Born to be Breastfed

Many mothers start out with the goal of breastfeeding exclusively for 6 months. But often things don’t go as the mother had hoped. Perhaps she needed a cesarean delivery, or maybe her baby was born early. Any number of issues could arise to threaten her early successes. And then there are the later-appearing challenges. It may feel as if she is running an all-night smorgasbord and yet her baby is constantly hungry. Perhaps, despite careful use of the prescribed medication, she can’t beat a recurrent case of thrush! Or maybe she returned to work with seemingly airtight plans for combining breastfeeding and working, but found that pumping her milk just isn’t working the way she wants. It may feel as if you need a major overhaul of your life and your body to meet your breastfeeding goals, but sometimes just small tweaks can help you to succeed! Tune in to find out more. This episode features a special segment on flange alternatives with Jon Gillan of Pumpin' Pal.

Like civilians, parents in the military service of their country face many issues: mixed messages about how to breastfeed, living far from their extended families, and having a fairly short maternity leave. But for military families, these issues are intensified, and accompanied by other issues impact breastfeeding. However, mothers who serve in the military—or their spouses—may find that they enjoy some privileges that civilian breastfeeding mothers might not.

On this Veteran’s day, join Marie and her guest, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, Jarold (Tom) Johnston. If you or your spouse or family member are pregnant, lactating, get Tom’s tips to reduce the impact of relocation, Army policy, and day-to-day structure on the breastfeeding and postpartum experience. And—you’ll hear some news about what military breastfeeding families are now entitled to, and some data that show the astonishing success military hospitals have achieved related to birthing and breastfeeding.

You're getting ready to pump your milk and store it for later use. You’ve read books, talked to your friends, and checked online, but you're still not sure about the rules. There's so much contradictory information out there, and you have so many questions. How long is “too long” for your milk to be at room temperature? (Here’s betting that it’s longer than you thought!) Is milk that’s been frozen for more than 6 months okay to give to your baby? And what’s the best way to store your milk? How do you thaw it?

Join Marie as she talks with Dr. Anne Eglash about the latest guidelines for preparing, collecting, storing, and thawing milk, according to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Find out answers to info you'll need, like: Is it okay to re-freeze thawed milk? Can you mix milk you pump at different times? Why can't you use zippy bags for your milk? Do you need to wash your pump parts each and every time? Get the scoop that will help keep your milk safe for your baby.

For years, parents of a crying baby were often told to let them “cry it out” and warned that responding to “every” cry would have only one result: “You’ll spoil that baby!” Our evolving understanding of early child development – particularly brain development in infancy and toddlerhood – highlights the problem with such thinking: Babies need and expect primal caregiving, with loving and responsive positive caregiving at its heart. Join Marie as she talks with Darcia Narvaez, PhD about why primal caregiving is important, and how you can make sure your baby’s needs are met. Questions? Marie is always available via e-mail to [email protected]

You feel sure you’ve got milk, but your baby isn’t getting it. A few experts have insisted that he has a posterior tongue-tie. Others assert that he is swallowing air when he breastfeeds. He’s pulling away from the breast, arching his back, appearing frustrated, screaming or “tuning out” during feedings. In a desperate attempt to improve the breastfeeding experience, many parents opt for surgical correction of the tongue. But is that the answer?

Join Marie and special guest, Dr. Pamela Douglas, for discussion of new research that uses ultrasound technology to explain the role of the tongue in transferring milk to the baby. Surgical correction does not always improve breastfeeding, and why is that? Learn what oral and tongue movements are critical to milk transfer and which are not, as well as the role of baby’s oral reflexes. Find out what you can do if your baby is experiencing this situation, and why many tongue-tied babies can successfully breastfeed without having surgery.

So your newborn is having difficulty breastfeeding, and three different experts have said he has a posterior tongue-tie, and needs laser surgery! Yet, your pediatrician says the surgery is unnecessary. You end up with many questions about what—if anything—is wrong or needs intervention.

Listen as Marie’s guest, seasoned researcher and physician Dr. Pamela Douglas insists that normal variations in newborn anatomy are being diagnosed as tongue ties or upper lip ties, resulting in unnecessary invasive surgery. She recalls having seen many babies “who have worsened breastfeeding problems—and oral aversions in particular—after their laser frenotomies or deep scissor frenotomies.” See how imprecise terminology and overused “diagnoses” have led to a staggering increase in invasive surgical interventions for these anatomical variations, despite clear evidence for their efficacy. Learn how to ask the right questions and begin to see more than one solution for the breastfeeding problem.

You tell yourself this time will be different. You tell yourself breastfeeding is supposed to be a joyful experience. You want to deny that you've had moments of the opposite, that latching your baby on and experiencing the let-down of your milk makes you feel agitated or like you are in a dark place. Are you crazy? Is this postpartum depression? You’re sure others would think you are just making it up, or that you just aren't thinking about breastfeeding right. The medical journals have almost nothing to validate what you're feeling--but you've been there, you've felt it, you know it's real.

Listen as Marie talks with special guest Alia Macrina Heise about dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D-MER). Although the condition is uncommon, it is definitely real. You'll learn when D-MER tends to happen and how long it lasts. You'll also find out about possible causes, triggers, and--most importantly if you're a mother with this problem--coping strategies that may help.

You may have already heard about the miraculous powers of colostrum, the liquid gold that is the first milk a mother's body makes for her baby. Colostrum is famous for its high concentration of immunoglobulins and other protective components. But does all colostrum look the same? How much does the baby need? How long will you have colostrum before you have a copious milk supply? How much will you make in a day? How much colostrum will you be able to express if your baby can’t suckle? What’s the best way to express it? How does colostrum change over time? Listen as Marie and her guest, experienced nurse and lactation consultant Mary Foley, talk about both the mundane and mysterious aspects of colostrum. In this show, you’ll begin to appreciate why “less is more”, the wide variations in the observable characteristics of colostrum, and you’ll get practical tips for collecting and saving every last drop, especially if your baby is too premature or too weak to suckle it for himself.

Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, forest fires, droughts, and more. It seems that no matter where you are, there's the chance of disaster. How do you keep your baby safe--an fed--in such circumstances? Breastfeeding can help! In an emergency, breastfed infants are less vulnerable to illness and death than formula-fed babies. What strategies can help mothers coping with such circumstances? How can they protect their milk supply--both what they make, and what they've stored? How long will frozen milk stay good? What should you do if can’t operate your electric breast pump? What does the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine say about milk storage—even if you’re not in a disaster area. And what should you do if you have Rusty Pipe Syndrome? Whether you are a breastfeeding mother, a healthcare professional, aid worker, or a friend, this show will help you to get those answers—and more!

You’ve heard that exclusive breastfeeding is the key to achieving an abundant supply of milk. Your goal is to make sure your healthy, term newborn doesn’t get supplemental fluids. But somewhere along the line, you wonder if your baby’s doctors and nurses will support your goal in the hospital. Is it true that hospitals frequently give supplemental formula to breastfed newborns? What about Baby-Friendly hospitals…will they respect and support your goal? When is breastfeeding contraindicated, and when is formula supplementation truly needed? And what’s the worst thing that could happen if your baby is supplemented with formula…is it really that big of a deal? And if it is, what are the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding, and how do you overcome them? Join Marie as she busts the myths, clarifies the facts, and gives you the nitty-gritty tips to make sure you can overcome the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding during your newborn’s hospital stay.