Prairie Baby Lactation

What does this mean?? Our babies, although new to this world, can process their environment, strengthen their reflexes and behaviors (feeding being a big one), and enhance their skills and milestones through movement!!
When I see infants who are struggling to feed, I look into the reasons that they may not be physically able to latch on to a breast, or bottle feed effectively. Assessing their entire body for function allows me to see and understand where tension and the lack of movement is playing a factor into why baby will not eat. As an IBCLC and LPN, my scope is limited to assessment of the physical body, and not necessarily treatment of this tension. We can work together to improve latching positions, comfort of both mom and baby, and try to assist with better body support for your baby to allow them to relax BUT I often will refer you to a bodywork specialist so that your infant is able to have a full functional assessment and treatment that compliments my lactation assessment and interventions.
There are also things YOU as a parent can do at home to support body function, sensory integration, and facilitate more effective feeding behaviors through movement.
-Lay baby out on the floor on their back and provide visual stimuli to help support side-to-side movement (lateral movement through flexion and extension)
-Supervised tummy time to strengthen head and neck function, coordination, and endurance (holding up without immediate exhaustion)
-Gently stretching out your infants arms to the side, up, and down, as well as their legs to add movement into quiet alert/ or active alert times
-Asking your bodywork provider for at home stretches/play to help strengthen your infants reflexes, sensorimotor skills, and movements 👶🏼

What the heck is a ni**le shield, and do I have to have one for when my baby arrives?

A ni**le shield is a thin silicone barrier that can help support infant feeding and/or protect the feeding parent from damage or further damage to the ni**le. They are NOT required for every feeding dyad, and should only be used with the support of an IBCLC or infant feeding professional.

Ni**le shields can be used for various reasons including- damaged ni**les, truly flat or inverted ni**les that do not erect with stimulation/baby cannot latch, pain with feedings, tongue tied infants who are having difficulties achieving an effective latch that DOESN’T hurt the feeding parent, low-tone (hypotonic) infants, premature babies, or babies born with anomalies. HOWEVER- you may have a baby or situation mentioned above and STILL NOT NEED A SHIELD! It is imperative that a proper assessment of the dyad and feed is done by an IBCLC to be able to best support the feeding dyad, and a find a solution to or tool to support.

Ni**le shields can cause issues as well. Poor fitting shields can make milk transfer difficult and ineffective, cause milk supply problems, be difficult to wean off of, be the source of slow weight gain in a newborn, cause baby to be sleepy at the breast, and sometimes may not be necessary in the first place.

If you are given a ni**le shield in hospital or by your provider, follow up with an IBCLC is the best way to support yourself, your infant, and your supply!

Were you given a shield??

Oof the first 48 hours!! While beautiful, wonderful, and wholly incredible, there are some things to keep an eye out for that are NORMAL, and all part of the transition into parenthood 🫶🏼
•A sleepy baby
•Allllll the emotions and big feels
•Uterine Contractions
•Cluster feedings

What did you find most surprising/stressful?

You are going to receive MANY different opinions and words of advice during your hospital stay. Knowing what is helpful, and what may be not can be overwhelming and confusing to try and navigate on your own.
So what can you do?
1. Prenatal Prep & Education: childbirth education courses, and prenatal lactation consultations can be helpful to prepare you for what to expect. Learning about skills like hand expression, skin-to-skin, and having a supportive team (doula, lactation consultant, family, friends) can be a great way to ease anxiety and build your support village.
2. Advocating your wishes and goals: your care team can only best support you, when they know what you want out of your feeding journey. Sharing these wishes with your support team (husband, partner, family) keeps your wishes at the forefront of your care, and your support persons can be your advocates too!
3. Allow yourself time to adjust: (and your baby too!) birth and postpartum are wonderful, exciting, and overwhelming times. Your baby may or may not latch right away, or you may have times where your infant is sleepy/not wanting to feed as often as your nurses are telling you they should. Utilizing skills like hand expression & skin-to-skin can be helpful tools for adjustment, as well as supporting your infant in this environment!
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions: it’s okay to not know all the answers, or to need clarification!

Today & Everyday I am grateful to know powerful women, have been raised by one, and surround myself with others who make me feel like one. United we are stronger, empowered, and bad ass. Happy International Women’s Day! ✊🏻❤️‍🔥✨

What we say as professionals to feeding parents MATTERS!!

