Deciding that you would like to Breastfeed your baby is a huge commitment and it’s one that isn’t easy. Breastfeeding takes a remarkable amount of dedication and determination and despite what we imagined it might be like, what we read or how easy it looked for others — it’s not easy. Especially for a first time mom! I wish someone had prepared me this truth when I was pregnant and idealistic about how I would breastfeed my baby and it would just come so easily and naturally. Spoiler Alert: it didn’t. In those early days, I relied heavily on the expertise of the wonderful community of Lactation Consultants in Asheville and as a result, I was able to successfully breastfed my son for nearly 3 years!
After my son was born, he went to NICU for a few days and while he was there, he latched fine and everything seemed to be on the right track. One piece of advice that I found to be incredibly sage was when the nurses told me to pump after each feeding (but they didn’t tell me to discontinue doing that at any point, so I did that for about 6 months or so when I didn’t have to) and what that did for me was made my supply plentiful, so I was able to freeze lots of milk for when I went back to work! But the thing that I WISH someone, anyone would have warned me about was that on that 4th day, when I took my baby home from the hospital, my milk would come in and my nipples would be huge and my boobs would be on fire and my tiny, new baby who was latching fine in the hospital would no longer be able to latch well for a few days and he would be hungry and screaming and I would be exhausted, scared, crying and panicky about not being able to feed my baby and I didn’t need to be.
In those early days, I relied heavily on the wonderful, knowledgable community of Lactation Consultants in Asheville and I firmly believe, had it not been for these incredible women, I wouldn’t have made it. I would have given up before I even started and I would not have been able to breastfeed my baby and that would have devastated me, because it was something I really wanted for us.
If you’re hoping to breastfeed your baby when they arrive OR if you’re currently trying to breastfeed your baby, my hope is that this blog post makes you feel less in the dark, empowered and less alone. I hope that it prepares you for the possible realities of what breastfeeding might actually be like and encourages you not to panic and not to give up because there are amazing resources in our community to help you make it happen, if that’s what you want! XO -Brittany
Oh! If you’re thinking that these Newborn Photos included in this post are totally adorable and maybe you would like to schedule a Newborn Portrait Session for your baby, you can view my Newborn Portfolio here: Asheville’s #1 Newborn Photographer
Here’s a list of Lactation Consultants in Asheville:
Asheville Lactation Consulting – Offers Lactation & Feeding Consultations, Prenatal Consultations, Back-to-Work Consultations, Pumping Consultations, Breastfeeding Classes, Breast Pump Rentals, Weight Checks and Infant Scale Rentals. In addition to Office Visits, they also offer In-Home Visits, Virtual Visits and Phone Support. Best of all, they take most insurance providers! They’re located in Oakley at 573 Fairview Road, Suite 6 Asheville, NC 28803. Text or Give them a call to schedule an appointment: 828.373.3345
Ashley Borman Lactation – Ashley is a mother of two and an In-Home Lactation Consultant which is amazing because she will come to you, in the comfort of your own home during those early, exhausting days, no need to try to load up and go somewhere for help! While Ashley doesn’t currently accept insurance, her rates are incredibly reasonable and you can most likely be reimbursed by your insurance provider for lactation services! Here’s a link for all of the services she offers as well as the investment info for working with Ashley: Investment
Mission Health Breastfeeding Center – Offers monthly breastfeeding classes to help new parents prepare to begin their breastfeeding journey as well as several internationally board-certified lactation consultants on staff who are available to meet with you during your postpartum stay at the hospital to teach breastfeeding basics through one-on-one sessions. They can answer your questions and help you be prepared for a confident transition home with your newborn. You’ll find expert help and individualized planning for issues such as:
- Latch-on difficulties
- Sleepy babies or issues where babies are unable to nurse well
- Sore nipples
- Milk supply concerns
- Swelling of the breast (engorgement)
- Collection and storage of breast milk
- Your baby is not feeding or wetting enough
- Your baby is not gaining enough weight
They have a “warm line” for answering your questions from home and outpatient services are also available. For an appointment or questions please call (828) 213-1103.
Oh! If you’re thinking that these Newborn Photos included in this post are totally adorable and maybe you would like to schedule a Newborn Portrait Session for your baby, you can view my Newborn Portfolio here: Asheville’s #1 Newborn Photographer