As many mothers know, breastfeeding is natural but it doesn’t always come so naturally. My mom and two older sisters didn’t breastfeed so I prepared myself by reading a few books and taking a class. I wasn’t however, prepared for the bumps in the road that would soon lie ahead. After a long and challenging birth, we did skin-to-skin and roomed-in. He nuzzled up to my breast but didn’t latch on. Exhausted from his treacherous journey into the world, we…
It is a well known fact that breastfeeding suppresses a woman’s fertility in the early months after giving birth. However, many women do not feel comfortable relying on breastfeeding as a form of birth control or natural family planning because they have been told it is unreliable, or perhaps because they know someone who became pregnant while breastfeeding. As a Certified Lactation Educator, I can tell you breastfeeding alone is not fool-proof. Many women mistake breastfeeding with the Lactational Amenorrhoea Method (LAM). How…
I wanted to write about the importance of safe co-sleeping and bed-sharing and also dispel any myths associated with it. Many families either believe it is unsafe or don’t fully understand its benefits and aren’t open to it, or alternatively, they don’t take proper safety precautions and put their babies at risk. What is the difference between co-sleeping and bed-sharing? Many terms related to infant sleep are used interchangeably, which can create confusion. API (Attachment Parenting International) uses the following…
Women’s bodies have an incredible ability to make babies and breast milk. As a Lactation Educator and Counselor, I am often asked about ways to help increase breast milk supply. Herbs, like other plants we eat, nourish a mama’s body as it makes nourishment for her baby. Herbal galactagogues (Greek for ‘milk flow’) are nature’s gifts to lactating women, and have been used for centuries to help increase milk supply. Anise seed. A culinary spice and a digestive herb that helps…
Eating a well-rounded and wholesome diet is particularly important before, during, and after pregnancy. Since I’m currently pregnant with our second baby, I am especially mindful of eating nourishing, holistic and delicious foods throughout the process. I would like to share some key foods and nutrients that are essential for a healthy pregnancy and baby. High quality protein. I eat mostly an organic, plant-based diet containing protein-rich foods such as soaked ancient and spouted and whole grains, legumes such as lentils…
After overcoming many breastfeeding challenges with my older son, I became a Lactation Educator and Counselor to help support other mothers and babies on their breastfeeding journeys. In addition to my formal training, I learned a lot from experience, so when my younger son and I hit some bumps in the road, we were able to move past them quickly. Here are some tips for getting breastfeeding off to a good start! Prepare ahead of time by taking a good prenatal breastfeeding class and reading…
Every breastfeeding mama should know how to hand or manually express breast milk. Some advantages to hand or manual expression include: Some mechanical breast pumps can cause discomfort and/or are ineffective. Many mothers are more comfortable with manual expression because it is more natural. Skin-to-skin contact is more stimulating than the feel of a plastic shield, so manual expression usually allows for an easier milk ejection reflex (MER). It doesn’t require electricity and is handy in an emergency or natural disaster. It’s convenient.…
I personally had a heck of a time with recurrent plugged ducts after the birth of my older son. Through my professional training as a Lactation Educator and Counselor and experimenting with different approaches, I came up with a multi-pronged plan of attack to prevent and treat these little (or not so little) buggers. Proper latch. An improper latch is the culprit for most breastfeeding issues. It can result in insufficient emptying of the breast, which can in turn contribute…
I am so honored for the opportunity to interview internationally recognized award-winning painter and mother Katie m. Berggren. You may be familiar with her beautiful paintings or perhaps you are discovering her here for the first time. I am so drawn to the warmth, love and magic between mother and child that she beautifully captures in her paintings and I know you will be too! Hi Katie! Can you please share a little bit about yourself? I grew up in the…
In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week I wanted to share why I became a Certified Lactation Educator Counselor (CLEC), what it entails and provide information to those who are interested in pursuing this path. I believe we go through challenges in life to overcome them, learn from them and use those experiences to help others who are going through a similar process. Most of us have heard that breastfeeding is natural but doesn’t always come easily. I thought because I read a breastfeeding…