So often I hear the phrases:
“Your milk will come in…”
“I have no milk”
“My milk isn’t in yet”… and it breaks my heart. We have no harmful intentions behind the phrase “your milk will come in”, but to a new parent, this may sound like they do not have what they need to satisfy their infant.

Teaching parents about the changes milk goes through can be both educational, and a way to boost confidence! Furthermore, teaching parents about WHY an infant is cluster feeding, or becomes fussier as the hours go on, can enhance the understanding behind the phrase “your milk will begin to transition”.

When parents are aware that their infant is behaving in a biologically normal way in order to stimulate the transition of milk, it empowers them to know that responding to their infants feeding cues (no matter how often) is helpful to their bodies.

🥛🥛🥛

As promised- Hand Expression 101! This is a skill I teach all expecting parents how to do because it is simple, effective, and free!
•Hand expression provides your body with the stimulation it requires to continue to produce for your infant, all while providing your infant with the nutrition they need.
•Did you know that your baby only requires a few drops-5ml PER FEED during the first 24 hours?
•Did you know that you can practice hand expression and harvest colostrum prenatally?
•Did you know that while you have colostrum (first few days or so postpartum) that hand expression can be a more effective way to stimulate and collect colostrum, even over a pump?
•Did you know that your postpartum nurse knows how to teach you this skill, and you can advocate for support in learning and practicing hand expression? 👐🏻🫶🏼

This is what you can expect with me! What you see from me, is what you get. I’m extremely passionate and take on your worries & concerns as my own. I will work to find you answers and solutions to the best of my capability, and within my scope of practice. When things begin to reach outside my scope, I will connect you with providers who can assist you further!! If you have any questions, or aren’t sure if you need an LC, send me an email at [email protected]. 👶🏼🌾

January is a tough month! Coming back from the holidays and settling in to the new groove is something we hold space for. Due to this, we have decided to postpone Babies & Bodies with . Not to worry- this session with Miranda is HIGHLY important to us to deliver to you, and so we will be back with a date for February. Stay tuned until then! For those who signed up for Friday, we will be in contact for refund & next steps. 🫶🏼

Please join us January 19th at 7pm for the second installment of Babies & Bodies! We are SO excited to have (Miranda Shumborski) of workshop all things Pelvic Floor! Miranda is passionate about her work, Women’s health, and improving the lives of others. We cannot wait to see you there!!! Tickets are 10$ and can be found via Eventbrite under “Babies & Bodies- Pelvic Floor” or by scanning the QR code on the second slide.

What once started as a small dream to support families in my local area, has now blossomed into a functional business. Starting Prairie Baby Lactation this year was a huge goal of mine, and I was hoping to at least help 10 families in 2023. It has never been about the “business” for me. I am truly passionate about lactation, infant feeding, and supporting women in postpartum, and this past year has been such an honour.

Fast forward 9 months later and I have had the privilege to support 35 families along their feeding journey. This includes:
-3 Prenatal Preparatipn Consults
-29 In Home Postpartum Consults
-3 Hospital Visits
-8 Mommy Group Chats
-3 Educational Courses
-Connecting with over 10 practitioners across varying specialties
-Launch of Babies & Bodies!

I can’t thank my clients and connections enough. This year has filled my heart to the brim.

My goal for 2024 is to be more educated, connect with my local community, provide individualized and competent care to my clients, and take each opportunity to reflect and be grateful for where I am.

Thank you for supporting me in my first year!! 🫶🏼👶🏼🌾

A simple Holiday self-regulation post.

I myself am no stranger to anxiety, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, and also feeling like I HAVE to do everything in order to feel the joy of the season. Often this leaves my cup even more empty.

Helpful relaxation tools I turn to:
-deep breaths/meditation- I LOVE the headspace app for a quick 2 minute destress. 🧘🏻‍♀️
-tapping exercises
-hydrating your body 💧
-stepping outside for some fresh air
-check in with your partner/support ❤️‍🩹

The holidays are wonderful, magical, stressful, an adjustment, and can be a lot to mentally digest. It’s okay to not feel merry & bright, it’s okay to take moments at family celebrations to decompress, it’s okay to set boundaries for you & your little one(s), and it’s always okay to do what makes you feel the most comfortable.

