You had a picture-perfect vision of nursing your baby that has disintegrated into days or weeks of tears, frustration and pain.

Your nipples probably hurt and you cringe when you put your hungry baby to your breast. You may have been told to supplement because you are not making enough milk. Your baby may sleep, fuss, pull away or cry when you nurse and you may even think your baby hates you or breastfeeding.

You have searched online, asked your friends and family, gotten help from other Lactation Consultants, read breastfeeding books, called La Leche League, pumped, maybe used feeders, SNS, bottles, nipples shields and shells. But, you are discouraged and confused with the results. Breastfeeding still isn't working. The biggest reason these didn't work is because nobody has taken the time to see the whole picture of you and your baby breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a complex mix of positioning, timing, hormones and relationship all mixed up with overwhelming emotions like desire, joy, sadness, frustration and anger.

Quitting has probably crossed your mind. You can't seem to get breastfeeding right. You may be in a community of bottle feeders who don't know how to get you through this hurdle. And you can't find anyone who "gets" what you are going through. You are starting to lose hope. You are probably feeling any combination of sadness, regret, defensiveness, anger and shame.

Breastfeeding is intuitive and natural, but often it's not easy. If you are nursing and it hurts, if you are unsure you have enough milk, or your baby is not thriving, there is something or several things together, that need teasing out and adjusting. For immediate help, call or text Donna at (845) 750-4402.

"In hindsight, it seems obvious. I needed different positioning, and to feed more frequently, but I didn't know how to do that."

When you move through this problem, you and your baby are going to have an unbreakable, loving, secure bond forever.  Breastfeeding is not just about feeding your baby — it nurtures you, too. It is a way to mother your baby that is unlike any other.

"I will never forget how frustrated I was in the beginning. I am so happy I stuck with it. Every time we nurse, I feel good."

Breastfeeding is like riding a bike. Some people hop on, wobble a little, and ride easily and naturally. Others try a hundred times, crashing and crying, skinned knees and palms, anger and frustration before they finally get it. But, one day, it clicks. All the little actions come together and you are sailing along, wind in your hair --Flying-- and you feel confident and happy. When you learned how to ride a bike, you probably had someone who held the seat while you wobbled. Someone who encouraged you, and reminded you to "Pedal! Pedal! Pedal!"

Just like riding a bike, some women figure it out on their own and others need a little help from someone who can listen, observe, and give you encouragement and remind you to Nurse! Nurse! Nurse!

"If it hadn't have been for Donna, we never would have made it. We had so many problems and I was ready to give it up."

You may be wondering if you need some help or if you can get by on your own. If you fit one or more of these situations, you would benefit from some help:

• If your nipples are raw, bleeding, cracked, or hurting;
• If you think, or have been told, that you are not making enough milk;
• If your baby is 5 days old and your milk has not come in;
• If your baby is 14 days and has not regained birth weight;
• If you think that your baby hates you and/or breastfeeding;
• If you are crying more than 2 hours in a day or think you are not cut out for motherhood.

You can get breastfeeding support right now that may be able to get you out of your current jam. Join the Breastfeeding Café on Facebook and post your question.

Help starts with a free assessment over the phone. That resolves more than half of the problems. (Yay!) You can call or text Donna at (845) 750-4402, even if it's 2 in the morning...(especially if it's 2 in the morning.)  

If you just need a little tune-up or some support around going back to work, weaning, pumping, solids, thrush, mastitis, toddlers, or some other mysterious thing, you can schedule a 15-30 minute targeted coaching session on whatever you are needing. It's a phone, Skype or office visit--whatever works for you.

If you have painful feeds, an infant who is not gaining weight, an infant under 2 months, a colicky baby, a baby who arches, screams or sleeps during feeds, a 90 minute consultation would be more helpful. It can be a home, phone, skype or office visit--whatever works for you.

If you need more information about your particular situation: text or call me at (845) 750-4402 

Or you can send me an email and I will get back to you within 24 hours.

Located in New York's Mid Hudson Valley. An easy drive from Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Kingston, Middletown, Newburgh, and Beacon, NY.  Serving Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan County