Breastfeeding Support

Learning to breastfeed can be difficult.  We are here to help. 

Vesta offers two options for breastfeeding help: 

• private, scheduled sessions at a reasonable cost
• free drop-in assistance

Reasons to seek breastfeeding help:

• Baby won’t latch
• Sore nipples or other breast pain (it shouldn’t hurt - seriously!)
• Milk supply and flow problems (too little or too much)
• Figure out the logistics of breastfeeding multiples
• Want to induce lactation for adoption or surrogacy
• You are told you can’t breastfeed your premature or ill baby

 What to expect:

• All breastfeeding assistance is provided by a trained and experienced lacatation counsellor at Vesta

    Private sessions offer:

• a relaxed, private environment
• a scheduled time for one-on-one counselling, which provides the ability to spend as much time as it takes to properly observe and assist you (usually about one hour, but depends on the mom and baby)

 What to bring:

• Your baby!
• Your partner and/or another support person to observe, learn, and assist you when you get home
• An open mind

How many visits will it take to fix the problem?

It depends on a lot of factors, including the severity of the problem and the willingness of mom and baby.  We may need a couple of visits to properly address the problem.  You can expect to attend at least one follow-up visit after your initial session. 

Do we guarantee that we can fix the problem?

No!  But we will do our very best to find a solution by applying extensive training and experience and using up-to-date best practices.  If we cannot get you and your baby breastfeeding successfully in a reasonable amount of visits we will refer you to the Newman Breastfeeding Clinic and Institute in Toronto.  There is no obligation for you to visit the Newman Clinic upon referal.

Cost

We charge a nominal fee for our private service.  Unfortunately, we are not government funded.  We think you will find our rates competitively priced for private breastfeeding help.     

To set up an appointment for private help:

Call Vesta at 519.631.6461 during our normal business hours and ask to set up a one-on-one breastfeeding support session.  We will attempt to set up an appointment within two business days.  Help is generally offered on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Free Drop-In Sessions:

Drop in on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 10 am and 12 pm. 

Commonly Asked Questions

Why would I pay for help when free help is available in my community?

At Vesta you will be helped by a lactation counsellor with extensive current breastfeeding training and hands-on experience.  We use the most up-to-date best practices and consistent methods.  We give you as much time as you need.  Most importantly, we have successfully helped hundreds of women breastfeed.  If you do choose to seek free breastfeeding help and continue to have problems or would like to second opinion, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

But I’ve heard formula is just as good as breastmilk these days - what’s the point in going through all of the hassle to breastfeed?

Firstly, there is no formula that contains all of the ingredients in breastmilk.  Breastfeeding has so many benefits.  It is linked to lower risk of health problems such as ear infections, stomach viruses, obesity, and SIDS in babies and breast cancer and postpartum depression in moms.  Mom’s milk changes over time to meet the exact needs of her baby.  Breastfeeding can save you thousands of dollars!  The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary food up to two years of age or beyond.  It is worth the effort to breastfeed successfully.  What a wonderful gift it is for you and your baby.

We'd like to thank our partners in breastfeeding education: