The process of lactation or breastfeeding is often considered easy, but it is not always the case. This is because there are many conditions that can make breastfeeding more difficult. In this case, a lactation consultant plays a role in dealing with complaints experienced by mothers in breastfeeding.
Difficulty breastfeeding can be caused by conditions of both mother and baby, such as sore nipples, infection in the baby's mouth, and low milk supply.
Lactation consultants are tasked with helping nursing mothers who have difficulty breastfeeding their babies. With the right support and information from a lactation consultant, breastfeeding can become easier.
Various Roles of a Lactation Consultant
Lactation consultants have a very diverse role, from directing mothers to breastfeed properly to dealing with complaints related to breastfeeding. Following are some of the roles of a lactation consultant:
1. Train mothers to breastfeed properly
In principle, the task of a lactation consultant is to train mothers to breastfeed their babies, as well as to convince and assist mothers during the breastfeeding process. In addition, lactation consultants can also teach the right breastfeeding position and how to increase the production of breast milk (ASI).
2. Handling complaints related to breastfeeding
As previously explained, lactation consultants help with problems that are often faced by breastfeeding mothers, including sore nipples, babies who don't want to breastfeed, baby's weight is difficult to gain, and breast milk that comes out late or milk production is not smooth.
3. Introducing breastfeeding aids and how to use them
Lactation consultants also help mothers recognize breastfeeding aids, such as breast pumps and how to store expressed breast milk properly so that it doesn't go stale easily. This is very important, especially for mothers who return to work or activities outside the home.
4. Directing the correct complementary feeding
Not only that, lactation consultants can also provide advice to mothers to deal with babies who are ready to get complementary foods (MPASI) along with the breastfeeding process.
5. Designing a feeding strategy for babies with certain conditions
Lactation consultants also play a role in designing feeding strategies for babies born with different nutritional needs, such as premature babies, twins, or suffering from certain conditions, such as congenital heart disease, cleft lip or palate. tongue tie.
Carefully Choose a Lactation Consultant
When choosing a lactation consultant, choose a lactation expert who already has a certificate or competency and license to practice in this field, for example from International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE).
In Indonesia, lactation consultants usually practice in hospitals. Some hospitals have lactation consultants as part of the medical staff to assist breastfeeding mothers.
Apart from hospitals, lactation consultants can also be found in maternity clinics, doctor's offices, or independent practices. Lactation consultants can also give breastfeeding classes to pregnant women.
In essence, a lactation consultant is a health expert who can help with various problems during breastfeeding. Therefore, if you have difficulty breastfeeding, do not hesitate to immediately see a lactation consultant, so that the complaints you are experiencing can be addressed as soon as possible.
