Empowering Lactation

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Card pull Monday!
✨I will talk to my baby today✨
I like the suggestions on the back, but I like to add more details, such as…
“It’s bath time for baby because you pooped all over yourself, your outfit, your car seat, and me!”
“I am making another cup of coffee because you wanted to eat every 2 hours last night and I slept like crap!”
Keep it real, mamas :)
shop Centering You deck

PSI started a new FREE online support group for “When Breast/Bodyfeeding Ends Before You’re Ready”. Please find it on their website if you could use community around this!

This!

Those suction-based silicone tools are all the rage right now...

But what they are doing is applying constant suction to the breast, which is both a gland and an organ...which causes inflammation.

While you may find you get milk to collect, what we're seeing as lactation professionals is that these products are increasing breast inflammation (also called plugged ducts, but that's a term we need to get away from), oversupply, perceived undersupply, and sometimes babies who aren't gaining because the freezer was "fed" and the baby is hungry but thought to be "fussy" because they were already nursed and fell asleep recently...

Sure, leaking tells you there is milk in your body, but NOT LEAKING doesn't mean there's NOT milk...it's just about your ni**le muscles and how likely they are to release milk easily or not.

Not everyone leaks, that's okay.

If you do leak, use a "catcher" that doesn't apply suction.

Signed, a lactation consultant who cares about you, even if she hasn't met you.

👏🙌

This weekend I attended the PSI conference, and purchased this amazing postpartum affirmation deck, so let’s start off the week with a card pull!
❤️ I am my baby’s expert.❤️
1. Listen to your intuition.
2. Resist googling for answers, no one knows your baby like you do.
3. If something concerns you, contact a healthcare provider.

Remember this when you’re beating yourself up about your struggles with parenthood. ❤️

😍

Waking up is normal!

Reshare of this poll I did about night waking and night feeds.

Oh I feel this.

Interesting... but what does that mean?

Human milk is about 88% water. It's not meant to keep us full for very long. We are meant to stay close to our babies, feed them frequently and around the clock, and "carry" them. Their survival depends on them being close to us. It depends on them being carried.

Our society demands we "nest." Some mammals, like rabbits, leave their babies for hours because their milk is much higher in fats and proteins. They nest.

Your baby isn't manipulating you. Your baby isn't spoiled. Your baby isn't "bad." Your baby has no idea it's 2024 and it isn't being hunted by predatory animals when it's away from you.

Your baby is human.

*Not medical advice
*This graphic is my original intellectual property.

Spring is hard on your mental health. You know why? Because everything is brightening, and growing, and renewing. And if you're depressed.... well, you're still depressed. It sucks.
💙 I see you. I'm thinking about you. 💙
Do something for you today.
Savor your coffee. Stay under the covers for an extra minute or two. Watch that trashy TV show (I personally 💙 Bravo). Eat a cookie. Read an extra chapter of your book.
You can get through it.

Older kids off school this week?
1. More kids at home = More chaos. Don't forget to nurse/pump!
2. Cereal is an acceptable meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
3. Remember to take a break when you need to.

Does latching bring tears to your eyes?
Do your toes curl?
That👏🏻 is👏🏻NOT👏🏻NORMAL!👏🏻
Common, yes. Normal, no.

Tugging/suction ✅
Tolerable tenderness/sensitivity ✅
Pinching ❌
Pain that causes damage ❌

What should you do if it’s painful?
1. Unlatch baby right away, and try to achieve a deeper more comfortable latch.
[⭐️Pro tip: fish hook your finger into baby’s mouth until you feel them bite down on your finger, THEN pull your ni**le out - this technique prevents more ni**le damage while you unlatch]
2. If you can’t get it more comfortable on your own, seek out lactation support ASAP. Don’t wait. Don’t “power through”.

It's no wonder parents are worried about their supply when they're pumping into 5oz bottles on Day 2, and getting less than 1oz. THAT'S NORMAL! But if you see that precious, perfect milk sitting in a mostly empty 5oz baby bottle, of course you feel terrible!

Still pregnant? or JUST had your baby? Do yourself a favor, right now, and go on Amazon and buy 2oz breastmilk bottles that work with your pump.

Normal human milk intake by Day of Life (per feeding/every 2-3hrs)...
Day 1 = 2-10mL
Day 2 = 5-15mL
Day 3 = 15-30mL
Day 4-7 = 30-60mL (1-2oz)
Day 8-30 = 60-90mL (2-3oz)
Month 1-6 = 90-150mL (3-5oz)

Lack of lactation support. Lack of mental health support. Lack of emotional support. Lack of logistical support (laundry, dishes, cleaning, meals, etc.).
From our partners.
From our providers.
From our parents.
From our friends.
From our family.
Find your support. Whenever and however you can.

That's it. That's the post.

I tell my clients this all the time!

And to clarify, your breast is never empty. You are always producing milk.

*Not medical advice
*This graphic is my original intellectual property.

"Sucking blisters" or "cobblestone lips" are common signs of tongue tie that typically get ignored as "normal". Does your baby keep getting a little blister in the middle of her top lip? Are his lips two-tone (whiter near the opening of the mouth, darker/pinker towards the edges)?

This is my daughter at 2 weeks old, who I now know is tongue-tied. Look at those lips! I remember peeling off dead skin from her lips over and over during the first few months. Sound familiar?

Ask your well-trained lactation consultant or an SLP to do an oral assessment!

Coming up NEXT FRIDAY, 03/01! See you there! https://bit.ly/LactforMH030124

Friday, March 1st! Are you a counselor, social worker, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health provider? This one's for you! Reserve your seat ➡ https://bit.ly/LactforMH030124

Join us in Park Ridge for an honest conversation about s*x after kids. Panel features Melissa Copeland of Speakeasy Therapy, Dr. Whitney Fandel of Family Tree Chiropractic, Erika Darbro of Envision Pelvic Health & Wellness, and yours truly. RSVP by 03.04 to [email protected] - space is limited!