Iredell Health System is providing free lactation services to support families in their breastfeeding journey. Rhea Lamb, a registered nurse and international board-certified lactation consultant at Iredell Memorial Hospital, leads the initiative by offering education and guidance tailored to each family’s needs.
“Some people have not had family support or friends around them who have breastfed,” said Lamb. “They need education, or they just need to have a conversation about it to ask whatever questions they might have. Some people come alone or with a partner, and some enjoy group classes.”
Lamb noted that every mother’s experience with breastfeeding is unique. She emphasized the importance of creating a supportive environment for mothers as they navigate their choices.
“Women need a safe space to come in and speak to someone who is not going to judge them for what they can or cannot do related to breastfeeding. I have strong feelings around that as a mom who delivered twins who were three months premature. My breastfeeding experience was a huge struggle, and I grieve for that. I know the emotion behind some of the decisions that you have to make related to breastfeeding.”
According to Lamb, past experiences and family dynamics often influence how women approach breastfeeding.
“If I’m sensing that mom is not comfortable nursing her baby in front of me, I’ll talk with her about what she’s comfortable with. I stop and ask her ‘What’s is your plan? What do you want? What are you comfortable with?’ If you don’t know that up front, you may give her an hour’s worth of information and it’s not what she actually needed from you.”
She also pointed out that issues such as previous abuse or body shaming can affect comfort levels during consultations.
“I have moms who come in who were being strongly encouraged by family or friends to breastfeed and feel like a failure because they simply could not do what they thought they were supposed to do. Part of my role is to give them the confidence to know they’re doing the best job they can, and that’s okay. It’s a beautiful thing to see moms relax and feel like they have hope.”
“We’re moms in different ways. It’s all about respecting where their journey is and doing what we can to help them through it.”
Lamb explained that some mothers decide against breastfeeding due to anxiety, depression, past trauma, or other reasons.
Sometimes babies face challenges while nursing, which can be addressed during in-person consultations.
“I encourage patients to come in person because you can’t glean enough information from a phone call. The baby may not nurse well due to a health issue. Sometimes there’s something else going on with mom. Maybe she doesn’t have enough milk making tissue to give her baby a full feeding. In a consult, we are able to evaluate some of those things.”
During these sessions, mothers feed their babies while Lamb observes technique and checks progress through pre- and post-feeding weights.
“Mom feeds baby, and we weigh them before and after. I watch her technique and how the baby is nursing. We typically come up with a reason why an issue is occurring, and how we can address it.”
She cited tongue or lip tie as examples of physical issues affecting feeding success.
“A lot of babies with tongue and lip tie issues are having reflux because of the way they’re suckling, so they are spitting up a lot and they’re not satisfied. Mamas are miserable, too. They might have sore nipples or engorgement. There are protocols we can follow to assist mom with that before it becomes a bigger issue.”
Other concerns addressed include positioning during feeding, latching techniques, and scheduling feeds.
“I love seeing moms succeed and watching the bonding and sense of satisfaction they have when they’re able to nourish their baby and feed them when they come into the world.”
Lamb stressed that supporting new mothers involves both practical help—such as providing time for rest—and emotional encouragement.
“Be an encourager,” explained Lamb. “You have to let them know that you might not understand everything about the process, but you’re there for them. Make sure they have a safe space to breastfeed or bring them food. Offer to give them rest time and take their baby while they go take a shower. Just having the time to take a shower is a huge thing for a new mom.”
“It’s important to support the decisions mom makes, even if you don’t agree with them. Having that compassion and respect will help her in her postpartum and through all the difficulties she’s going through with having a new baby in the house.”
“If breastfeeding is something that is important to you, there is help out there.”
The free lactation services offered by Iredell Health System include prenatal classes as well as postpartum group sessions or individual consultations for anyone seeking assistance—regardless of where their child was delivered.
