What is lactation support?
Lactation support is a service that specialises in assisting in breastfeeding and offering a mother's milk to her baby. You can visit our lactation support team while you're pregnant, right after you give birth or several months into breastfeeding. You might need this support most urgently during the first few weeks of your baby's life. This is when your baby is learning how to nurse, and both of you may need more support.
Breastfeeding is a personal decision, and doing so offers many benefits to both you and your baby. However, challenges like nipple pain or low milk supply make some mothers stop breastfeeding. Our maternity team at our hospital in Al Ain is trained to work with infants and their mothers to address any feeding challenges. Getting help from a lactation specialist can improve your chances of breastfeeding for as long as you choose.
What lactation services are available at Mediclinic Al Jowhara Hospital?
Our maternity team at Mediclinic Al Jowhara Hospital in Al Ain can offer general breastfeeding support and education. This includes showing you how to position and latch your baby for nursing and kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact). They can also help you manage a wide range of issues that may come up, including:
- Breast engorgement
- Oversupply of milk (hyperlactation)
- Low supply of milk
- Clogged milk ducts
- Breast inflammation (mastitis), which may or may not lead to infection
- Nipple blebs
- Sore, cracked or painful nipples
- Latching difficulties, including babies with tongue-tie or cleft lip/cleft palate
- Challenges with expressing milk by hand or with a breast pump
- Support for babies with low birth weight or slow weight gain
- Support for babies who refuse the breast or bottle
How can our lactation team help you?
Our team of lactation specialists is trained to help you with any problems or concerns related to breastfeeding your baby and lactation (including weaning). They can offer reassurance and troubleshoot specific issues with you. They may encourage you and educate you on how to:
- Increase, decrease or maintain your milk supply (depending on your individual needs)
- Recognise your baby’s hunger cues
- Develop a feeding schedule
- Help your baby latch
- Treat sore or cracked nipples
- Manage breast engorgement
- Find the best breastfeeding position for you and your baby
- Check if your baby is gaining weight
- Pump or express milk by hand or with a breast pump
What can I expect from my appointment for lactation support?
- In general, you can expect our lactation support team at Mediclinic Al Jowhara Hospital in Al Ain to:
- Visit you within the first few days of giving birth (if you’re staying in a hospital). This time is critical for establishing breastfeeding and for your baby’s weight gain
- Review your health history and your baby’s health record
- Watch you breastfeed your baby. They’ll pay close attention to how your baby latches on, sucks, swallows and breathes as they feed
- Give pointers on positioning and how to become more comfortable breastfeeding
- Help you with your breast pump and make sure it fits your breasts and nipples properly
- Answer any questions you have and troubleshoot issues unique to you and your baby
- Teach you how to know if your baby is getting enough breastmilk and gaining enough weight. These could be things like counting dirty and wet diapers or using a scale to weigh your baby before and after feedings
While in-person consultations with our lactation team are the traditional way to get support, some people find success doing virtual consultations.
You can visit our maternity team for expert lactation support at Mediclinic Al Jowhara Hospital in Al Ain.