Latching Well: Integrative Insights for Health Professionals Supporting New Moms

By: Alicia Jerome, MS, RD, LD

Breastfeeding is one of the most important—and sometimes most vulnerable—stages in the nutrition journey for a new mom and baby. While it is often described as “natural,” many new mothers experience significant challenges in the early weeks. For health professionals working with families, having the tools to address these barriers with evidence-based strategies and whole-person care is essential.

Why Breastfeeding Matters in Clinical Practice

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life¹. The benefits of breastfeeding and the skin-to-skin contact that occurs during breastfeeding are numerous:

• Infant health: Breastfed babies are less likely to develop asthma and certain chronic conditions².
• Immunity: Live proactive antibodies, active in the colostrum, offer passive protection later in life against illness and disease².
• Digestive function: Skin-to-skin contact aids digestion and reduces reflux in newborns².
• Hormonal regulation: The mom’s oxytocin and prolactin, both stimulated by skin-to-skin contact, not only promote bonding but also improve milk production². 

As dietitians and health practitioners, we have the privilege of reinforcing these benefits as well as normalizing and sympathizing with the very real challenges many moms and their families encounter.

Understanding the Challenges

Many new mothers expect breastfeeding to “just happen,” only to find themselves struggling with engorgement, latch, supply, timing, and lack of sleep. Recognizing and addressing these issues is where practitioners can make a profound difference.

• Latch mechanics: An effective latch occurs when the nipple tip reaches the roof of the baby’s mouth. Without this, milk transfer is limited, and mothers may experience pain².
• Feeding expectations: In the first 48 hours, babies typically consume 5–10 mL of colostrum per feeding. Helping moms and families understand this small but normal volume can reduce everyone’s anxiety and avoid unnecessary supplementation².
• Weight changes: Baby’s weight loss is expected in the early days, but they should stabilize by day four. This knowledge helps practitioners set realistic expectations with families².
• Supply support: Early and frequent stimulation—ideally at least 8 feeds daily—lays the groundwork for long-term milk production, whether by breast or pump².

When we frame these challenges as common and addressable, rather than as signs of failure, we empower moms and reduce unnecessary weaning. 

The Value of an Integrative Approach

Many health professionals are well-versed on the process of breastfeeding but may lack the nuances of an integrative approach. Rather than focusing solely on mechanics, it situates breastfeeding in the context of maternal well-being, infant development, and the family’s unique challenges and experiences in supporting the mother and baby.

An integrative approach emphasizes:

• Education on latch and positioning to build effective feeding skills.
• Education and guidance on the mom’s milk production to avoid pain, infection, and ideas for transitioning to work while continuing to breastfeed.
• Skin-to-skin care as both a hormonal regulator and a digestive aid.
• Mind-body support to reduce maternal stress, which can inhibit letdown.
• Nutrition and hydration guidance tailored to the postpartum recovery period.
• Collaborative care that brings together dietitians, lactation consultants, nurses, doulas, and physicians.

For health professionals, this perspective encourages us to see breastfeeding not only as infant feeding, but as a relational, physiological, and psychological process.

A Resource for Practitioners

Latching Well: Breastfeeding with an Integrative Approach by Caroline Conneen, FNP, RD, IBCLC, is written with both clinical audiences and breastfeeding curious individuals in mind, but in a style that is both accessible and practical. For those in dietetics, pediatrics, obstetrics, or integrative medicine, it offers:

• Updated knowledge rooted in evidence-based practice.
• Practical strategies to guide families through early breastfeeding challenges.
• Holistic insights that align with the growing demand for integrative health care.

Most importantly, it expands the practitioner’s toolkit—helping us build upon “breast is best” messaging and provide real, actionable support that meets moms and their families where they are.

References:

1.    “Newborn and Infant Breastfeeding.” American Academy of Pediatrics, www.aap.org/en/patient-care/newborn-and-infant-nutrition/newborn-and-infant-breastfeeding/?srsltid=AfmBOopRuYRG_5Waxfa6iPV2D663dNGEBUwnwo0T4uy1YA0F17Cg92YT. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

2.    Conneen, Caroline, and Ruth A. Lawrence. Latching Well: Breastfeeding with an Integrative Approach. Christian Faith Publishing, 2021.