Chicago ABA Therapy • Mar 30, 2023

Simple Foundational Breastfeeding Tips

Patrick McLean serves as Administrative Director and Co-CEO of Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center, a comprehensive pediatric therapy practice he co-founded with his wife…

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Patrick McLean

Patrick McLean serves as Administrative Director and Co-CEO of Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center, a comprehensive pediatric therapy practice he co-founded with his wife Rose in 2014. With over a decade of healthcare business leadership, Patrick has transformed their vision of coordinated, family-centered care into a thriving multidisciplinary clinic serving families throughout Chicago. After graduating from Western Illinois University in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in Business and Finance, Patrick developed expertise in healthcare operations, strategic planning, and organizational growth. His business acumen combined with a deep commitment to serving children with developmental needs has positioned Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center as a trusted resource for families navigating speech delays, sensory processing challenges, autism spectrum disorder, motor delays, and behavioral concerns. As Co-CEO, Patrick oversees essential operational pillars including marketing and community outreach, human resources and staff development, financial management and insurance coordination, and long-term business strategy. His leadership has enabled the clinic to expand from offering single therapy services to providing integrated physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, ABA therapy, and social work—all coordinated under one roof for maximum family convenience and clinical effectiveness. Patrick's management philosophy centers on creating systems that empower both staff and families. He has built a culture of collaboration where therapists from different disciplines communicate seamlessly about each child's progress, ensuring holistic treatment plans that address the whole child. His proudest moments come from witnessing families' journeys—from initial concerns through celebrated milestones and hard-won achievements. Beyond his professional role, Patrick brings personal perspective as a father of four children. He actively coaches his kids in various sports, enjoys creating barbecue masterpieces on his smoker, and values connection time with friends on the golf course. This balance between professional purpose and family life reinforces his understanding of the families Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center serves every day.

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Tips from a Speech-Language Pathologist and Lactation Counselor

Breastfeeding is natural but is not always intuitive! Babies are capable and love to nurse however the breastfeeding dyad must learn to breast feed collaboratively. Establishing a good partnership for nursing, at the time of birth, can help with building positive and effective patterns for nursing at the breast long term.

General considerations:

– There should not be pain during nursing, at any point. Additionally, breasts after feeding should not be bruised, misshapen, blanched, etc. as that is indication of an incorrect latch.

– Crying is a late feeding cue that is used when early feeding cues have been missed. Earlier feeding cues prior to crying include:

- Rooting: turning the head/searching movements of the mouth
- Increasing alertness, specifically REM (rapid eye movement) under closed eyelids
- Flexing of the arms and legs with sucking motions of the mouth
- Bringing hands to mouth and sucking on fist or fingers
- Mouthing motions of the lips and tongue

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– It is also important to understand when your baby is full after a nursing session. Feeding fullness cues include:

- - Baby is relaxed-hands are open and not clenched
  - Arms are floppy
  - Brow is smooth
  - Toes are curled
  - Baby’s hands and arms should not be moved away from the breast or anchored down by a swaddle during breastfeeding, as they should encircle the breast during suckling.

– Baby’s hands and arms should not be moved away from the breast or anchored down by a swaddle during breastfeeding, as they should encircle the breast during suckling.

– Do not force the baby to the breast, as this may cause stress to the baby and make them unwilling to latch

The Sequence of a successful feeding at the breast:

Ideally, the newborn is held skin-to-skin so that feeding cues may be observed
Baby is brought to the breast as soon as early feeding cues are observed
Breast should fall at its normal angle (not held or shaped with the hand)
Baby is supported by the frame of the parent’s body
Baby is allowed the freedom to achieve pain-free suckling with maximal milk transfer

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Understanding the foundation of establishing a good latch is helpful for building a long-term, successful, and collaborate breastfeeding relationship between baby and feeder. If you are seeking additional guidance and support for your child’s breast feeding skills, our lactation counselors at CPTWC are here to help! Call today at 773-687-9241 to schedule with one of our specialists!