Lactation Consultant and Infant Feeding Support

Breastfeeding and infant feeding can feel overwhelming at times, especially in the early days. At Rooted Family, our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) offer warm, evidence-based support to help you feel confident and supported in your feeding journey.

We take a personalized approach, offering education and practical guidance that is responsive to your family’s needs and goals. Appointments are available in our cozy clinic, virtually, or in your own home.

Whether you are breastfeeding, pumping, combination feeding, or using alternative feeding methods, our lactation consultants provide non-judgmental care that honours your choices. Partners or support people are encouraged to attend the sessions too!

We provide in-clinic, in-home, and virtual lactation consultant services for families in Ottawa, including Kanata, Orléans, and surrounding communities.

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How Our Lactation Consultants Support Families in Ottawa

Our IBCLCs work with families experiencing a wide range of breastfeeding and infant feeding concerns, including:

Weight Gain Concerns
Assessment and support to ensure feeding is effective and your baby is growing well.

Nipple or Breast Pain
Help with latch, positioning, and comfort to reduce pain during breastfeeding or pumping.

Milk Supply Concerns
Support for low milk supply or oversupply, including education and practical strategies tailored to your situation.

Supplementation Support
Guidance on supplementing with formula or expressed breast milk while supporting your overall feeding goals.

Engorgement, Blocked Ducts, and Mastitis
Care and strategies to relieve discomfort, promote breast health, and reduce the risk of complications. Read more here.

Frequent Feeding and Feeding Patterns
Reassurance and tools to help you understand and manage frequent or cluster feeding.

Flange Fitting and Pumping Support
Personalized pump flange sizing and pumping guidance to improve comfort and milk expression.

Lip and Tongue Tie Concerns
Assessment support and referrals when oral ties may be impacting feeding.

Weaning Support
Gentle guidance for partial or full weaning that respects both parent and baby.

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Additional Lactation and Feeding Support

Paced Bottle Feeding
Education and guidance on paced bottle feeding with formula or expressed breast milk.

Induced Lactation Support
Specialized lactation support for adoptive parents, surrogacy journeys, and same-sex couples.

Prenatal Breastfeeding Consultations
Prepare for feeding before birth with education, planning, and space to ask questions.

Starting Solids Support
Support and guidance when introducing solid foods while continuing milk feeding.

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Related Services

You may also wish to explore our Blocked Duct Ultrasound Therapy and Parent Support services for additional care options.

Feeding positions, posture, and core support can affect comfort during breastfeeding and pumping. Some parents find that pelvic floor physiotherapy, chiropractic care, or physiotherapy-osteopathy support overall body comfort during the postpartum period.

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FAQs

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Q: What does a lactation consultant do?

A: A lactation consultant supports parents with breastfeeding, pumping, and infant feeding concerns. This can include assessing latch and positioning, addressing pain, supporting milk supply, helping with pumping, and offering guidance around supplementation or weaning. At Rooted Family, our IBCLCs provide evidence-based, non-judgmental care tailored to your goals.

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Q: Can a lactation consultant help if I am pumping or combination feeding?

A: Yes. Our lactation consultants support parents who are exclusively pumping, combination feeding, or transitioning between feeding methods. We can help with pump setup, flange fitting, pumping schedules, milk supply concerns, and feeding plans that work for your family.

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Q: What should I do if I am worried about my milk supply?

A: Milk supply concerns are common and can look different for each family. A lactation consultant can help assess feeding effectiveness, pumping patterns, and other factors that may be affecting supply. Support may include education, practical strategies, and reassurance about what is normal.

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Q: What if I have too much breast milk?

A: Having too much milk, also known as oversupply, can cause challenges such as engorgement, discomfort, blocked ducts, or feeding difficulties for your baby. A lactation consultant can help assess your feeding or pumping patterns and suggest strategies to help regulate supply and improve comfort. Read more about mastitis here.

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Q: Can lactation consultants help with nipple or breast pain?

A: Yes. Nipple or breast pain is a common reason families seek lactation support. Our IBCLCs can help identify contributing factors such as latch, positioning, pumping equipment, or feeding patterns and offer strategies to improve comfort.

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Q: Do you support families who need to supplement with formula?

A: Absolutely. We support families who supplement with formula or expressed breast milk for a variety of reasons. Our lactation consultants provide guidance that respects your feeding choices while helping you meet your goals and support your baby’s growth.

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Q: Are lactation consultants covered by OHIP or insurance?

A: Lactation consultant services are not currently covered by OHIP. Coverage for lactation consultant services depends on your insurance plan. Some extended health benefits may reimburse services provided by an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), particularly through a Health Care Spending Account. Currently, Manulife, Great West Life, Sun Life, and GreenShield offer coverage for IBCLC services if your employer has included it in your plan. Since every insurance policy is different, we recommend contacting your provider directly to confirm your coverage. Additionally, one of our Lactation Consultants is a Registered Nurse. If your plan does not cover lactation consulting, check if you have benefits for Nursing Services, as this may provide an alternative way to access coverage.

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Q: Do you offer lactation consultant services in Ottawa, Kanata, or Orléans?

A: Yes. Rooted Family provides lactation consultant services for families across Ottawa, including Kanata, Orléans, and nearby areas. In-person appointments are available in our clinic or in your home.

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Q: Do you offer virtual lactation consultations?

A: Yes. Virtual lactation consultations are available and can be effective for many feeding concerns. They allow families across Ontario to access lactation support from the comfort of home.

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At Rooted Family, our lactation consultants work in collaboration with our other practitioners in order to help you and your family achieve your wellness goals.