Wishing everyone the most merry, cozy, and warm holiday season however you celebrate 🎄❤️

Me: “Okay so let’s talk about pumping. Do you own a pump? Have you ever used a pump before?”
My Client: “I HATE pumping!!! It was so uncomfortable the last time. I was always attached to the wall. I never really got anything. It wasn’t ever THAT comfortable”
Or
“Well I bought a pump, but I don’t know how I feel about it. I tried it out, and I didn’t really get anything.”

This is a common conversation I have with 99% of my clients. And I totally sympathize with them! Pumping can be a chore, an added item, a stressor, and a complete inconvenience. On top of that, pumping (for some) can be so uncomfortable. Furthermore, pumping that is introduced where it is unnecessary can contribute to oversupply, constant engorgement and discomfort, and damage. But- it doesn’t have to be this way 🙌🏻

Does everyone have to pump? No of course not! In fact I tell moms that you may never need to pump, it all depends on your own individual feeding journey, and how it will play out.

But what if you do have to pump?
That’s what I’m here for!

Did you know that only about 40% of moms are using the correct fl**ge size? Sizes range from 12mm- 40mm…. Most pumps come standard with 21,24, or 25 🙈
There’s silicone inserts, silicone fl**ges, hard plastic fl**ges, and a hybrid of both! There’s certain pumps that are compatible with aftermarket fl**ges, and some that aren’t.

Navigating pumping can be like navigating Costco on a Sunday…. But with an LC like myself on your side, I can help to find your correct fl**ge size to make pumping all the more comfortable and effective!

Allow me to RE-introduce myself! 👋🏻 Hi there! I’m Sarah, the face behind Prairie Baby Lactation.

Before becoming an IBCLC, I started my career with infants and feeding families as an LPN on postpartum. I LOVE babies, and if you’ve met me, you know I LOVE to talk and educate everyone I get the pleasure to take care of. Meeting different families with so many different stories inspired me to up my game and really dive deep into the world of lactation and infant feeding.

My focus and passion is always to deliver personalized, compassionate, and evidence-based care to each and every single family. I have taken this year to really listen to what clients are saying, and what people need from their LC!

So… I took it upon myself to take a few courses that help to better my practice, and therefore, provide even more competent care to my clients. This includes:
-Pumping & Feeding Gear: a deep dive in to how to properly fl**ge fit my clients, and a comprehensive overview of available pumps and pumping gear on the market.
-Oral Functional Assessment
-Breastfeeding Ed from Douglas College: ABM protocols, mastitis, blocked ducts, and more!

As we approach the holidays (17 more days people!!!) I hope that everyone has a warm and cozy season with loved ones, and I can’t wait to see where 2024 takes me!

An infant is born with several reflexes that are integrated into feeding behaviors and skills. The use of these reflexes with feeding such as the stepping reflex, rooting, plantar reflex, hand-to-mouth, palmar, and suck.. all help your baby to familiarize themselves with their feeding environment and access body functions to competently feed.

When we have a baby who is struggling at the breast or bottle with things such as: biting, chewing, clamping, pushing away, colic, reflux, shutting down/sleeping, short or passive feeds, clicking/smacking, milk dribbling from the sides of the mouth, side preference, refusal to eat… then we have to take a look at the bigger picture. What are they telling us?

-are they latching in a position that doesn’t support extension of the head and neck?
-are they experiencing hyper or hypotonia?
-are they able to handle the flow of milk and mothers let down?
-are they compensating during a feed instead of feeding in a way that supports their body function?
-are there oral ties present?

An IBCLC is able to complete a functional assessment of your infant to help determine what your baby is struggling with. Often times we look for things such as tethered oral ties (tongue ties, lip ties, buccal ties), but these issues are not simply resolved with a quick snip or laser of frenulum tissue. It is also not within the scope of an IBCLC to diagnose tongue/lip/buccal ties. We are here to assess functionality of the breastfeeding dyad, and support families who are experiencing feeding difficulty. Education, preparation, and support are key! 🔑

In addition to an IBCLC, bodywork practitioners such as Chiropractors, Craniosacral therapists, Physio, Osteopathic practitioners, and massage therapists are important parts of a multi-disciplinary team to support functional mobility of your baby.

