Why I WISH I Had a Home Visit

It will be easy. Baby will latch just fine. You’re a natural. Don’t worry. Millions of mother’s breastfeed. It can’t be that hard, right?
 
Those were all common phrases spoken to myself, in third person, prior to the arrival of my first kiddo. Yup that’s right, I told MYSELF all of those absolutely ridiculous things. I believed them. My affirmations were my truths until SHE came, three weeks early I might add.

Hey there! My name is Kelly Maher Carvell, CLC, CLE.
I offer effective telehealth lactation support and education to modern families.  
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While some of my affirmations are most definitely true for many mothers, they were not my truths in the moment. Oh how I WISH someone would have sat me down and gently said, “Jennifer those are really beautiful and truly inspiring – if those are your truths, GREAT, but IF you have any need for help, I know where to find it.” Nope, that did not happen. Instead, my first, second and third person experienced challenges galore with not one clue as to what to do. The hospital was great, my husband was beyond amazing, yet I felt like I was failing at motherhood. Miserably. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was our home for quite a few days, thanks to some complications with Jaundice. So instead of being in the comfort of my home, I was beginning our breastfeeding journey as a brand-spanking new mother in the NICU, behind curtains, in an uncomfortable rocking chair among several other families collectively. We worked our feeding schedule around the Lactation Consultant’s schedule, so that she could be present during our feedings. Convenience and ease were out the door and down the street. Everything seemed forced. Her hands on approach and assistance were forced, along with every single fine-tuned detail as to how to care for my newborn girl was forced.
 
Finally the time came to go home. We were primed with bucket loads of information and booklets, handouts and resources galore. I can recall vividly, during the car ride home, in the back seat with my new and extra tiny nugget “How do I do this?” “OMG she is our responsibility, how could they let her go home with us?” Once home, the sleep deprived, touched out mom had a new set of problems. PAIN. Toe curling pain that was unexplainable. How could someone so little, elicit SO MUCH pain? I thought pain was over after she was born. Countless people suggested I go back to the hospital. HA! We just left that place and their terribly uncomfortable amenities. The next suggestion was a support group style setting nearly 3 cities over (I’ll spare you the details now, but may cover in a later blog post). Something surrounding vacations and coffee didn’t do it for me and my cracked and bleeding nipples.
 
After some time (by some time, I mean 3-4 weeks later) and my own remedies, thank God the pain subsided and we found our sweet, sweet groove. This is when the highly anticipated journey began.
 
I’m sure you’re wondering, “why would she share all the turmoil and challenge, rather than the daisies and roses I oh so often read about?” Well, after really thinking about it, how much havoc could I have avoided myself if one of the suggestions had been to have someone come to my home? My couch is really comfortable and honestly I really like feeling comfortable on MY couch. There they could have REALLY listened to me, in my home, with MY pillows, guiding MY hands in an UN-aggressive hands-OFF approach.
 
As a Lactation Professional, I have taken many, if not ALL of the many things learned from my own experiences, along with countless other’s and have developed how I practice with clients. I have built my foundation from likes and dislikes from my challenges and clients that have shared their stories. Successful Breastfeeding believes it is of the utmost importance that each and every consult be custom tailored support for the client, sensitive to the goals she desires to achieve. 
 
What can you expect during a Home Breastfeeding Support Session with a Successful Breastfeeding Expert?
 
1. Assessment of a full feeding
2. Aid you with learning latching techniques
3. Practice different breastfeeding positions to discover what is most comfortable for you
4. Discuss any and all questions or concerns you may have
5. Create a custom care plan for you, and a plan to share with your doctor
6. Find any referrals if you need them
7. And most importantly, leave you feeling confident in yourself and your ability to feed your baby!
 


​Welcome to this new blogging journey I have embarked upon. I look forward to sharing stories, successes and maybe even a few failures (since we all learn from our failures and move on to better and higher right?). I envision an intro post in the near future along with a story or two of how I started this journey as a Lactation Professional and Successful Breastfeeding Expert. In the meantime to read my Bio click HERE.
 
As always for more information or to schedule a Successful Breastfeeding Prenatal Class , Successful Breastfeeding Support Service (In-Home Session) or a Return to Work Workshop visit our website at http://www.successfulbreastfeeding.org/
 
“Jennifer was fantastic. In my second week postpartum, I was upset because breastfeeding was not going well. I wanted to exclusively breastfeed my little one but I was ready to give up. Jennifer was able to come over that day and in 2 hours give me peace of mind. She was extremely professional and had a lot of information. She was also able to answer all of my questions I had, plus more. I was successfully able to get my little one latched without pain and feeding the correct way.  I would highly recommend Jennifer as a lactation consultant.” Jessica M.

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