Group promotes the benefits of breastfeeding

Alicia Heidke might have thrown in the diaper on breast-feeding her twins if it hadn't been for Tidewater Lactation Group Inc.

Nursing troubles led Heidke to the private practice started a year ago by Robyn Roche-Paull of Kempsville and Liz Flight of Norfolk.

When Heidke's babies, Alexis and Bella, were 6 weeks old, Roche-Paull came to her Salem area home within a couple of hours of her concerned phone call.

"They're my firstborn and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to nurse them, especially having twins," said Heidke, 28. "I had gotten a little bit of help in the hospital, but I needed someone to encourage me and reassure me that they were getting enough."

Tidewater Lactation gestated for about nine months before Roche-Paull, 36, and Flight, 52, gave birth.

Their message, according to Flight: "We want people to know that breast-feeding is the best gift you can give your baby."

They offer a range of lactation services, including private or group breast-feeding classes, office or in-home consults throughout Hampton Roads, a line of breast-feeding products, breast pump rentals and lactation consultant training.

The women will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10 at their office, 6387 Center Drive, Suite 15, Norfolk, just over the Virginia Beach line.

Roche-Paull spent eight years as a La Leche League leader before she earned a degree in maternal child health lactation consulting. Still an area liaison for La Leche League, she offered exactly what Heidke needed: guidance and support.

"She told me that I could call her anytime. I'm still breast-feeding now," said Heidke, whose daughters are now 6 months old. "I couldn't have done it without them."

Flight, a registered nurse for more than 25 years, worked as a childbirth education associate, established a lactation program at Naval Hospital Jacksonville and is a founding member of the U.S. Lactation Consultant Association.

"I was the only one working in the nursery that had ever breast-fed," recalled Flight who still works full time as a pediatric nurse, "That was 27 years ago. The breast-feeding rate was dismal. We've lost a generation and we're trying to get that back."

Both Flight and Roche-Paull are members of the International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, which wants to increase awareness and education about breast-feeding and its nutritional, health, developmental, emotional and cost benefits.

"Our goal is to meet mothers' goals," said Flight. "It's important for every mother to have the opportunity to nurse.

"If I can make it better for one woman and one baby. it's worth a million bucks."

Sandra J. Pennecke, pennecke@cox.net.