I’ve met with two different lactation consultants from the breastfeeding center online and truly they are the reason I’m still breastfeeding. We took the class offered by Sibley before the baby was here and we were so tired we fell asleep during it. I remembered the basics of getting a latch and that was it. Hospital consultants were hit or miss and did best when I asked them specific questions. One was really good and got me in a good place. We did our first virtual consultant 5 days postpartum but you could book one sooner. Breastfeeding Center is also super easy to book. I was crying one night and booked an appointment for 9 the next morning. It was like therapy.

There’s also a great free online breastfeeding group that meets virtually every Tuesday. They start the session going around doing introductions and if there’s anything you’d like advice about or any questions. The lactation consultant is excellent and takes notes then facilitates conversation. I highly recommend joining! They also just started a Slack group to have discussion during the week.

PS- The best words of wisdom I heard was at my 6 week pp check up. My doctor said “it’s always breastfeeding.” Before birth women worry about pain , tearing, recovery, etc but after she said it’s always breastfeeding. It’s insane how romanticized breastfeeding is made out to be, and then after everyone is like oh yeah it’s hard as hell and it sucks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lactation classes virtually? Is it worth it? Did anyone do this? I cant guarantee the nurse's will be helpful in post partum with teaching me how to breast feed (though I certainly will do my best to advocate for myself and make it known), but I want to be somewhat prepared (as I can be) beforehand. I have read some books and watched some youtubes but feel worried about it. Any advice?

I didn't take any lactation classes. Really doubt how useful they'd be virtually. A nurse explained a bit about what to do, then the hospital lactation consultant helped a bit further later that day. And we got a lactation consultant from The Breastfeeding Centre for a home visit. That was the best $100 I spent. She checked the exact space that I used to breastfeed, the latch, my posture, explained what to do, walked around the house, and helped me figure out what other places I could use to nurse. She also taught me how to safely nurse while lying down. What you think breastfeeding is before having a kid, and the actual experience of lactating and nursing a baby are so different.

sounds great, but not during covid.

you can't have one person with everyone in masks in your house for a bit? Open the windows. If you are that fearful then this is not a good time to have a baby

I did in person lactation classes pre-covid. They were helpful, and I think they would have been just as helpful virtually. DS was born in April, and I then did virtual one-on-one LC appointments through the Breastfeeding Center. At the time, Breastfeeding Center was only doing virtual appointments. The one-on-one sessions were definitely helpful, but in-person appointments would have been more helpful. I think they may now be doing some in person.

I did in person lactation classes pre-covid. They were helpful, and I think they would have been just as helpful virtually. DS was born in April, and I then did virtual one-on-one LC appointments through the Breastfeeding Center. At the time, Breastfeeding Center was only doing virtual appointments. The one-on-one sessions were definitely helpful, but in-person appointments would have been more helpful. I think they may now be doing some in person.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lactation classes virtually? Is it worth it? Did anyone do this? I cant guarantee the nurse's will be helpful in post partum with teaching me how to breast feed (though I certainly will do my best to advocate for myself and make it known), but I want to be somewhat prepared (as I can be) beforehand. I have read some books and watched some youtubes but feel worried about it. Any advice?

I didn't take any lactation classes. Really doubt how useful they'd be virtually. A nurse explained a bit about what to do, then the hospital lactation consultant helped a bit further later that day. And we got a lactation consultant from The Breastfeeding Centre for a home visit. That was the best $100 I spent. She checked the exact space that I used to breastfeed, the latch, my posture, explained what to do, walked around the house, and helped me figure out what other places I could use to nurse. She also taught me how to safely nurse while lying down. What you think breastfeeding is before having a kid, and the actual experience of lactating and nursing a baby are so different.

+1!

We considered taking a lactation class when I was pregnant with my first, and decided instead to pay for a home visit from The Breastfeeding Center. We had her come I think about 24 hours after I got home from the hospital. Waaaay more valuable!! I never had any issues with supply or not having a good latch, but I had issues getting the baby to latch, and getting in a comfortable nursing position. This way, I could focus on the problems I DID have instead of the theory. Highly recommend. We set up an account with them in advance, I think, and my husband put their number in his phone. He called them and set up the appointment within six hours of the birth.

sounds great, although not sure about having some one here due to covid

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lactation classes virtually? Is it worth it? Did anyone do this? I cant guarantee the nurse's will be helpful in post partum with teaching me how to breast feed (though I certainly will do my best to advocate for myself and make it known), but I want to be somewhat prepared (as I can be) beforehand. I have read some books and watched some youtubes but feel worried about it. Any advice?

