Born to be Breastfed

The joyous occasion has occurred! The baby is here! But what else is here? Some pain or discomfort on your “bottom”? Lots of little leaks you’d rather not see or feel? Maybe some uncomfortable feelings or sensations during sex? Hmmm…

Join Marie and her guest, Dr. Melissa Nassaney, PT, MS, DPT, as they talk about the seemingly unspeakable. What is pelvic floor dysfunction, and what contributes to it, especially during the childbearing cycle? How might breastfeeding be related? What are the most common dysfunctions of the pelvis that occur after pregnancy and birth? Is it just those little bladder leaks? Or is it something even more embarrassing, like fecal incontinence? Is it just a nuisance, or something more serious? Might you have a pelvic organ prolapse? How can you help yourself, and when is it time to get professional help? You might hear a little more than you’d like to hear—but what you probably need to know if this is happening to your body.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug during pregnancy. Use is as high as 3% to 30% in various populations. Many women assume that because its use has now been legalized in some US states, it’s harmless to their fetus or infant. But marijuana still goes through the placenta and the mother’s milk. Bigger questions are: How much is too much? What are the negative effects, and how long do they last? If you don’t tell the doctor you’ve smoked some pot, will he know? Does it matter whether the marijuana is used for recreational or medicinal purposes? Is it okay to use topical creams or cookies that contain marijuana when breastfeeding? Under what circumstances might it be better to breastfeed, even if you’ve been exposed to marijuana?

Join Marie and neonatologist Dr. Isabel Basaldu-Prado for a frank discussion that will answer your burning questions about marijuana use and your baby. Learn what we know and what we don't know, so you can make informed decisions for your family.

These days, we’re tethered to our smart phones or tablets. We turn to apps whether we want to get the weather report, track our steps, read a book, manage our to-do list or pray. So of course, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers use apps, too! But other than apps being ubiquitous these days, why do moms—especially breastfeeding moms—use apps? And what, exactly, do we know about apps that might support breastfeeding moms?

Join Marie and her special guest. Jill Demirci, PhD, RN, IBCLC, as they discuss multiple aspects of apps used by pregnant or lactating mothers. They’ll tell you why apps are used rather than other technology, how the apps are helpful, the kinds of breastfeeding support and information that moms and professionals want (and may rely on!) for help. They’ll also give a generous list of breastfeeding apps that are popular, useful, or user-friendly. And about the time you think these are advantageous, they’ll identify some cautions for and drawbacks to using apps, too.

In the United States, depression is common among postpartum women. And, breastfeeding mothers are frequently told that breastfeeding is the culprit for sleep deprivation, and they need to formula feed to get enough sleep to beat depression. But what does science actually tell us about breastfeeding, sleep duration and depression? And, if lack of sleep isn’t the cause of depression, what is?

Join Marie and her guest, noted psychologist, acclaimed author/editor and expert, Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC, as they debunk the myths and clarify the facts about sleep and depression in breastfeeding mothers. Learn three components that spark depression, non-breastfeeding causes for depression, how exclusive breastfeeding relates to maternal sleep duration, and how you can use the current recommendations for safe sleep environments. Whether you want to give or receive help, get tips on how to enhance the breastfeeding experience and maximize sleep duration.

Happy IBCLC Day! Whether you’re in the exploration, exam-prep, or real-life practice phase of being an IBCLC, this show is for you! Having helped thousands of IBCLCs over the years who have questions about IBCLC eligibility, passing the IBLCE exam on the first try, and getting a job (or a better job) afterwards, Marie takes on the top 10 questions—and gives answers.

Exploring, but wondering which pathway you should use to qualify, or how much your preparation will cost from beginning to end? Preparing for the IBLCE exam, but worried about what to study, how to deal with the photo-based exam items, or what to do if you’ve already failed? Thinking about establishing your private practice…but have no idea where to start? Marie addresses these and other questions with tons of tips, insights and suggestions for free resources to help you plan, achieve and live your dream. To celebrate IBCLC day, Marie offers free CERPs and other credits—listen to find out how to claim your free gift!

Maybe you thought you had completely recovered from your eating disorder, but now, you’ve had a baby…and you’re wondering if you need help. Or, you’ve never been formally diagnosed with an eating disorder, but since your baby has been born, you’ve had a very different relationship with food. Or maybe this is normal. You’re breastfeeding—maybe it’s just hunger or a craving. Or maybe you’re just too busy to eat. But maybe not.

Join Marie and her guest, Crystal Karges, RD, IBCLC, as they talk about conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating, and other disorders that can occur any time—including while breastfeeding. If old food intake patterns are re-surfacing or new patterns are emerging, listen so you can take charge. Learn when to ignore food advice, how eating disorders can co-exist with other conditions (e.g. postpartum depression), how to find free resources, and how to be proactive in taking the first steps to getting professional during your breastfeeding journey.

If you’re a parent, you’ve had a fussy baby at one time or another. And someone has probably given you plenty of grief about not having enough milk, eating foods that “disagree” with the baby, or they suggest sleep training. But are those the best strategies, and how can you tell if fussiness is just part of babyhood, or if it’s something that deserves professional help?

Join Marie and her guest, Tracy Cassels, PhD, as they talk about fussy behaviors in relation to mental health outcomes. Consider how establishing cause and effect is difficult because it’s blurred by the baby’s behavior, the parent’s reaction, and often, the lack of an appropriate medical or psychological diagnosis. Recognize internalizing and externalizing childhood behaviors—and what they may mean. Get some practical tips on how to avoid disconnecting from your baby, how to take care of yourself, and how to not overreact during these difficult days.

You’ve seen countless advertisements for every kind of breastfeeding gadget, gizmo, and device. There are literally hundreds on the market these days! Women have breastfed for thousands of years with no equipment at all. And, even now, there are mothers in many places on earth where they just put the baby on the breast, and it would never occur to them to use any equipment whatsoever. But, like so many other things in healthcare, there’s a time when technology should be used, used with caution, used enthusiastically, and not used at all.

Join Marie as she talks about the most popular and long-running breastfeeding devices used in the United States and Europe over the last few decades. Whether you’re a parent or a professional, get Marie’s take when and why some devices might be helpful in certain circumstances, how to do some simple problem-solving, when to raise questions and what the research has to say about these—if anything.

Join Marie and her guest, Dr. Natalie Shenker, as they discuss how thousands of molecules in human milk work together and yet work independently to establish a microbiome in the exclusively breastfed infant. Can giving just one bottle of formula change a baby’s microbiome so much that the impact is evident at age five? Does lactating confer a minor protection against breast cancer, or is protection much greater? What about ovarian cancer? Might there be a connection between human milk feeding and such diseases as schizophrenia, autism, or multiple sclerosis? Listen to see that we have only begun to shine the spotlight on the most miraculous fluid on earth: human milk.

Okay, so you’ve had the baby and you really want to shed those extra pounds that just keep hanging on to your postpartum body. When can you start a diet? What works or doesn’t work? What about the keto diet? Is it true that you must limit yourself to 25 grams of carbohydrates per day and do intermittent fasting? Does it affect your mood or hormones? And is there science to show the keto diet is or isn’t safe for the breastfeeding mom? You’ve heard about it, read about it, and maybe even considered it, but you have a lot of unanswered questions about the keto diet.

Join Marie and her guest, Maria Emmerich, a well-recognized author and expert on the keto diet. In this show, you’ll begin to separate fact from fiction surrounding the keto diet, recognize mistakes people make when trying to follow the keto diet, and you’ll gain some practical insights about staying on the keto diet—and preparing keto-friendly food that your kids will love! Be sure to listen to this special show!