All Things Breastfeeding Podcast

Yes, we were lucky enough that Laurel Wilson IBCLC reached out to us to do a podcast. We have been big fans of Laurel for a number of years. I attended a talk to hers in Grand Rapids a number of years ago and was hooked!

Laurel has the site Mother Journey. “Tens of thousands of research articles are published each year with potential health implications for new families. Healthcare providers rarely have the time to read, digest, and implement the growing database of research. At Mother Journey, keeping up with the perinatal research is something Laurel is committed to. She watches trends in health care, prepares succinct, insightful presentations, helps YOU provide better care to families.” Yes! Laurel is doing presentations on epigenetics (something that I am blown away by) and the implications for breastfeeding. I am hooked. I have now seen several more of her discussions of the biological implications of not breastfeeding. So important!

“Breastmilk is an evolutionary food. It has helped humans succeed in inhospitable places, during traumatic times, and in habitats that would not otherwise have been possible. None of us would be here if it weren’t for breastmilk.”?

Love this! I also think that we have no idea as to the health implications when we feed our babies milk that is not our own. From the podcast on the power of breastmilk: “Its a very powerful tool that we have as mammals: this ability to literally liquefy ourselves and provide genetic, immune, and nutritional information to our children.” Yes!

We hope you enjoy this podcast and learn more about what Laurel has to say.

The post All Things Breastfeeding 61: Conversation with Laurel Wilson IBCLC! appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

Who do you need in this team?

Partners are a critical player in your breastfeeding support network. A partner can make or break a breastfeeding relationship. Not necessarily because they don’t support breastfeeding but if you are struggling with breastfeeding, this struggle can be hard to watch if your partner is suffering. Helping make sure your partner is educated about how breastfeeding works and having them know who to contact if you are having trouble with breastfeeding. Here is a podcast about partners so you can learn more.

Find out who is going to be supportive of your goals? Who is suspicious of breastfeeding? Try to hang out with

Let’s start with the health care professionals. If you are creating your breastfeeding support network prenatally think about picking out a breastfeeding friendly midwife (they almost always are!), your OB, and maybe, if this appeals to you and/or you can afford this, a birth or postpartum doula. We love doulas. Does your doctor or midwife talk to you about breastfeeding before the baby comes? If so, this is a good sign. Think about where you be birthing. Do you have options as to where you birth? If so there is a some research you could do to make a good choice.

The baby’s doctor is also critical. Is your doctor really a believer in breastfeeding? Many doctors still believe formula is just about as good as breastfeeding. Ask them if you run into breastfeeding problems what do they do. Most doctors are not breastfeeding specialists. If you are struggling with breastfeeding they should refer you to an IBCLC.

Having a great IBCLC programmed into your phone in case your need help. Many, many people do struggle with breastfeeding. Often breastfeeding can be hard and having some help can make all the difference. Ask around! We are now doing virtual consultations so we can see anyone, anywhere in the world as long as you have a good internet connection.

This is where you are able to hang out with people that are as obsessed with babies and breastfeeding as you are! We love La Leche League (many people worry these folks are too out there for them but check them out! Each group has its own flavor.)

So, think about who is in your network Let us know if you can help! [email protected].

The post All Things Breastfeeding 60: Your Breastfeeding Support Network appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

Lauren is a very experienced breastfeeding mother. She joins us today with baby Luke today to talk about her breastfeeding story. She has nursed four children! When you have more than one child it is important to remember that each breastfeeding experience will be different. Each breastfeeding journey is a unique journey.

In her breastfeeding story you will hear how some of her babies were easy to nurse and some were more challenging. Her first two were the easiest so it has been a surprise that the babies have gotten harder, not easier.

Lauren comes from a breastfeeding family, she and her brother were nursed so she knew she wanted to parent her babies this way. Breastfeeding can become a way of parenting, not just feeding your baby.

Listen as she talks about how true this is! Lauren’s breastfeeding story shows us how even if breastfeeding isn’t “perfect” it can work! Here how each baby started their journey and learn about different ways to wean. Baby number three had a tongue and lip tie which needed to be addressed. Once they were released, nursing got so much better!

This is Jude’s weaning book that Lauren made. It shows Jude’s journey from his birth to when he was three. This was made for Jude to be able to look through and use. What a wonderful gift! We don’t hold you to these standards! I have no weaning books (or honestly any fancy baby books) for either of my children.

Lauren reached out to me because she was struggling with nursing Luke and pain. We still haven’t gotten the pain totally under control but she will keep nursing this little one.

Podcast about weaning

Another Podcast about tandem nursing and nursing during a pregnancy

A final Podcast about introducing solids

Hard to find! Hilary Flower’s Adventures in Tandem Nursing

For any breastfeeding questions: kellymom.com

The post All Things Breastfeeding 59: Lauren’s Breastfeeding Story appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

We continue Jessica’s breastfeeding story. Please don’t worry, it has a happy ending! We ended with Jessica in the pit of despair and Caleb not latching. Even with all the support and knowledge that Jessica has, she is ready for the final hoop to become an IBCLC, taking the exam, she really struggles with what her instincts tell her to do to help with a not latching baby and what she knows works.

