Born to be Breastfed

Childhood obesity affects more than 1 in 3 children worldwide. Past studies have consistently shown that breastfeeding is associated with a lower body mass index (BMI) and a reduced risk of excessive weight gain in infancy—and in later life. Now, Dr. Meghan Azad and her research team have shown that rapid (as well as excess amount) of weight gain in the first year is a strong risk factor for obesity in later life, and several subtle factors impact that risk.

Join Marie and her guests, Dr. Meghan Azad and Dr. Annika Klopp, as they discuss previously-unknown and subtle influences on obesity and weight-gain velocity in the first year of life. Is the protection against obesity stronger when breastfeeding continues longer? Is breast-versus-formula the only explanation for child obesity? What three factors can impact the risk of obesity, even among breastfed infants? If you’re pumping your milk and giving it in a bottle, you need to hear this episode!

There are many ways to seek support, and many ways to provide support. One type of support, mother-to-mother support, has been repeatedly shown to help breastfeeding mothers meet their goals. That’s a great result. But what’s the experience when seeking or providing such support?

Join Marie and her guest, Rebecca Ruhlen, PhD, IBCLC, an anthropology professor at Davidson University, and a member of the Board of Directors of Breastfeeding USA, as they discuss breastfeeding support from a sociocultural perspective. Maybe you’ve asked yourself: What is a mother-to-mother support meeting? What if I don’t like meetings? Are there any online meetings? What if I don’t identify as a mother—is there are place for me in such groups? Might a different time, a different location, or a different leader be more helpful for me? What’s the difference between La Leche League and Breastfeeding USA? Can volunteers give quality support? Get the answers to these questions and more in this episode.

You need to nurse your baby, find a food your toddler will eat, and feed dinner to the whole family. Your own stomach is growling, but is it okay for nursing moms to eat cabbage? What about sushi? How can you avoid making separate meals for everyone?

Join Marie and her guests, dietitian Dr. Allison Childress and Chef Aurora Satler, authors of The Ultimate New Mom’s Cookbook, A Complete Food and Nutrition Resource for Expectant Mothers, Babies, and Toddlers. Is it true your baby won’t eat vegetables if you offer fruits first? How many more times should you offer a food after your older baby has spit it out? Get the skinny on safely losing weight while nursing. Learn how to determine an appropriate portion for your toddler, most-often accepted weaning foods, and much more. Allison and Aurora are full of practical tips and tricks to save you prep time and still get a delicious, nutritious meal on the table in less than 30 minutes that works for the whole family.

Maybe you've read on the internet that exclusive breastfeeding is dangerous. Is the danger real? Or are you reading the result of the sensationalism that abounds these days? Join Marie and her guest, Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC, as they raise questions about recent internet campaigns that have cropped up about the dangers of exclusive breastfeeding. Might some of the dangerous reports reflect opinion or misinterpretations? Might some social media reports be written by ghost writers? Certainly, adverse events can and do happen to breastfed babies, but Marsha cautions that sensational headlines are often sparked by writers who seemingly cherry-pick to make points. Then, such data are fueled by missing or distorted facts, or by inaccurate conclusions. Marsha and Marie give an eye-opening view of how to become an informed consumer of reports, and how to find information and resources you need to continue your breastfeeding journey.

Join Marie and special guest Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA, for a discussion of particular issues common to mothers employed outside the home. Ms. Mohrbacher, breastfeeding reporter and lactation consultant, is the author of Breastfeeding Answers Made Simple as well as the smartphone app “Breastfeeding Solutions.” Here, she talks with Marie about barriers and problems such as too-short maternity leave, overfeeding of the baby by daycare workers, and more. Find out about the desired length of maternity leave, and how to overcome problems that may arise as a result of work-hour separation of mother and child. Questions? Call 866-472-5792 during the show or e-mail [email protected]

Admit it. There’s a tiny part of the holiday season that you dread. You’ve got a few relatives who always poke their noses into your parenting business, and you never know exactly how to handle their comments. Should you just put up and shut up? Or should you lash back? Or is there perhaps a better solution that might help to avoid all of that negative energy floating around in the room?

