Finding the Best Lactation Consultant for You & Your Baby

Are you a new mom who needs help with breastfeeding? Are you struggling to produce enough milk for your newborn? Have you been told that there is something wrong with how you are latching or feeding your newborn baby and need some guidance on how to fix it? It’s hard being a new parent, but we’re here to help! We have compiled this list of suggestions to help you find a lactation consultant near you.

Ask your doctor or midwife for lactation consultant recommendations

Getting lactation consultant recommendations from your doctor or midwife is a good place to start. However, if you have friends who’ve had successful experiences with lactation consultants in the past, ask them! Personal recommendation of lactation consultants is one of the strongest forms of endorsement there are.

Check out Breastfeeding Resources at your local hospital

Visit your local hospital’s lactation consultant page to see if they can recommend a lactation consultant. If there are lactation consultants on the hospital’s staff, they may do private consultants on the side. They might also be able to give you a list of lactation consultants in your area. 

Take Breastfeeding Classes

A lot of hospitals will offer breastfeeding classes as well as postpartum doulas who can help guide new parents through the process. The classes can be a great addition for those who want some extra help, but don’t feel like they need to work one-on-one with a lactation consultant.

Check Out Online Lactation Consultant Directories

The mission of the United States Lactation Consultant Association is to support the advancement of the lactation profession and lactation care providers for the health of families across the country.   The United States American Lactation Consultant Association website has a listing of lactation consultants across the United States. You can search for lactation consultants near you.  You can find lactation consultant specialists like those that specialize in premature infants, breastfeeding twins etc.  You can also read reviews from mothers about their experience with lactating consultants and narrow down who could be best fit for you!

Use Google to find a Lactation Consultant near you

It’s easy to use Google to find lactation consultants. You can search for lactation consultant in your area, or by specialty if desired. For example, a lactation consultant who specializes in premature infants would be listed as “Lactation Consultant – Premature Infants”. Other possible searches include “lactational counselor” and “breastfeeding specialist.” We suggest using keywords such as birth type (preterm vs full term), gender of child/babies feeding at the time of consultation, allergies present during pregnancy or postpartum period etc., so that potential matches will return with more relevant information specific to their needs; this is especially helpful when looking for specialists like a lactation consultant who specializes in premature infants.

Please note that some health care providers may not list themselves under the term “lactation consultant” but rather something like “breastfeeding support”. In this case you will need to do a Google search of breast feeding support or breastfeeding specialists in your area, as well as include your keywords in the search to ensure that you find the most relevant information.

We suggest including your keywords in your search, as well as using a location or city name.

Search the online yellow pages for a Lactation Consultant near you

Look in the online yellow pages under “breastfeeding” and see if there are any listings for lactation consultants near you  If nothing else, looking through your local phone book will give you a chance to contact lactation consultants by phone. Ask them about their practices, how much they charge per session or if they do private consultations only.

Ask your friends to help you find the BEST Lactation Consultant near you.

Ask around – Your friends or local moms groups might know who has helped them breastfeed before. You could also ask your doctor or midwife for recommendations.

Use Facebook to find a Lactation Consultant near you

There are lots of groups for expectant and new moms on Facebook.  Use them to help you find a lactation consultant who will be a good fit for your and your newborn baby.

Use Online Forums to find a Lactation Consultant near you.

The online community “What to Expect” has forums for expectant and new parents.  

The Bump is also a great resources for those looking for pregnancy, newborn, and parenting forums.