Lactation

Why is My Breast/Chestfeeding Latch Painful?

At the beginning of a nursing session, it’s fairly typical for the nursing parent to have a few moments of discomfort. But once baby latches, other than some gentle tugging on your breasts, nursing shouldn’t hurt! It’s important to stop nursing and resposition if nursing is painful. Continued painful nursing can contribute to sore and

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Changing the Way We View and Treat Mastitis

As doulas and educators, it is vital that we know about updates in research so we can pass along evidence-based and accurate information to our clients and students.  One of the newest updates in the area of lactation addresses mastitis and “blocked” milk ducts.  This new information is really challenging the way we view the

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Breastfeeding in America: The Black/African American Mothers Experience

Black/African American mothers continue to face disparities that impact breastfeeding rates, be it initiation, duration, or exclusivity. The disparities faced by Black/African American mothers aid in the increased maternal/infant mortality and morbidity rates. The rates are significantly lower with inevitable health consequences for mother and baby. Breastfeeding offers preventative health benefits; exclusive breastfeeding must be

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Six Things IBCLCs Wish All Doulas Knew About Lactation Support

1. Your presence in the early hours and days postpartum places you in a key position to support nursing. By learning all you can about lactation and infant feeding, you can help parents and babies get off to a good start. “Doulas should understand they can help clients reach their breastfeeding goals by ensuring babies

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Does your State have a Breastfeeding Coalition?

What: State and Local breastfeeding coalitions are there to support, educate and advocate for families, healthcare providers, childbirth educators and doulas. Check in your state or county to see what they are up to for 2021! Many Coalitions are supported by The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) which  is an independent nonprofit coalition of more

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A Mother’s Triumph

Some mother’s experience challenges while breastfeeding, there are many challenges that they can face while breastfeeding. When moms encounter these barriers, they are less likely to continue their journey with breastfeeding. One of the common challenges I get from moms are nipple pain, which then leads to the question, “Is my baby getting enough milk?”

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Social Media and Lactation Support

The success of the chest/breastfeeding couplet depends largely on the amount of support they receive while making the decision to breastfeed, during pregnancy, and after the birthing parent delivers. Research has demonstrated for many years that people who receive excellent social support will have increased confidence to breastfeed and will sustain a more positive outlook

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Trauma-informed Approach

What is trauma-informed? Be trauma-informed is to recognize that trauma is very common in people’s lives. Simply put, “There’s a story behind every person. There’s a reason why they are the way they are. They aren’t just like that because they want to be. Something in the past created them, and sometimes it is impossible

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Lactation Educator

How To Become A Certified Lactation Educator™ And Why It Might Be Right For You

CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator™, CLE® If you feel inspired to support people through lactation and breastfeeding/chestfeeding, you might have considered becoming a Certified Lactation Educator™. A CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator™, CLE® works with parents to offer unbiased, evidence based support. In order to determine if this profession might be right for you, you might wonder

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Love Triumphs Lactation

Lactation education is in higher demand than ever. Social media has allowed for mass promotion of breastfeeding. This visible acceptance and saturation on the web, coupled with continued public health agencies echoing the importance of breastfeeding has families searching for high-quality, available classes in their areas. Breastfeeding can be the great equalizer. It is imperative

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Understanding Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex and Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Aversion and Agitation

As a mother, I enjoyed tandem breastfeeding my toddler and child…most of the time. Toward the end of the weaning process, I began to struggle when my toddler fed at the breast, especially when he would “tweak” my other nipple. It started as an itching sensation in my mouth and a resentful rage in my

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Black Breastfeeding Week on August 25-31

Inside Black Breastfeeding Week with Co-Creator Kiddada Green

The month of August is National Breastfeeding Month.  This month-long celebration culminates with Black Breastfeeding Week (BBW).  This year’s theme is “The World is Yours: Imagine. Innovate. Liberate!”  As an African American woman, I breastfed my babies the best I could, without having the resources or help that my counterparts received when they breastfed their

