Being able to assess for the signs of a healthy, well-fed is critical to this work and numbers can be an important tool for us. If an infant is not gaining appropriately, calculating how much extra food the infant needs to grow properly, what this infant will be fed, identifying why this is happening, and providing possible solutions allows families to work on preserving breastfeeding while improving the breastfeeding relationship.
Helping families feel more confident can lead to greater breastfeeding success. IBCLCs can play a role in this. They can help families learn to trust their own parenting abilities, trust themselves,and trust their babies to tell them what they need. This article outlines many practical tips forIBCLCs to try. Better communication leads to improved relationships with families and this inturn can help families learn to trust themselves.
In this article Barbara discusses the lessons she has learned from feeding another type of mammal, kittens. Because of her fostering experience and needing to supplement these orphaned babies, Barbara has come up with eight key points about supplementation that apply to all mammals, not just kittens.
Robertson, Barbara D., An Alternative Treatment: Using ultrasound for plugged ducts. Clinical Lactation. 2016, 7 (4).
Robertson, Barbara D. Breastfeeding Without Birthing- An interview with Alyssa Schnell. Clinical Lactation. 2016, 7(1).
Robertson, Barbara D. Hope from ashes: The creation of the NEC society- An interview with Jennifer Canvassar. Clinical Lactation, 2015 6(4). 156-160.
Robertson, Barbara D. Revisiting Nipple and Breast Pain: A Conversation with Anne Eglash, MD. Clinical Lactation. 2015, 6(3), 124-128.
Robertson, Barbara D. Free to Breastfeed—Voices of Black Mothers. Clinical Lactation, 2014, 5(3), 90-96. http://www.clinicallactation.org/sites/default/files/articlepdf/s3-CL-5-3.pdf
Robertson, Barbara D. Working and Breastfeeding: Practical Ways You Can Support Employed Breastfeeding Mothers. Clinical Lactation, 2014, 5(4), 137-140. http://www.clinicallactation.org/sites/default/files/articlepdf/CL5-4_Final_A7_137-140.pdf