What Is Breastfeeding Medicine?: A Guide for Parents

Does this sound familiar? You have a breastfeeding problem and go to your
doctor, who looks back at you with a blank stare. Or recommends you switch
to formula. Or sends you to another doctor who doesn’t know what to do.

Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common. It happened to me when I had
my first baby! I saw a lactation consultant as well as my OB/gyn for recurrent
plugged ducts and eventually saw a breast surgeon who couldn’t figure out
what was going on. Thankfully, we ruled out anything serious, but I continued
to struggle with an uncomfortable situation throughout my lactation journey.

As a direct result of my difficulty getting answers to my breastfeeding
problems, I pursued specialized training in lactation and discovered the field of
Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (BFLM).

Excellent breastfeeding and chestfeeding support can and does come from
various professionals: lactation consultants, counselors, specialists, midwives,
doulas, and yes - OB/GYNs, pediatricians, and family medicine doctors.
Believe me, if I didn’t have lactation consultants helping me through my
journey, I don’t think I would have made it through in one piece! But when I,
like many, encountered a more complex problem that required physician
expertise, I couldn’t find anyone to help.

Through my professional goals of learning more about lactation, I learned
about a little-known group of physicians who had been treating breastfeeding
conditions for years – physicians with expertise in the medical nuances,
evaluation, and treatment of lactation-related problems. I took every course
and went to every conference I could find in the field. Since the start of my
training, BFLM has become a board-certified medical specialty through the
North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine.

BFLM provides something distinctive. It is a niche within medicine where
providers from different specialties acquire specialized training in caring for
breastfeeding dyads. BFLM physicians are different from other lactation
professionals in that we can diagnose, order labs or imaging, and prescribe
medications or other treatments as part of our care. We are equipped with
evidence-based medical expertise to provide that crucial support that was
lacking during my journey.

BFLM covers a wide range of concerns: painful latch, high or low milk
production, recurrent plugged ducts and mastitis, persistent breast and nipple
pain, tongue tie concerns, and maternal or infant medical conditions affecting
breastfeeding. It also includes support for mothers with twins, re-lactation,
and inducing lactation for adoptive or non-birthing parents wishing to lactate.

With the addition of BFLM physicians to women’s care teams, I hope that no
one feels that their only choice is to switch to formula because they cannot
find the support they need. How to feed your infant is a personal choice, and I
support families regardless of their choices. However, I strongly advocate for
access to appropriate support to make sure that those who do choose to
breastfeed or chestfeed can be given their best chance at reaching their
goals.