I didn't take any lactation classes. Really doubt how useful they'd be virtually. A nurse explained a bit about what to do, then the hospital lactation consultant helped a bit further later that day. And we got a lactation consultant from The Breastfeeding Centre for a home visit. That was the best $100 I spent. She checked the exact space that I used to breastfeed, the latch, my posture, explained what to do, walked around the house, and helped me figure out what other places I could use to nurse. She also taught me how to safely nurse while lying down. What you think breastfeeding is before having a kid, and the actual experience of lactating and nursing a baby are so different.

sounds great, but not during covid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lactation classes virtually? Is it worth it? Did anyone do this? I cant guarantee the nurse's will be helpful in post partum with teaching me how to breast feed (though I certainly will do my best to advocate for myself and make it known), but I want to be somewhat prepared (as I can be) beforehand. I have read some books and watched some youtubes but feel worried about it. Any advice?

I didn't take any lactation classes. Really doubt how useful they'd be virtually. A nurse explained a bit about what to do, then the hospital lactation consultant helped a bit further later that day. And we got a lactation consultant from The Breastfeeding Centre for a home visit. That was the best $100 I spent. She checked the exact space that I used to breastfeed, the latch, my posture, explained what to do, walked around the house, and helped me figure out what other places I could use to nurse. She also taught me how to safely nurse while lying down. What you think breastfeeding is before having a kid, and the actual experience of lactating and nursing a baby are so different.

+1!

We considered taking a lactation class when I was pregnant with my first, and decided instead to pay for a home visit from The Breastfeeding Center. We had her come I think about 24 hours after I got home from the hospital. Waaaay more valuable!! I never had any issues with supply or not having a good latch, but I had issues getting the baby to latch, and getting in a comfortable nursing position. This way, I could focus on the problems I DID have instead of the theory. Highly recommend. We set up an account with them in advance, I think, and my husband put their number in his phone. He called them and set up the appointment within six hours of the birth.

Anonymous wrote:Lactation classes virtually? Is it worth it? Did anyone do this? I cant guarantee the nurse's will be helpful in post partum with teaching me how to breast feed (though I certainly will do my best to advocate for myself and make it known), but I want to be somewhat prepared (as I can be) beforehand. I have read some books and watched some youtubes but feel worried about it. Any advice?

I didn't take any lactation classes. Really doubt how useful they'd be virtually. A nurse explained a bit about what to do, then the hospital lactation consultant helped a bit further later that day. And we got a lactation consultant from The Breastfeeding Centre for a home visit. That was the best $100 I spent. She checked the exact space that I used to breastfeed, the latch, my posture, explained what to do, walked around the house, and helped me figure out what other places I could use to nurse. She also taught me how to safely nurse while lying down. What you think breastfeeding is before having a kid, and the actual experience of lactating and nursing a baby are so different.

anyone else?

Anonymous wrote:I took one. I was very unimpressed with the lactation consultant at the hospital— particularly that I saw her for the first time more than 24 hours after my baby was born (I asked as soon as I was in my own room) and she spent four minutes trying to help me latch then connected me to a pump turned all the way up— I had a cracked right nipple before I left the hospital.

Anyway because I had taken a class, we were doing things like feeding the baby colostrum from a spoon before we finally saw a competent consultant who helped get the latch working. The class also had good product recommendations, and was (according to my husband) helpful for first time dads dads to know how to be supportive.

if you dont mind me asking what was the class?

Also did you see the consult in person?

I took one. I was very unimpressed with the lactation consultant at the hospital— particularly that I saw her for the first time more than 24 hours after my baby was born (I asked as soon as I was in my own room) and she spent four minutes trying to help me latch then connected me to a pump turned all the way up— I had a cracked right nipple before I left the hospital.

Anyway because I had taken a class, we were doing things like feeding the baby colostrum from a spoon before we finally saw a competent consultant who helped get the latch working. The class also had good product recommendations, and was (according to my husband) helpful for first time dads dads to know how to be supportive.

Lactation classes virtually? Is it worth it? Did anyone do this? I cant guarantee the nurse's will be helpful in post partum with teaching me how to breast feed (though I certainly will do my best to advocate for myself and make it known), but I want to be somewhat prepared (as I can be) beforehand. I have read some books and watched some youtubes but feel worried about it. Any advice?