Listen as Marie and best-selling author and top psychotherapist Sandra Reich talk about why topics like breastfeeding are so likely to bring on criticism, and how the “crab mentality” works overtime—and is often contagious among family members—at holiday time. Ask yourself what story is playing in your head. Heed Sandra’s warning that negative emotional energy has been scientifically linked to physical disease, and get her tips on how to create appropriate boundaries and avoid unwanted consequences.

By now you’ve heard all sorts of strategies for how to improve your labor and birthing experience without using drugs. Maybe you can already recite the how-to and benefits of psychoprophylaxis, social support, the birthing ball, water birth, aromatherapy, hypnobirthing (Marie’s favorite!) and many more (This show has even featured many of those topics, because the birth experience affects breastfeeding!) But what do you know about dancing for birth? Does dancing make any sense in childbearing?

Join Marie and her guest, experienced childbirth educator and dancer, Stephanie Larson. You’ll see how dancing in birth is easy, effective and logical. And, you’ll recognize how the postures, the movements, the hormones used in dancing make sense in labor! Stephanie tells stories of women who have had extraordinary experiences through dancing, and she also points you to the research studies that back up the efficacy of this “old” and yet “new” way of taking control of your own labor.

We all know that a “cue” is a signal for someone to do or to say something. But what, exactly, is cue-based feeding? Is cue-based feeding the same as demand feeding? Is cue-based feeding the same or different from infant-led feeding? Have volume-based feedings become outdated for preterm infants? Are cue-based feedings appropriate for preterm infants? Preterm infants are often more sleepy than communicative, so how will you recognize cues that they are hungry? Join Marie and her guest, Tena Fry RN, DNP, as they talk about cue-based feeding for preterm (and late-preterm) infants. In this episode, you’ll learn how to differentiate among early, mid and late hunger cues and gain confidence on how to respond to those cues. On the flip side, you’ll learn to recognize important cues that preterm babies feel full, or overstimulated, and want to discontinue a feeding. You’ll also see how cue-based feedings have been shown to benefit the baby, the parents, and even the hospital’s bottom line.

As more and more infants are enrolled in childcare facilities, it’s important for parents and providers to know how this arrangement affects the breastfed baby. National guidelines are only that; they give guidance but not mandates. Does your state have mandated standards related to breastfeeding in these facilities? If so, are the standards in your state exemplary, and promote breastfeeding? Or do such standards inhibit breastfeeding? Is a bottle-propping pillow allowable in your state, and will a caregiver use it for your child if you provide milk in a bottle?

Join Marie and her guest, Dr. Sara Benjamin-Neelon, PhD, JD, RD, as they discuss the impact of non-residential childcare facility policies on breastfeeding. Sure, you’ll consider cost and convenience. But if you want to maintain the breastfeeding relationship with your child, learn what questions to ask, how to advocate for yourself and your child, and how to stay informed. Visit MarieBiancuzzo.com to get free resources!

It's a major barrier many mother encounter at one point or another: the lack of airport accommodations for breastfeeding or pumping. You're on the go, flying for work or pleasure, with or without your baby. Before you know it, it's time to feed your little one, or pump the milk he'll need upon your return. The airport staff points you to the bathroom, but that's just gross, wet, germy, and unpleasant. Do you skip emptying your breasts and accept the risks of engorgement, mastitis, and flagging milk supply? Do you bust out your pump in the passenger waiting area? What can airports do to better accommodate women who are traveling with their pumps? Special guests for this podcast include blogger Jeremy Blachman (How One Trip to the Airport Made Me a Feminist on medium.com), his wife Nina, Director of Aviation Gene Richards (Burlington International Airport), and lactation station developer Sascha Mayer (Mamava).