Lactational Counselling
What is Lactational Counselling?
Lactational Counselling represents the specialized clinical guidance, physical coaching, and medical support provided to new mothers to establish, optimize, and maintain a successful breastfeeding relationship. Routine lactation support involves diagnosing incorrect latches, addressing low milk supply concerns, treating painful breast engorgement or blocked milk ducts, and advising on pump schedules and milk storage.
At Dr. Poonam's Women's Clinic, the leading maternal and postpartum wellness clinic in Keshav Nagar and Mundhwa, Pune, we treat breastfeeding as a learned skill that requires patience and specialist guidance. Dr. Poonam provides compassionate, hands-on corrective latch coaching, helping mothers overcome physical discomfort and nurse with complete confidence.
Our clinic is run single-handedly by Dr. Poonam, ensuring that you receive direct, personal, and supportive medical guidance at every visit. We coordinate all lactation sessions strictly by prior appointment during dedicated hours, maintaining a quiet, highly sterilized environment that eliminates anxiety and public waiting room stress for you and your newborn.
Normal Healthy Latch vs. Poor Latch
A poor latch is the leading cause of nipple pain, sore breasts, and low milk production. Understanding the mechanical differences is key to early correction.
Normal Healthy Latch
Painless Feeding. Rhythmic Swallowing.
A gentle, firm tugging sensation on the breast tissue; completely pain-free.
Mouth is open wide; baby's lips are flared outward like a fish.
More of the lower portion of the areola is covered than the upper portion.
Slow, rhythmic, and audible swallowing noises (puff/gulp sounds) are heard.
Nipple looks rounded, elongated, and symmetrical after the session ends.
Poor Latch (Needs Rework)
Painful Pinching. Inefficient Feeding.
Sharp, pinching, or persistent pain throughout the feeding session.
Lips are tucked inward; baby is biting down on the nipple tissue.
Baby is only sucking on the tip of the nipple, missing the breast gland.
Frequent clicking or smacking noises; baby swallows air frequently.
Nipple looks flattened, pinched, or lipstick-shaped when baby detaches.
Key Lactation Support Services We Provide
Our clinic offers dedicated, gentle post-natal coaching to help you establish a pain-free, healthy feeding routine with your newborn.
Latch & Positioning Coaching
Hands-on guidance for correct body holds (cradle, football, side-lying) and baby mouth alignment to prevent nipple pain and ensure efficient milk transfer.
Supply & Volume Management
Developing evidence-based plans to regulate the lactation cycle, stimulate milk production, and resolve infant weight gain concerns.
Engorgement & Mastitis Care
Clinical evaluation and safe therapies for painful breast engorgement, blocked milk ducts, and medical care for breast infections (mastitis).
Back-to-Work Pumping Blueprint
Empowering working mothers with guidance on choosing breast pumps, hygienic milk extraction techniques, schedules, and safe storage rules.
Our Pre-Procedure Preparation & Safe Guidelines
Adopting proper breastfeeding routines and storage protocols is essential to prevent mastitis infections and support healthy infant development.
Feeding Frequency Rules
Lactation is regulated entirely by supply and demand. Breastfeed or pump every 2 to 3 hours to trigger and maintain healthy milk production.
Hydration & Galactagogues
Dehydration reduces supply. Drink 3-4 liters of water daily and incorporate galactagogues (cumin, fenugreek, fennel, oats) into your maternal diet.
Safe Expressing & Milk Storage
Express using sterile pumps. Store breast milk at room temp up to 4 hours, in a fridge up to 4 days, or freezer up to 3-6 months. Thaw gently.
Our Feeding Assessment & Rework Process
We follow a hands-on, highly encouraging clinical path to help you correct latch mechanics and establish comfortable feeding.
Every treatment and procedure at our clinic is performed with the highest standards of safety, compassion, and expertise. Dr. Poonam ensures each step of your journey is carefully monitored and optimized for the best possible outcomes.
Expert Guidance
From your initial consultation through recovery, our dedicated team is here to support you with personalized care, ensuring your comfort and peace of mind at every stage.
Step 1: Detailed Feeding History
A quiet clinical consult with Dr. Poonam to review birth history, feeding schedules, diaper counts, weight charts, and maternal symptoms.
Step 2: Infant Fetal Oral Assessment
Gently checking the baby's lips, palate, and tongue movement to rule out anatomical barriers to latching (like tongue-tie or lip-tie).
Step 3: Live Feeding Observation
Dr. Poonam observes a live feeding session to diagnose mechanical issues in latching, infant neck positioning, and suck-swallow coordination.
Step 4: Corrective Hold Coaching
Hands-on practice to adjust baby's head tilt, neck support, and lip flaring. You leave with a custom nutritional plan and nipple healing guide.
Why Choose Dr. Poonam's Women's Clinic for Lactational Counselling?
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- Empathetic, Postpartum-Focused ConsultationDr. Poonam communicates in a warm, reassuring style, addressing postpartum physical vulnerabilities and anxiety with ultimate patient care.
- Dedicated Prior-Appointment ScheduleWe coordinate all lactation checkups strictly by prior appointment during dedicated timings. This prevents waiting room crowding and ensures a calm, sterilized space.
- Direct Specialist AttentionYou consult Dr. Poonam personally at every session. Sensitive details about lactation, infection symptoms, or breast pain are discussed in a strictly private space.
Google Rating
Based on 42 Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Lactational counselling is clinical guidance provided by a trained medical professional to help new mothers establish and maintain a successful breastfeeding relationship. You should seek counselling if you experience latch difficulties, persistent nipple pain, concerns about low milk supply, or if your baby is not gaining weight adequately.
A correct latch is pain-free. The baby should take a large portion of the lower areola (not just the nipple) into their mouth, their lips should be flared outward like a fish, their chin should touch your breast, and you should hear soft, rhythmic swallowing sounds rather than clicking noises.
At Dr. Poonam's Women's Clinic, transparency is paramount. A 45-minute clinical lactation assessment and hands-on coaching session with Dr. Poonam is ₹700. Post-procedure checks or follow-up latch reviews are ₹600. Outpatient therapies for engorgement or blocked duct management range from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 depending on complexity.
Supply is regulated by demand and supply. The most effective way to increase milk is frequent, thorough emptying of the breasts through direct feeding or pumping (every 2-3 hours). Additionally, staying well-hydrated, consuming nutritious meals containing galactagogues (like cumin, fenugreek, and fennel), and resting well can boost supply. Dr. Poonam can prescribe safe medications if needed.
To prevent blocked ducts, ensure the breasts are fully emptied at each feed, alternate feeding positions, and avoid tight bras. If you develop a hard, painful lump or fever (signs of mastitis), apply warm compresses, gently massage the area towards the nipple while feeding, nurse frequently, and consult Dr. Poonam immediately for safe antibiotics.
Dr. Poonam's Women's Clinic operates strictly by prior appointment during dedicated morning and evening timings. We do not support 24/7 walk-in emergency queues. This ensures that new mothers and newborns receive a quiet, private, and highly sterilized lobby space without waiting crowds. Please contact us directly to schedule your session.