I remember my first time going to the gynecologist and thinking: what is going to happen there? What should I expect? What is going to be normal or not? I don’t want you to feel the same way when you need breastfeeding or chestfeeding help. So, today, I want to explain how a breastfeeding or chestfeeding visit works.
My breastfeeding/chestfeeding home visits in Helsinki or Espoo
It’s probably obvious, but in this version of a breastfeeding or chestfeeding help visit, I come to your cozy place.
In my prices (here), I include visits to zones AB of the Helsinki public transport network. I’m very environmentally conscious, so I don’t own a car. I use our excellent public transport system in the Helsinki metropolitan area to get around. If your house is in zone C, we will add the extra cost of the ticket to your consultation (usually an extra 10€). If you’re a bit farther away, always contact me, and we will see what we can do.
During a breastfeeding home visit, I usually stay at your place for one to one and a half hours. It’s important for you to know that we’ll need to review some information about the past: your pregnancy and your birth, as some factors can have an impact on what is going on now.
Some questions may be a bit personal. I know this can be hard or uncomfortable with someone you just met, especially after a difficult birth or challenging first days (or weeks). Keep in mind that I’m also a birth and postpartum doula, trained and experienced in birth debriefing and holding a safe space.
However, I will keep it to the point and will always respect your boundaries regarding what you can share and what you can’t. And, of course, your situation will be 100% confidential.
After creating a brief picture of what is happening and what’s happening, we will check:
- Baby’s latching
- Breast/chestfeeding positions
- Other lactation-related techniques (alternative supplemental methods, bottle feeding…)
What about online breastfeeding sessions?
Depending on the issues you are experiencing I will recommend a home visit or an online session. I also can provide the online sessions if you are to far away from me to travel to you. And there’s a lot we can do with a remote session, so don’t worry for that.
We will do of course a review of what happened in pregnancy, birth and immediate postpartum. We will review indicated practices with science-based information so you can understand what happened and why.
Online sessions are perfect also for:
- Questions in general about breastfeeding / chestfeeding. Even from pregnancy! We can do a session to prepare you and your postpartum supporters for breastfeeding most common challenges.
- Questions about introduction of solids to babies. Sings of baby readiness for solids , nutritional balance…
- Create a custom weaning plan for you.
- Planning when coming back to work.
- Discussing about breast-/chest-feeding and baby’s sleep
The goal of my lactation support sessions
It is important to discuss the goals of my lactation support sessions. Whether at home or online, we will create a plan for the next few weeks or up to 1 or 2 months, depending on the situation.
Each visit and each family has different goals and plans. After the session, I work on developing a customized, personal plan focused on your needs and concerns.
The goal of a lactation support visit is never to pressure you into exclusively breastfeeding. On the contrary, my professional evaluation often leads to offering families other options, such as mixed feeding or even transitioning to bottle feeding.
I strongly support slow, joyful postpartum experiences. Forcing someone to exclusively breastfeed can have serious consequences that I’m not willing to risk: the mental health of the birthing person and the entire family.
It’s also important to recognize that a single breastfeeding visit or session may not resolve major issues. I can’t perform miracles, and my hands-on approach follows a significant principle: we will respect your baby’s cues. We won’t force a baby just to get more latches during a session.
In summary, the goal of a good breastfeeding help visit includes:
- Creating a custom, step-by-step plan for your situation, with respect for your mental health needs.
- Helping you understand how breastfeeding works and dispelling old myths about breastfeeding.
- Reviewing latching and positioning, which are fundamental to a positive breastfeeding experience.
Breast-/chest-feeding Support Follow up
Once I leave your home or when we end our online session, you won’t be alone! Follow-up is included in my sessions, and I usually do it via WhatsApp.
I will send you a detailed and customized PDF full of information. It will include a summary of the visit and the main action points we agreed on afterward.
I’m available via WhatsApp for 1-2 weeks after the consultation and in the future for basic questions. I’ll always be honest and transparent with you. If what you’re asking about requires another consultation, I’ll let you know.
Sometimes complex cases may require additional home or online visits, for which I often offer a special price for visits 2 and 3. I also offer a special price if you need me to take a night shift for you.