When You Can Not Breastfeed

Kim Simon went through lactation hell and shared it in The Huffington Post here.  She could not make enough breast milk for her baby and she tried everything.  And I mean everything.  Not being able to make milk is not that common, but it does happen.  Someone, perhaps a lactation consultant, should have told her to stop breastfeeding and helped her to transition to formula.
Two weeks ago, before this article was published, I gave a talk to a group of doulas.  I told them that when it comes to the pediatric nutrition work I do, kids come first.  When I am lactation consulting… MOMS ALWAYS COME FIRST.  If I see a mom suffering and she has tried every single thing she could as Kim did, I tell her to stop and we find the very best formula for her baby.
She was brave to share her story.  I was brought to tears reading it. My hope is her experience helps others in a similar situation.

About Melanie Silverman

Melanie is a pediatric registered dietitian nutritionist (RD) and a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) working primarily in pediatric nutrition for well over 15 years. She spent seven years as a clinical dietitian at The University of Chicago Medical Center in the neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, adult and pediatric burn units, and high risk pediatric follow-up clinic. She also served as an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University Chicago. Melanie has presented at state and national meetings for the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), March of Dimes, Prader-Willi California Foundation, Texas Prader-Willi Association, Oklahoma Prader Willi Syndrome Association, Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR) in the United States and Canada and the Prader-Willi Syndrome USA (PWSA). She worked hard for her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Spanish from Indiana University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center. A member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, California Dietetic Association, Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group, Women’s Health Group, Nutrition Entrepreneurs and an active member of the International Lactation Consultant Association.