WOW! If you have been following this tongue tied series you don't want to miss this powerful conversation I had with Dr. Anubha Kumar about her oldest son and the very traumatic tongue tie journey that involved a very inexperienced frenectomy procedure done by a clinic covered by OHIP (Canadian Government Health Care System Services) in turn after release her son never latched to breastfeed again. This is powerful conversation with a lot of story medicine in it shared by Dr. Anubah. This episode is emotional, raw, filled with experience, knowledge and a lot of love. Dr. Anubha turned a very traumatic event into a healing and learning experience where she now provides so much love, wisdom and experience to the families she serves at The Ontario Breastfeeding Clinic.
Bio: Dr. Anubha Kumar
Early Interest in Breastfeeding Medicine
Anubha has devoted the last 2 decades to meticulous medical training and the delivery of holistic care to my patients. Early in my career I was keenly focused on the study of diabetes. While working towards my Diploma in Obstetrics & Gynecology from Dr. L. H. Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai, India, my interest in lactation medicine was ignited. On a daily basis I supported new breastfeeding parents in the labour and delivery ward where I witnessed the far-reaching impact of timely support and proper guidance on the breastfeeding parent and their entire family’s overall well being.
Building a Life in Canada
I came to Canada with my new passion for lactation and, after writing my medical licensing exams, became a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada. I have profoundly enjoyed assisting our multiethnic community while working at our local OBGYN and Family Medicine Clinics. My interest in pediatrics continued to grow as my work at a Paediatric Clinic began. There I enthusiastically invested in pediatric research and academic presentations as Clinical Educator.
Becoming a Mother
I experienced significant breastfeeding challenges with my first born. When we were expecting our second child my husband encouraged me to seek professional lactation support and I turned to our very own talented IBCLC's (LCs) for virtual prenatal classes. Once baby arrived I was able to meet regularly with my LC until we made it through the early difficulties. What a difference ongoing lactation support has made! With support, we exclusively breastfed for six months before introducing baby to family meals, we are happily breastfeeding and still going strong. I feel more confident that I will reach my breastfeeding goals knowing my LC is just a virtual appointment away should I have questions or concerns.
Deepening the Commitment to Breastfeeding Medicine
I have come to realize that the advancement of maternal health care is my true calling. I have always drawn inspiration from working with mothers and parents. I am honoured to continue improving lactation support through my role as Research Director at the Ontario Breastfeeding Clinic, and am currently preparing to write my IBCLC exam.
Dr. Anubha Kumar accomplishments and ways to connect with her:
Ontario Breastfeeding Clinic: https://ontariobreastfeedingclinic.ca/anubha-kumar
Linked-in: (24) Anubha Kumar | LinkedIn
professional development education video : Tongue Tie - What's the evidence - YouTube
Disclaimer: This is to educate to choose frenotomy wisely.
Dr. Anubha Kumar publication in Pubmed: Innovative online care: A cross-sectional survey study of potential benefits and challenges of online lactation consultation service with paediatrician consultation - PubMed (nih.gov)
Anubha won the “Most Compelling Poster” award for Snipping for successful breastfeeding: Breastfeeding improvement following tongue-tie release, at the 2nd Annual Paediatric Pearls Conference in Toronto in October 2019.
I hope you find the medicine needed in this very powerful story with Dr. Anubha.