Caleb has been through so much! In addition to not latching, he wanted to suck all the time, had a tongue and lip tie revision, lots of body work, and then once he did (spoiler alert!) start latching again went through a time where he would nurse but not transfer a lot of breastmilk from the breast. Jessica kept pumping and paced bottle fed Caleb but her hope was fading. She knew just how much to feed Caleb from the bottle and that she had plenty of milk. What was the problem?

We will never know for sure what finally helped Caleb be more able to feed. All we know is what a happy day it was when Jessica did yet another pre and post weight at the office and saw that he finally was able to transfer breastmilk! He took 3.9 oz during a feed! This is a lot for a baby so don’t worry if your baby is transferring between 2-4 oz. If the weight gain is good, whatever!

Jessica said she kept telling herself that this experience was going to be invaluable for helping other families. She has lived what it is like to really, really struggle with breastfeeding. She knows if she had not had the help and support, having a great IBCLC at your disposal was enormous, that she well might have given up.

You don’t have to do this alone! Get help if you are struggling. We are here for you.

Resource Jessica mentioned: My Baby Just Doesn’t Get It from Diane Wiessenger 

The post All Things Breastfeeding 58: Part 2 Jessica’s Story- Not latching baby! appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

When we have our second baby we think, well this has to be easier than the first time. Right? In Jessica’s case this was not true! Her breastfeeding story is powerful! Yes, those baby worries weren’t there (you rarely worry that you might accidentally kill your second baby like you do your first), you know the signs of a well fed baby, and your assessment at a glance (A quick look noting is this baby doing OK or not) skills are strong.

However, even though in Jessica’s breastfeeding story had so many issues for the first weeks (We won’t tell you what or how long problems when on, you have to listen to find out!) with time, support, and accurate medical information she prevailed and triumphed! Mid-March 2020, baby Caleb is nursing great and going strong and he is almost one year old!

It is hard to keep the faith that breastfeeding is designed to work. Having one issue after another makes it hard. Also, in Jessica’s case, in her breastfeeding story, things got worse before they got better! Her story is powerful. This is Part 1 and it leaves us in a darker place so if you are struggling listen to Part 2 as well that ends on a great note.

If you are struggling with breastfeeding you don’t (and often can’t) have to do it alone. Reach out. By phone, 734-975-6534, by email  [email protected], or schedule a consult. Learn more about what we do here. Kindness, respect, and accurate information. What a difference they can make!

Listen to Part 2

The post All Things Breastfeeding 57: Part 1 Jessica’s 2nd Breastfeeding Story appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

What are these new pumps? Jessica and Barbara are going to talk about two types of relatively new pumps that are on the market now. We wanted to make sure that these pumps were reliable before we gave our thoughts. In the pump market that takes 2-3 years! The first few thousand families who buy these pumps are essentially paying for the privilege to be a tester!

The Haakaa

The Haakaa has been on the market for a few years now and has many copycat products. It is a little hand pump that your put on your breast with a little squeeze and it stays on with suction. Many families have trouble, especially in the beginning, with leaking and this product is great for catching that extra breastmilk. It is low cost and fairly easy to clean and use.

We have a survey we created about the Haakaa to find out more about its uses and how people feel about it. Please take it!

Parents: https://forms.gle/ZgqTBsDys79GQMTD7

Professionals: https://forms.gle/gno5TUH77hsKXzFs5

Here are some links to videos that show you how to use it:

Video 1

Video 2

The next two new breast pumps that we talk about are the Willow and the Elvie.

These two pumps have a lot in common. You tuck them into your nursing bras and turn them on, and track what is happening with your phone. The benefits, literally hands free pumping.

We like the Elvie better than the Willow for two reasons. The first is the you have to lean back and let the Willow create suction onto your breast to start and repeat this to finish. Not a big deal but still. It makes us wonder about losing suction while pumping. The second is the Willow used to only use bags not a container. They now have containers but clearly they were not thinking of the environment from the beginning.

One flaw for both pumps is that has been reported is that if you have a slow flow or a low breastmilk supply the pump will not shift into the expression mode. Another is the cost. Around $500. Most insurance companies are not covering this as an option.

The final problem we see is the breast shield fit size. We have already ranted elsewhere about this movement of shifting to smaller and smaller breast shield sizes (come on 15 mm???) but this pump only goes up to a 27 mm (Willow) or a 28 mm (Elvie) breast shield. If you know you need a bigger shield size, this is most likely not the pump for you.

Anyway, take a listen and see what you think of these new breast pumps! Let us know on Facebook or Instagram what you think!

The post All Things Breastfeeding 56: New Breast Pumps appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

When is it time to wean your baby? Only you get to decide!

