Dr. Delia Wessels

Last updated: 12 May, 2021

Hi Dr Wessels! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions for the families in our community. We would love if you could start by telling us a little bit about you:

Policies/ Background

Q: How long have you been in practice?

I graduated medical school 2002 and have been doing pediatrics ever since. I have been in my current private practice since Sept 2013.

Q: Is this a solo or group practice? If it’s solo, who covers you when you’re gone? If it’s a group, how often will we see the other doctors in the practice?

It's a group practice owned by me -- my coverage is by another physician, Dr. McCroskey, and by 5 lovely nurse practitioners. If on my panel, you will mostly see me unless I'm swamped or out of the office.

Q: Do you have any sub-specialties or specific areas of interest/expertise?

I don't have any boarded subspecialties but have a large interest in breastfeeding (almost done with IBCLC work as of May 2021) and in special-needs kids like those with autism, prematurity, or genetic disorders.

Q: Do you evaluate for tongue/ lip ties? If so, do you do the revisions in office or to whom do you refer clients?

I evaluate for tongue and lip ties in all my patients and frequently pop into the other practitioners' rooms to perform a quick evaluation if there are any breastfeeding problems.

Q: What languages do you speak?

I speak English, Afrikaans, Spanish, some sign language (ASL) and understand some Russian, German, and French.

Q: What would you like to share about your family?

I am blessed to be a mama of two tied babies (now 10 and 8 years old) which is why I'm so passionate about helping other moms overcome their breastfeeding problems -- I received terrible advice and treatment and want others to have a better experience. My husband is the administrator of my office and wholly supports what we do. I am also blessed to be able to care for my elderly mother whom is disabled and has dementia.

Q: What is your parenting philosophy?

I strongly believe in gentle, peaceful, attachment parenting -- the science is clear on this point.

Q: Where will you see me? Do you make house calls or offer virtual consultations?

Patients are seen in the office Mon 8-6, Tues to Fri 8-5. During the pandemic we have been offering telemedicine appointments as well. You can find out more at our website. I practice evidence-based medicine with a dose of logic and common sense.

Philosophies/Education

Q: Will you discuss issues such as parenting strategies and my child’s emotional and social development?

At well checks we discuss parenting strategies, tips that have been proven to work for others. Emotional and social development are key and are assessed every well-check.

Q: Will your initial meeting with my baby be at the hospital or the first checkup?

The initial meeting will be at the office -- I used to do hospital rounds every morning for newborns but with the increased care of my mother and the increased needs of my school-aged kids I asked the pediatric hospitalists to see my babies for me.

Q: Do you offer same-day sick appointments?

We do offer same-day sick appointments but ask that parents call rather than merely walk in.

Q: How are off-hour emergencies handled?

After hour questions are handled by the nurse practitioners (whom have me as a 24/7 backup) and true emergencies are handled by the area emergency departments. There are a number of pediatric-friendly urgent cares we refer to as needed for after-hour care which aren't emergencies.

Q: Do you respond to questions by email? Do you accept calls for routine and non-emergency questions?

Email questions are best handled through the patient portal -- phone calls can be arranged or set up as a telemedicine appointment as needed. Routine phone calls needing my attention are handled by me during lunch and at the end of the day. Day-time calls for routine and non-emergency questions are routinely handled appropriately by my staff and one staff member is dedicated to phone calls each day.

Q: Do you have separate sick and well waiting rooms?

We have single waiting rooms as all buildings share ventilation, but patients are waiting in cars until called into an exam room at this time and both buildings have viral-particle filtration systems built in.

Q: What tests are handled in the office, and what is done elsewhere? Where?

The office tests for most things on-site, such as urine dips, strep, mono, flu, RSV, COVID-19, lipids/cholesterol, Hgb A1C, hemoglobin and lead. Hearing and vision are also tested on-site. More comprehensive or specialized tests including cultures are sent off to a lab. Blood draws are typically done in-office.

Q: What are your personal experiences with breastfeeding?

I personally exclusively breast-fed both my children for their first year, both at breast and pumping for bottles for daycare. Foods were introduced sparingly around 8 months for both, and while only managing to nurse my son for a total of 13 months, nursed my daughter for a little over 2.5 years. Both were tied with excruciatingly painful latches and with my daughter I bled through a nipple shield for five months before things improved. At around 10 months she came off the shield and we nursed another almost 2 years. Despite this, I feel that breastfeeding is a really positive experience and am glad I did it.

Q: Do you have a staff with lactation credentials and/or an IBCLC that you refer women to?

I have three nurse practitioners whom are certified lactation consultants, and am personally almost finished with my IBCLC course -- hope to sit for the fall exam. There are several IBCLCs in the surrounding areas I refer to and receive referrals from (since I fix the tongue ties with my laser).

Q: What breastfeeding resources or teaching materials will you provide me at our visit?

Almost all moms are referred to La Leche League and to the FB group "Bad-Ass Breastfeeders of Chattanooga" as well as assisted with a more comfortable latch in office. Further resources are provided as needed, including nipple shields, SNS (supplemental nursing system), and bottle nipple recommendations as appropriate. Breast pumps and breast/nipple care are also discussed.

Q: Which growth chart do you use for children under the age of 2 - The CDC Or The WHO?

My office only utilizes the WHO charts for growth charts.

Q: When do you recommend solid foods be introduced?

My office advocates for baby-led weaning, which means we advocate the introduction of smooth peanut butter at 4 months (to reduce allergies per AAP guidelines), and the remainder of foods as the child is interested and able to feed themselves non-hazardous solids. This typically happens between 6-9 months but varies with each child. Purees are not typically recommended as they are unnecessary for the appropriately developing child

Q: What age do you recommend weaning from breastfeeding?

My office strongly advocates for breastfeeding as much as any mother is able to -- we don't set an age for weaning. It is our hope that all our patients will have at least a year of breastfeeding and support toddler nursing as there are still substantial benefits to breastfeeding past age one. However, we acknowledge that not all women are able to breastfeed to our or their goals and support moms as they make the best safe decisions for their families.

Q: How do you feel about night nursing/waking?

Night nursing does not cause cavities. Although research states that babies are able to sleep 6-8 hours uninterrupted by 4 months, breastfeeding at night is a nutritious and comforting activity for the baby and more frequent feedings are normal past 6 months. If a mother is still awakening every 2 hours at 9months of age, strategies to minimize the awakenings are discussed but active night-weaning isn't encouraged until the child is at least one year old and consuming solid foods.

Q: Do you have access to resources to determine the safety of medication use for the breastfeeding mother?

Each of our two locations has a copy of Medications and Mother's Milk which is frequently referenced.

Q: What percentage of your patients are breastfed and are exclusively breastfed?

Approximately 90% of our new moms are exclusively breastfeeding. At 6months, approximately 80-85%, and at a year approximately 75%.

Q: What is the best way to prepare for meeting my breastfeeding goals?

The best way to prepare for your breastfeeding goals is to be as educated as possible before and during your breastfeeding journey. That means reading the published literature, connecting with an IBCLC/LC, connecting with a support group, and communicating your desires with your OB and pediatrician.