Many Women Struggle with Lactating—Consultants can Help
Recently, MissPoppins was featured in an article on Parents.com (Parents, 2025) discussing how a lack of hospital access and even workplace accommodations can become significant barriers to proper lactation. While the article focuses on rural families, it highlights a larger concern: why are consultations around breastfeeding still underutilized, and what happens when women don't receive the support they need?
The proper handling of lactation is often overlooked in women’s health. Many women approach breastfeeding without understanding how improper technique or lack of support can raise concerns for both mother and child. For the mother, this can lead to nipple irritation, engorgement, plugged ducts, and even infections such as mastitis (UpToDate). In fact, a global study found that only 27.8% of mothers practiced good breastfeeding techniques, while 34% had poor practices—a gap that proper consultation can help close (International Breastfeeding Journal, 2018).
This begs the question: what do lactation consultants actually bring to the table?
Much like other healthcare specialties, lactation consultants come with industry-recognized certifications and a deep, specialized education in infant feeding. Their expertise allows them to identify risk factors early, assess latch and positioning, and guide parents through the use of tools such as breast pumps, nipple shields, and milk storage systems. They’re also invaluable in situations involving low milk supply, overproduction, pain while nursing, or feeding complications due to infant health issues.
Lactation Guidance for Non-Birth Parents
Lactation support also isn't exclusive to birth parents. When conversations arise, many forget about the adjacent audience categories that need support. MissPoppins has developed a comprehensive “Lactation for Non-Birth Parents” resource, which serves as a valuable guide for adoptive parents, intended parents through surrogacy, partners of gestational parents, and transgender women.
At MissPoppins, we’re committed to closing the gap in parental education by ensuring all of the experts on our platform are carefully vetted. Our mission is to create accessible support and make proper feeding guidance the new normal. By ensuring safe practice, we help raise the standard for healthier lactation outcomes.