Providing private in-home & virtual feeding and lactation support in Metro Vancouver
Effectively everywhere! I'm based in New Westminster and travel within 25km is included in my pricing. This covers Burnaby, Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody), Pitt Meadows, Richmond, Vancouver, East Vancouver, most of Westside Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Surrey. Occasionally I can travel to Langley & South Surrey/White Rock. Please message about support in the Fraser Valley (Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack).
Virtual Support is provided without any boundaries across British Columbia and beyond.
As defined on IBLCE.org: "International Board Certified Lactation Consultants function and contribute as members of the maternal-child health team. They provide care in a variety of settings, while making appropriate referrals to other health professionals and community support resources. Working together with mothers, families, policymakers and society, IBCLC certificates provide expert breastfeeding and lactation care, promote changes that support breastfeeding and help reduce the risks of not breastfeeding."
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant is a feeding specialist who works with dyads (parent and baby pairs) and is an integral part of the health team. They make appropriate referrals to other health professionals and community supporters and help you to reach your feeding goals. They can help you to use equipment, do feeding assessments and demonstrate techniques to support feeding.
An IBCLC does not write prescriptions or diagnose. If and when they see a matter that needs to be addressed with medications or within the scope of practice of another care provider, they will make that referral after explaining what they see and why they believe it to be of concern.
We also do so much more. IBCLC's support parents/families to find realistic solutions that work for everyone involved in the feeding of their babies/children. Together we will devise a plan using up to date and evidence based information. This can mean focusing on breastfeeding if that's what you want/need but we are also experts at doing combo and bottle feeding. We can work with families who are feeding one way and want to transition to another and we can educate about optimal times to transition or change feeding methods. This includes not only feeding younger babies but also older ones, including toddlers. I do consultations for starting solids and how to wean safely and appropriately in a variety of circumstances.
My goal is to foster a positive and inclusive environment for all families who are interested in breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding. This includes those who want/need to combo and bottle feed as well. In a society where postpartum life often feels unmanageable and overwhelming, mothers, babies, parents and families should not have to face feeding challenges and adapting to life with a newborn on their own. Nor at any age and stage of your child's development for that matter. You can expect judgement free visits no matter what state you and your homes are in. Please don't worry about cleaning up before your in-home visit. I take you as you are so you can focus on your baby and yourself.