Note: This article is for education and support; it is not a substitute for personalized medical care. If you or your baby have urgent symptoms, contact your clinician or seek emergency care.
If you have never met with a lactation consultant before, it is completely normal to feel a little unsure. Some parents worry they will be judged, or that they should have “tried harder” at home first. At The Breastfeeding Cafe, the goal is simpler: we look at feeding together, answer your questions in plain language, and help you leave with a plan that feels doable, not a list of rules.
Why families book a visit
People reach out for many reasons. Latch pain, questions about milk supply, pumping and flange fit, slow weight gain concerns, supplementing or combo feeding, tongue-tie conversations, or simply wanting a calm check-in in the early days. You do not need a “big problem” to deserve support. If feeding is on your mind, that is enough.
From intake to plan of care
A consultation is a full arc, not just a few tips in the middle of a feed. Here is how that usually flows, so you know what to expect from start to finish.
Intake and your goals
We begin with your story: how birth and the first days have felt, what you are hoping feeding will look like, and what feels hardest right now. Your goals matter. Whether you want to nurse exclusively, combo feed, pump for work, or simply feel less pain, we use that as the compass for the visit.
During the visit
When possible, we observe a feed so we can see what is working and what might be tweaked. Small adjustments to positioning or latch often feel less scary when you try them with guidance. We move at a pace that respects exhaustion, pain, or overwhelm; those feelings are common, and they matter.
You should hear one clear, consistent message from us, not a pile of conflicting ideas that leave you second-guessing. We do not diagnose medical conditions or promise specific outcomes. Every baby and body is different. We do help you interpret what you are seeing, align our guidance with questions for your pediatric or OB team when needed, and focus on practical steps you can take between visits.
Your take-home plan
Before we wrap up, we summarize next steps in plain language: what to practice, what to watch for, and when follow-up makes sense. Many families like personalized notes or a written plan of care they can reread when they are tired, or share with a partner or pediatrician. If that would help you, ask. We want you to leave knowing what “try this first” means for your family.
If something still feels uncertain, that is not a failure; it is information, and we can adjust as you go.
Before your visit
It can help to jot down a few notes: when feeding tends to feel hardest, what you have already tried, and any questions you do not want to forget. If your pediatric team has shared weights or feeding concerns, having that context available is useful. You do not need to prepare perfectly; a few quick notes on your phone are fine, even if they are messy or half-written in the middle of the night.
If your visit is virtual
For telehealth, many families set up their phone or laptop where we can see baby’s positioning during a feed, with decent lighting and your usual feeding pillow or support nearby. More about virtual visits is on our telehealth lactation support page and in our telehealth article.
Telehealth vs. in-person
Telehealth can be wonderful for planning, pumping questions, and follow-ups. Sometimes hands-on support in your home is the better fit; we will be honest about that so you are not left guessing. Details about how we serve Central Florida families are on our lactation consultations page.