My goal for my clients is to be able to provide you with a comprehensive functional assessment, as well as refer to practitioners within your area to ease the stress of infant feeding, and get to the root of what your baby is saying to you! 👶🏼👣

INTRODUCING 🥁🥁🥁

Babies & Bodies!

This local drop-in workshop group was created with YOU in mind! We are bringing together different practitioners into one space so that families/parents/moms/dads- you name it- can have the opportunity to hear from local practitioners, meet us in person, and of course have the chance to meet other families in the area!

Our first session is November 17th and will feature Dr Daryn & Dr Claire of Rise Family Chiro, along with Sarah & Lauren of Beautiful Blessings Birth Services! Come down with a food bank donation and hear from us about how chiropractic care and infant feeding can be addressed with your baby & your body in mind!

Log in Friday morning to see what myself, & have been cooking up for YOU! ✨

It’s baaaaaack! Join me & as we chat all things community on Wednesday morning at 0930!

As my favorite season of the year comes to a close, I’d like to end Summer 2023 on a high note, by offering a discount on my services!

Please be advised that I will be taking my summer vacation from September 6-17, but will have access to respond to email inquiries and current client concerns. Urgent inquiries will be able to have a referral to my partner at Beautiful Blessings 🧡

Often times when a mother is delivering her baby, IV fluids are administered. This is a practice done for many reasons, but can have implications on feeding & postpartum care you receive.

When the body receives fluids via IV, we often see edema, or swelling, in hands and feet. But your breasts can also become swollen from receiving fluids! This extra fluid in and around the breast, can make your ni**le appear flattened/shorter etc.

A common hospital/nursing practice may be that you receive a ni**le shield to assist with feeding. And while this is done with good intention, there are special considerations when using a shield.

1. Colostrum is thick and sticky. Adding a barrier such as a ni**le shield can make it that much harder for baby to transfer milk effectively, even if it looks like baby is feeding well.
2. Proper positioning and assistance with latch can be a helpful way to avoid the use of shields where they are unnecessary.
3. Shields should be given with PROPER lactation support and assistance from a lactation professional. This includes IBCLC, CLC, Breastfeeding MD.
4. I often refer to ni**le shields as a “bandaid” and not a permanent solution. YES they can be a helpful tool, and there should be no shame with using them, however, proper lactation support is crucial.
Helpful tips for shield use:
1. In the initial days postpartum, hand expression is necessary post feed to stimulate breasts properly, and provide colostrum to your infant. This can be done via spoon, cup, syringe, or finger feeding.
2. Once milk has transitioned, stimulation can be done via hand expression, haakaa use, manual or electric pumping to ensure supply is sustained.
3. Contact a local IBCLC for support!

I should have “skin-to-skin” tattooed on my forehead I say it so often. It truly is a simple and effective tool to use to help calm baby, regulate their systems, and assist with feeding. 👶🏼🌾

Feature blog post : Skin to Skin Benefits HOW SKIN-TO-SKIN CAN BE A BENEFICIAL TOOL TO TRANSITION INTO THE FOURTH TRIMESTER

Feedback from clients is what helps me to grow & provide care for future clients!!

If you know of someone looking for lactation support, I’d be more than happy to help 💗👶🏼🌾

•When looking to purchase a breast pump, you might notice something they ALL have in common. The fl**ge size they come with!! Often pumps are equipped with a size 24, or size 21. While this may work for some moms, others may need different fl**ge sizes for better milk removal, and for comfort of the breast/ni**le.

•Pumping with a fl**ge that is too big, or too small can come with the risk of inefficient and ineffective milk removal, ductal narrowing (neé plugged ducts), milk blebs, and inflammatory mastitis.

•Having a fl**ge fitting done by an IBCLC who is trained in pump parts and fl**ges can be a helpful way to ensure you are getting the most out of your pump!!

•DO I NEED TO PUMP?? The short answer is: that depends! Not every single Mother will need to pump. There are certain circumstances in which pumping is a necessary and helpful tool for milk removal. Talking with an IBCLC about your breastfeeding or pumping plan can be a helpful way to determine A) if you need a pump and B) which pump would best suit your needs.

•Send me a message, email at [email protected], or check out my website for more information about booking a fl**ge fitting/consultation 🌾👶🏼

Community Corner ep. 4 will be live June 26th! Join Tayler & I as we discuss how nutrition and healthy habits can play a major role in hormone regulation, optimal body function, and even lactation! 🌾