to the Allay Blog! Your go-to resource for articles about craniosacral therapy, massage therapy, lactation support, and other holistic care during pregnancy and postpartum. At Allay, we strive to provide personalized holistic care to prenatal and postpartum families while supporting, educating, and empowering them every step of the way!
