by Jack Newman

Finding a Lactation Consultant or breastfeeding-support person may seem like a daunting task but it is well worth the effort.

Types of breastfeeding support

La Leche League is an international group of women who give mother-to-mother peer support. They are a wonderful resource for support and information and run support groups in cities all around the world.

La Leche League Canada

• Mother to mother information and support by phone & email
• Community Groups for pregnant and nursing mothers
• Find Local Groups
• Website information and publications for families and health professionals
• Breastfeeding Referral Service 1-800-665-4324
• Office E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Tel: 613-774-4900 Fax: 613-774-2798

Lactation Consultants are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants this means they are registered Lactation Consultants, IBCLC, RLC who are required to keep current with breastfeeding information and must recertify every five years. We provide hands-on clinical support and are trained to work with all breastfeeding-related problems. In order to certify we must have many thousands of hours of practical hands-on training and must have completed many education credits to write the international exam in the first place.

To find a Lactation Consultant, contact ILCA for a worldwide search or IBLCE or your local Lactation Consultant Association or, in Canada, the Canadian Lactation Consultants Association is also a good resource.

Breastfeeding Clinics may be found in many hospitals. Most clinics are staffed by IBCLCs, though not always. See Resources list (link to Resources under Breastfeeding Help)

Of course, getting the best start is the way to go, and having as few interventions during labor and delivery will help a mother to get that best start. Having a Midwife and/or Doula as support during labor is usually a good assurance that the labor will go as naturally as possible.

Midwives: though experts in pregnancy and labour support, they are also trained to counsel mothers in getting a good breastfeeding start.

In Ontario: Association of Ontario midwives
In Canada: Canadian Association of Midwives

Doulas may also be trained in breastfeeding support. A Doula is a labour-support person. Doulas may be found through DONA or through CAPPA at or in CAPPA -- Canada.

How to choose a good and helpful breastfeeding support person

1. When you seek help from a Lactation Consultant, you should not feel that she is mainly trying to rent or sell you some product. The Lactation Consultant is there to help you with your breastfeeding problem, and very often help does not require any products. Even if you do need to rent a pump, for example, you should not feel that the lactation consultant is focusing on sales or rentals. Certainly, if she does sell you a pump or product, this sale time should not be included in her hourly fee.

2. No matter what your problem, a good LC should not be telling you that you cannot breastfeed. We hear of some Lactation Consultants and doctors telling mothers they cannot breastfeed. Do not believe them. If you have nipples you can breastfeed. Women are often told they must stop or interrupt breastfeeding due to illness or a medication they are taking or a test they must undergo -- this is only very rarely true.

3. No LC or breastfeeding-support person should ever bring formula with her to your home. LCs are not allowed to distribute formula samples or recommend a formula by name. Ask her ahead of time if she intends to bring some formula samples with her. This may be an indication of her true support for breastfeeding.

4. Nipple shields and bottles are being used much too often to try to fix breastfeeding problems, even though they can, very occasionally, be useful. Nipple shields should never be used for the baby who refuses to latch on before the mother's milk "comes in" on day three or four (or sometimes later). Once the milk "comes in," many babies will latch on easily without a nipple shield. There are usually better ways of supplementing or feeding babies than using a bottle. Be skeptical if your LC is quick to use a nipple shield. Patience, perseverance, and good technique are almost always good enough to get any baby latched. See handout When Baby Does Not Yet Latch.

5. REMEMBER to Get the best Start: Try to ensure and aim for the most natural labor possible. A good Midwife or Doula may be an invaluable way to achieve that goal.

Be wary if...

You are told to feed x number of minutes per side