Happy Belly Lactation

And the fun begins…household goods delivered today which means my baby carrier leaning closet will be available soon 😍

I have a few different types to borrow and test out.

Unlock the secrets of maternal and child health with Hope Feeds Families in our latest blog post! 🌟

Dr. Lima shares her journey through the fascinating world of intuitive eating, balancing the beautiful chaos of motherhood, and debunking those pesky lactation myths.

Whether you're a new mom navigating the early days or a seasoned parent looking for fresh perspectives, this Q&A is brimming with practical advice that will empower you on your breastfeeding journey and beyond.

Dive into "The Drip" now and learn from one of the best in the field:
https://vebababy.com/blogs/the-sip/the-drip-dr-hope-lima

As this storm approaches, I am hopeful for no power outages or minimal. I do not have my hhg yet with my deep freezer. My back to work milk stash is at risk. But remember frozen milk can be refrozen as long as there are still ice crystals present.

Does your baby sleep with their mouth open? That is actually one sign of possible oral ties.

Officially a Tricare authorized provider 🥳

Time to schedule your free appointments with me 🫶🏻

What is one thing you struggle with when it comes to feeding your baby?

Mine is in the comments

Today is the start of World Breastfeeding Week. Where are you in your breastfeeding journey?

My family grew a little bit bigger this week. Don’t worry just means I’m up more hours at night to answer questions while feeding the new addition 😂

Officially relocated in Oahu, Hawaii now! 🥳

Tricare billing services coming soon!
Then others to follow

Ever wonder if a medication is breastfeeding safe? LactMed is a great resource. It gives safety information based on research.

It is never wrong to confirm with your providers but unfortunately breastfeeding isn’t most providers specialty. It can be simpler and “safer” for them to go straight to saying not to breastfeed if they don’t know.

Quality resources are key to making informed decisions!

Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) The LactMed® database contains information on drugs and other chemicals to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed. It includes information on the levels of such substances in breast milk and infant blood, and the possible adverse effects in the nursing infant. Suggested therapeutic alternatives...

Officially an International Board Certified Lactation consultant! 🥳

https://youtu.be/u4z7sBiGFA8

I know I post a lot about lactation. Guilty of it being my main focus right now. Here is a great core video for postpartum.

Don’t forget I offer personal training that your littles can come to also.

10 Minute Abs After Baby (8 Diastasis Recti Safe Ab Exercises) Rebuild your core after baby with these 8 diastasis recti exercises! Specifically targeting the transverse abdominals (TVA) and pelvic floor muscles (both of...

Since breastmilk is produced on supply and demand, sleep training and/or night weaning will cause a decrease in your overall milk supply and adjust to meet your baby’s new demand.

Something I personally have noticed:

1️⃣Mom dropping nights feeds completely because baby is sleeping through the night.
2️⃣A few months later, baby is waking up again for whatever reason (leap, teething, illness, etc)
and mom is now freaking out thinking she has a low supply because of how frustrated baby is at the breast.
4️⃣Mom needs to reintroduce those night milk removals to tell her body to make more milk.
Though this may not be as simple for those who are underproducers, and unfortunately without the right support, many will stop completely.

The thing to remember is that your prolactin levels are HIGHEST during the night, so if you go 5+ hours without emptying your breasts, you are telling your body to S L O W down milk production.

Here’s the catch though… if you’re a mom who makes an oversupply of milk, or has a large storage capacity, chances are you might not have a decrease, notice a decrease OR it may not be as dramatic as it would be for the mom who is making just enough.

Now you can always just test it for a few nights and see how your body handles this change. If you happen to see your supply drop too much for your liking, just add back in those night milk removals.

The same is true for moms who seem to struggle making enough during the day. Take advantage of your high prolactin levels at night and remove more milk then!

P.S. It is NOT recommended to drop night milk removals BEFORE 12 weeks postpartum ❌

World breastfeeding week! How long did you breastfeed for?

My first was 20 months. My second 22 months. My third is 18 months and counting.

The theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2023 is Employment/Work “Making a difference for working parents” 🤍

Lots of first time moms report a lower milk output once they return back to work. Which if you think about it… makes sense! Not only is it stressful to be away from your baby… now you have to figure out how to *calmly* pump milk. I’ll explain what I mean in a second…

But before we dive in, I want you to know that just because you’re pumping less than you’re used to at work, does NOT mean that you have a low milk supply or that your supply is suddenly decreasing. The amount you pump is not an accurate measure of your OVERALL supply!

When pumping, you need to *trick* your body into making milk. It’s easier to get a milk let down with your baby around or your baby at the breast, than it is when you are alone.

Successful milk expression has a lot to do with your emotions and how you are feeling. The hormone oxytocin causes the milk in your breasts to be released (let-down)… and we know that oxytocin is released when you feel happy and relaxed.

A milk let down can be triggered by:
🤍Massaging your breasts
🤍Using heat and/or vibration
🤍Hearing your baby cry or even by closing your eyes and thinking about your baby

Feelings of tension, stress or frustration can block it. Without a milk let down, you are only capable of expressing a small amount of milk.

💡Tip: You could put socks on your bottles or something to cover, so you don’t add in that stress and tension by looking at your bottles! This trick works wonders.

👇🏼Tips for working moms:

➖Aim for at least 3 pumping sessions if you are working a regular 8hr shift.
〰️For 12hr shifts you should aim for at least 4 sessions.
✨If your work is erratic, take a pump break whenever you see a 10min window, even if you just pumped an hour ago. You want to empty your breasts as much as your baby would be nursing so you can keep up with your milk supply.

If you live in the USA, you are protected by The Pump Act. The PUMP Act mandates employers to provide adequate time for pumping for up to two years, this applies to both salaried and hourly staff.

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Having trouble getting a deep latch? Here is one technique to try.

Now offering placenta encapsulations!🥳

Zumba classes come in July 😍

Updated ABM Mastitis Protocol

Mastitis is a common concern among lactating parents and often leads to breast/chestfeeding cessation.

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine updated their clinical protocol with regard to mastitis spectrum conditions in 2022. However, still a great deal of incorrect/outdated information remains on the internet about mastitis and self-help measures.

📢 NOT ALL MASTITIS REQUIRES ANTIBIOTICS❗️

In general, when people hear mastitis they automatically think about needing antibiotics, but the truth is, not all mastitis is bacterial. There is actually inflammatory mastitis that does NOT require antibiotics. Typically, if you have bacterial mastitis you will have “flu-like” symptoms along with common mastitis symptoms like: swelling, pain, warmth, and discoloring of the breast/chest.

The underlying cause of mastitis spectrum conditions (engorgement, plugged ducts, abscess) is inflammation. So our goal is to DECREASE INFLAMMATION!

— How do we do this?

▪️Avoid overstimulation of the area (don’t feed or pump extra, avoid pumping if possible) this will only increase irritation & inflammation
▪️Use ICE/COLD - Avoid HEAT
▪️Gentle massage is fine - Avoid squeezing or firm massage as this may increase inflammation
▪️Talk to your provider about the use of ibuprofen for pain relief and inflammation

We know it can be tempting to want to pump/squeeze/feed/massage “out” the “clog,” but evidenced-based research tells us this is NOT effective and may actually make things WORSE!

As always, we recommend reaching out to a lactation professional should you experience mastitis - Mastitis could indicate there is a problem with your lactation/nursing journey.

We are here to help! 💕



Website: https://globalmilcom.org/