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What We Know About Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

I have spent the last two decades as a birth worker, doula trainer, and labor & delivery and maternal child health nurse.  I have been able to support families from prenatal education and yoga, labor and delivery, to watching children and families grow in so many directions.  I have been hearing the same question tossed

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Breastfeeding Support Equals Breastfeeding Success

The majority of families plan on breastfeeding.  In the United States alone, 81.1% initiate breastfeeding in the hospital.  Unfortunately, little is being done to help families reach their goals if breastfeeding issues arise or if mothers have to be separated from their infants.  In fact, most medical professionals will recommend formula feeding in these situations. 

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Breastfeeding Friendly Workplaces Influences Breastfeeding Duration

The percentage of mothers returning to work after delivery within 3 months has increased in the last 50 years. [1]  With 1 in 4 women returning to work within 10 days after birth, one-third returning after three months, and another third by six months. [2]  Working mothers continue to be among the fastest growing segment

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Studying the Microbiome

A few months back a colleague sent me information on a local study being done at MIT titled “Breast Fed Infant/Toddler Stool Sample Study”. She thought I would be interested in reading more about it and possibly participating. The criteria was: Being 18 years or older Having an infant/toddler 2-36 months Having an infant/toddler that

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A Book Review – Round the Circle: Doulas Share Their Experiences

They say that experience is the best teacher. However, another person’s experience can be an even better teacher. That is the idea behind the collection of doula experiences by CAPPA Faculty Member Julie Brill, CCCE, CLD in her book, Round the Circle: Doulas Share Their Experiences. The title gives a great glimpse into what the

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Teaching Breastfeeding, Talking about Breastfeeding and, well, Actually Breastfeeding…

Right now, I am teaching breastfeeding classes, seeing private lactation clients, training women to become lactation educators, and actually breastfeeding a newborn…so needless to say my life is boobs and milk! For me, the subject has two completely different sides. When I am teaching and working with clients, I am the educator that shares scientifically-proven,

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Guiding the Way Together – A Word from Lansinoh

Presented by: Lansinoh I was twenty-eight and pregnant with my first child. I knew about breastfeeding, having seen my stepmom and my sister-in-law nursing before. Yet, I was unsure of what lay ahead of me after I made the decision to breastfeed for myself. I was excited and scared, nervous and anxious. I was not

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A Preventative Approach to Early Breastfeeding

We have all learned and become very educated about the importance of the first hour after birth, skin-to-skin contact, infant regulation, breastfeeding, etc. We know that infants who are allowed skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth for at least an hour are better breastfeeders. But does every baby become a better breastfeeder because of this practice?

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Who is Our Target Audience? Breastfeeding as a Universal Topic

Recently, I was invited to present the Certified Lactation Educator Training at a state-of-the-art educational facility that was equipped with all the “bells and whistles.” The equipment was intimidating and resembled something I had seen recently while watching a futuristic, sci-fi movie.  The retracting screen was the only equipment I was vaguely familiar with. Fortunately,

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Breastmilk is Breastmilk!

How often have you heard the words “foremilk” and “hind milk”? What thoughts or phrases come to mind almost immediately when these words are discussed? Fat milk or high calorie milk Watery milk Lactose intolerance Green stools Milk imbalance Keep baby on one breast until he comes off on his own Feed baby only on

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Lactation Education: Vital for New Moms

Lactation education is vital for new moms and their support persons. Statistically, those who form a decision to breastfeed prenatally are more likely to be successful. Breastfeeding should not be considered a controversial topic. If we shared breastfeeding information the same way we educate on car seat safety and back-to-sleep practices, perhaps we would see

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The Slippery Slope of Supplementation

    There are a few pieces of education that can prevent unnecessary supplementation of formula or unintentional weaning. One problem is that many people misinterpret baby behavior. A baby communicates various ways. He uses body language, head movements, hand gestures, and crying as forms of expression. The crying stage is usually what brings on

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