Breastfeeding: Benefits, challenges and top tips from a lactation consultant
During breastfeeding awareness week, we interview Inderjeet Chahal, a nursery nurse and lactation consultant at the Lindo Wing, to discuss the benefits of breastfeeding, the common challenges faced by new parents and some top tips for breastfeeding.
Could you tell us more about you and your speciality?
I work as a nursery nurse at the Lindo Wing and I specialise in the clinical management of breastfeeding. I am also certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) as a lactation consultant, which allows me to provide professional lactation consultations and support to new mothers and parents.
Why did you choose to train as a lactation consultant?
Helping a mother who needs support to feed their baby brings me joy, because it’s not just about filling their baby’s tummy with milk, but also about the bond established from the first feed, that continues to develop through the first months of their baby’s life.
What would you say are the benefits of breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding and skin-to-skin are both ways of calming your baby’s heart rate and breathing rate as well as maintaining their temperature.
Breastmilk meets your baby’s core nutritional needs. The process of breastfeeding can be a relaxing experience for yourself as you watch your baby feed. The release of oxytocin during a feed could help bring a state of calm and reduce stress.
Some other great benefits of breastfeeding are:
- it provides protection for your baby from infections and diseases
- it’s available for your baby at anytime
- it can help build a strong emotional bond between you and your baby
What are the common challenges faced by parents when it comes to breastfeeding?
I would say the main obstacle parents face is a lack of support and knowledge – which is why I am so passionate about supporting parents and providing them with as much useful information as possible.
Dealing with engorgement in the first few days as the milk comes in can cause a mother to feel stressed and overwhelmed, which is very common too.
A mother not knowing what methods to use when breastfeeding could result in them developing sore nipples, making the experience a less comfortable one for them and their baby.
Another challenge mother’s may face is when their baby is struggling to latch properly. A poor latch can result in their baby not getting enough milk. It is also the primary cause of cracked or bleeding nipples.
There are other challenges one might come across when breastfeeding, but by making sure parents feel well informed and educated before they leave the hospital, we’re able to avoid some of them potentially popping up at a later stage.
Could you give an example of the top tips you’d usually share with parents on breastfeeding?
A few examples of the advice we would give around breastfeeding is to create the right setting or environment to feed your baby, so that you are both relaxed and comfortable.
We also advise parents to look out for signs their baby might give to let them know they are hungry. This could be their baby sucking their fists or licking their lips and opening their mouths, as if they are searching for the breast.
What are the benefits of engaging with a lactation consultant?
Lactation consultants help to ensure that the initial bond during breastfeeding is set up for the highest chance of success.
You may get a lot of support in hospital but when you arrive home and begin establishing some form of routine with your baby, you might realise there’s additional support or guidance you require.
One of the important things we teach before having your baby is how to harvest your colostrum. We discuss the importance of bonding with baby in utero - so responding to baby movements by touching and talking to your bump - as this is key for the baby’s brain development.
We cover the importance of both parents doing skin-to-skin and discuss ways this can help with comforting their baby, increasing milk supply and assisting with attachment.
We also discuss responsive feeding which is very important when establishing breastfeeding.
Can you tell us more about your lactation clinic appointments and infant feeding workshops?
Our two-hour infant-feeding workshops are led by highly experienced lactation consultants who help break down a wealth of information available for new parents on everything to do with infant feeding. The session is ideal for pregnant people who may have had a previous challenging feeding experience, and for parents who have started their feeding journey who may benefit from additional support.
We deliver our lactation clinics through 1:1 sessions where we provide personalised support to expectant or new parents when feeding their baby. This can be booked as a separate service or as a helpful addition to our infant feeding workshop.
All our sessions take place in a relaxing environment and are thorough but informal and catered to each person’s needs.
In the case of group sessions, we tend to keep these small and intimate so that we can give plenty of attention to each family, allowing time for any questions or concerns they might have.
Why did you choose to work at Imperial College Healthcare?
I’ve been at the Lindo Wing for 10 years now and have enjoyed every aspect of my role.
I studied and qualified as a lactation consultant in July 2022 and have since been enjoying my time supporting families and working in collaboration with colleagues to deliver quality care to patients.
The core values we observe at Imperial College Healthcare inspire us to continue giving the best care and support to each patient and to cater to their needs in a personalised way.
Antenatal care at Imperial College Healthcare
To help you prepare for your new arrival, we offer a range of antenatal classes available exclusively to parents having their baby at the Lindo Wing. Our intimate groups give you and your birthing partner time to have in-depth conversations with our midwives and raise any questions or concerns you might have. There will also be opportunities to connect with your fellow attendees during each session.
Learn more about our lactation clinic workshop or any of our other antenatal classes here.
For more information on course dates or to book your place please email imperial.lindo.maternity@nhs.net or call 0203 312 6224.