Once a baby is over six months of age you can start to get pressure from others. Is that baby STILL nursing? Yes! Remember, the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least 2 years! Here at The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor we think the longer the better!

Another thought is that maybe you never envisioned nursing a baby for more than six months to a year. I know I didn’t. But when I got to one year, breastfeeding was easy. It was so hard in the beginning and I really struggled, so why would I stop now? It helped that I belonged to a support group that believed in nursing older babies. Finding people who support and believe in the power of breastfeeding can be really helpful when trying to decide what to do.

So, how do you know when it’s time to wean your baby? Think about how much you and the baby are enjoying this still. A lot? Probably not time yet. Maybe the baby still loves nursing but you are feeling done. This is OK too.

It is also fine to night wean your baby after 15 months or so (you can do this at any time, this is your baby, but night weaning tends to work more easily after 15 months or so) if lack of sleep is the issue. It is also perfectly acceptable to start setting limits on breastfeeding that make it more doable for you. Maybe you don’t want the baby pulling up your shirt. Fine. Tell them no. This is your body and you get to decide when and how you want to share it. What a powerful lesson!

If you have questions about weaning or need some help with weaning strategies, remember, we are here for you! We offer virtual or in-person consultations for weaning which are incredibly helpful. Often, figuring out why you are feeling it might be time to wean is the most helpful. Once you feel firm in your resolve, you can do it!

Our podcast today talks about Jessica and Barbara’s weaning experiences, what you some signs that you may be ready to stop nursing, and some strategies as to how to stop nursing. Enjoy!

The post All Things Breastfeeding 55: Is it time to wean your baby? appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

In this podcast episode Barbara and Jessica talk to Jamie about her breastfeeding journey with her little one Zelda. Each breastfeeding story is very different and Jamie’s is no exception. She struggled with unexpected infertility which made her story very different than she planned before getting pregnant.

Take a listen and enjoy!

At The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor we share family’s breastfeeding stories because of all the miss-information about what actually happens while breastfeeding.

Either people have been told what a nightmare breastfeeding can be or how incredibly easy it is. For families, breastfeeding could be really easy or really hard, or most likely, somewhere in the middle! There is no one size fits all!

By sharing other family’s experiences we hope to continue to normalize breastfeeding and help those families in the trenches of breastfeeding by letting them know they are not alone.

If you would like to share your breastfeeding story please email [email protected]. We would love to have you be part of our conversation!

If you are struggling with breastfeeding, you don’t have to do it alone! We are often the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, even 5th, lactation consultants people have had to reach out to in order to find a resolution to their breastfeeding issue. We are here for you!

Finally, if you are a professional and would like more clinical training that specializes on how to effectively communicate with families, please see our CCLS course.

This 90 hour professional lactation course is offered in two weekends with 20 hours of pre-work that happens before each part. Our Early Bird Pricing ends soon but if you mention our podcast, that you heard about this from All Things Breastfeeding, we are happy to offer you a special price at any time! Just email [email protected] to find out more!

The post All Things Breastfeeding 54: Jamie’s Breastfeeding Story appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

How do partners fit is with breastfeeding?

Many times if a family is breastfeeding, we think of the partner as the one who changes the diapers. Literally does the dirty work. While this may be true there are so many ways to support the breastfeeding partner that don’t involve diapers.

One of the biggest things we suggest is clear communication on both peoples part. As we said, when it comes to partners and breastfeeding there is no one size fits all. What kind of help does the breastfeeding partner envision them needing for themselves and the baby? The non-breastfeeding partner, what do they see themselves needing to be a part of their new baby’s life and their personal care?

Having these conversations before the baby is born can help this relationship. Having a new baby is really hard! Often the only one whose needs are really being met is the baby! Parents are both exhausted and overwhelmed. Again, trying to talk about what this new trio might look like before you are in the thick of trouble is a great idea.

Many people feel the only way you can bond with a new baby is to feed them. This is not true! Spending all the time you can with the baby while they are not nursing is a great way to get to know your new little one. Skin to skin contact is great but if it is not for the partner than fine, just cuddling up is wonderful.

Don’t forget to think about what the two, soon to be three, of you need from your family, friends, or maybe, the internet! You will need help with food, chores around the house, and just to help get some sleep. People love to be involved with a new born baby. Let them help!

Here are some more resources for you:

https://abm.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/ABM-partners-and-breastfeeding.pdf

http://babygooroo.com/2011/08/how-can-dad-help-2/

http://www.newdadmanual.ca/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/in-depth/breastfeeding-support/art-20043871

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sojourner-marable-grimmett/10-tips-on-how-dads-can-h_b_4330066.html

http://kellymom.com/pregnancy/bf-prep/bf-links-father/

http://www.bellybelly.com.au/breastfeeding/ways-partners-can-provide-breastfeeding-support/

https://www.fatherhood.gov/home

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