Lactation Consultation

If you’ve decided to breastfeed your baby, you’ll likely need support along the way. Karen Prentice, DO, FAAP, Kristin Shepherd, MD, FAAP, and their compassionate team at Great Destinations Pediatrics offer lactation support at their office in Peoria, Arizona. These consultations can help should you run into problems with pain, an inadequate milk supply, latching, or other breastfeeding problems along the way. Call today or use the online tool to take advantage of the expert lactation support available.

Breastfeeding Support

Breastfeeding provides essential nutrition for infants birth to one year and older. As with learning anything new, most breastfeeding mothers and babies (and dads too!) need some instruction and support during this learning period.

That's where we come in!

We have a high number of breastfeeding families. We will do our best to help you meet your breastfeeding goals. Any breastmilk you feed your infant is a gift of health for your child that lasts their lifetime.

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We respect each family's feeding decisions. We do encourage moms to breastfeed exclusively or give only breastmilk for the first four months then continue to breastfeed and give solid foods until your baby is a year old.

We love babies and enjoy helping families learn how to breastfeed! We will help you as little or as much as you need. We provide in-office feeding evaluations for hands-on help as well as phone support for any questions you may have along your breastfeeding journey.

Some areas we can provide guidance include:

  • Positioning your baby at the breast
  • Latching
  • Caring for your breasts and nipples
  • Assessing milk transfer
  • Assuring adequate nutrition
  • Assembling and using a breast pump, including sizing for the right size flange
  • Storing milk
  • Returning to work/school while breastfeeding
  • Traveling and breastfeeding
  • Training a breastfeeding baby to a bottle
  • Teething while breastfeeding
  • Breastfeeding premature babies
  • Managing slow weight gain babies
  • Breastfeeding twins
  • Breastfeeding babies with special medical needs such as cleft palate, Down Syndrome, and heart conditions
  • Managing medications, medical tests or surgery while breastfeeding

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Lactation Support Q & A

  • Why would I need lactation support?

    Breastfeeding provides your baby with many health benefits. Even if you breastfeed for only a short time, your baby gets nutrients made especially for them. These nutrients protect them from illness and reduce their risk of diseases, infections, and conditions like asthma and childhood obesity.


    Though breastfeeding is natural, it doesn’t always go smoothly. You can benefit from lactation support before your baby is born and after. This helps you keep up breastfeeding for as long as you can. Ideally, breastfeeding for the first 12 months is a wonderful goal to have, but any amount of breastfeeding is great. 

  • What issues are addressed with lactation support?

    Lactation support helps you learn how you can help your baby establish a good latch, a critical part of successful breastfeeding. You’ll also learn how to soothe your baby as they breastfeed.


    You’ll also receive advice on how to read your baby’s hunger cues, position their head, and rest your breast to make the whole process easy and enjoyable for both of you.


    If you’re having problems with breastfeeding, the doctors can check your baby’s mouth and look for features that could make breastfeeding more challenging. They assess your baby’s sucking strength and effort.


    Lactation support can also help you during the weaning process. You’ll learn how to gradually shift from breastfeeding to other forms of feeding in a way that’s best for your baby.


    If you have complex questions or challenges, Great Destinations Pediatrics has access to a large referral network so you can get the help you need.

  • How can lactation support help if I just can’t breastfeed my baby?

    Lactation support can help you find other possibilities when breastfeeding is just impossible for you. The team at Great Destinations Pediatrics recommends the best formulas to support your baby’s growth and development.


    Sometimes, a mother has trouble producing enough milk for her baby, despite the desire to breastfeed. With lactation support at Great Destinations Pediatrics, you’ll get information on how to potentially increase your milk supply and maximize what you can produce. Alternative solutions, like donated breast milk, are also a possibility.


    Get all the breastfeeding information and support you need with lactation services offered at Great Destinations Pediatrics. Call today for an appointment or use the online tool to schedule.

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