Born to be Breastfed

What sort of breastfeeding support do today’s families need? How can we engage the whole family in breastfeeding support? What role can fathers have in caring for their family when the infant is breastfed, and how can we support them in embracing this role? How can health care providers make a difference? Join Marie and special guest V. Kuroji Patrick, illustrator of “This Milk Tastes Good!” (written by Chenniah Patrick) and breastfeeding advocate, for a discussion of paternal involvement, and breastfeeding support and promotion in all communities. How can fathers’ involvement help to overcome breastfeeding challenges many families face? Questions? Call 866-472-5792 during the show or e-mail [email protected]

Postpartum depression is not so different from depression in other periods of life—but it can seem overwhelming. Many women experience pregnancy, labor, and delivery as stressors. For those who are predisposed to depression, these stressors can trigger symptoms, yet they may resist talking to a therapist. Join Marie as she talks with psychologist, author and “mommy mentor” Dr. Kimberly Thompson about postpartum depression. Find out what factors increase the risk of developing postpartum depression, and how to differentiate between “baby blues” and postpartum depression. Learn simple strategies that can help, recognize some of the myths that stop new mothers from seeking professional help, and get tips on how to find a therapist who can help. Don’t miss this show if you or a loved one is grappling with this all-too-common problem.

Is your mind racing with worries about your new baby? You sense bodily, physical symptoms: dizziness, tingling, nausea or more. But wait! Isn’t anxiety all in your head? Some experts say that anxiety is adaptive: worrying is normal for new parents. Others say it’s maladaptive. So what’s normal worry, and what’s not? What’s fact, and what’s fiction? Join Marie and her guest, top anxiety and depression therapist and host of StraightTalk, Sandra Reich. Learn how fear—a protective mechanism from an evolutionary standpoint—can be destructive anxiety in today’s world. Become aware how the story in your head affects you. Become enlightened on why it’s important to move towards your fears and recognize how women—often stuck in the victim, martyr, caretaker trap—can experience extreme anxiety. You’ll be surprised to learn that medications aren’t the only answer—or even the best answer—to relieving anxiety. Overcome your hesitation to get help—and free yourself to live a better life.

For mothers who expect their baby’s arrival to mark a period of joy and happiness, the reality of shifting hormones and the demands of parenthood can be a rude shock. Join Marie and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC, FAPA for a discussion of depression in new mothers. What are the “baby blues” and what is postpartum depression? What is the role of breastfeeding in a mother’s well-being and mental health? What do we know about the causes of depression? What is the relationship between breastfeeding and depression? What treatment options are available for breastfeeding mothers struggling to cope with feelings of depression? Tune in Monday at 6 PM ET for a discussion that might help you—or a mother you know—with breastfeeding and other aspects of new parenthood. Questions? Call 866-472-5792 during the show or e-mail [email protected] anytime.

Congratulations! Your family has grown, and your baby is in your arms. You long to nurture your baby through nursing. But perhaps this baby came to you through adoption. Or maybe the baby you intended to parent was carried to term by a gestational carrier. Maybe your body hasn’t gone through pregnancy and the process of getting ready to make milk. Take heart. You are not alone. Many families can’t breastfeed in the traditional sense, but find meaning in breastfeeding other ways. Join Marie as she talks with special guest Alyssa Schnell about breastfeeding “outside of the box.” Find out how breastfeeding can make a difference for mothers you know in special circumstances.

It may seem surprising that breastfeeding is still a point of controversy. How can that be, when studies have shown over and over that human milk isn’t just a food but a substance optimized to meet the complex needs of the human child? Join Marie as she talks with special guest Jennifer Grayson, journalist and author of “UNLATCHED: The Evolution of Breastfeeding and the Making of a Controversy” -HarperCollins, 2016-, about the tension between “best is breast” messaging and lack of breastfeeding support. Learn about policies and practices that would make a big different, not just for breastfeeding dyads, but for overall public health. Find out what we can do to stem the controversy and find solutions that enable families to breastfeed. Comments? Questions? E-mail [email protected]

Having a preemie can be stressful and frightening for many parents. Instead of having your baby in your arms while 'rooming in'' with you, he’s in a bed in the NICU with beeping machines and medical staff at the ready. The feeling of distance created by the demands of your baby’s health condition, which require others to be his primary caregivers, can make it hard to feel like you are “mothering” your little one. Tune in as Marie speaks with Jennifer Canvasser about how babywearing in the NICU can help your baby’s health and give you a sense of connecting with your baby. Find out how you can keep your baby safe while babywearing -in spite of the many wires and tubes-, and learn how to get support for babywearing in your hospital’s NICU. Learn from Jennifer’s experience as the NICU mom of twins, and get the “how to” tips you need to help you care for your preemie. Questions? E-mail [email protected]

Mothers of babies who have tongue tie, lip tie, or both can be overwhelmed by the many and varied opinions they hear. One person says to see the baby’s pediatrician, another says to go straight to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Someone else says a dentist is the best person to help. One says tethered oral tissues (TOTS) should be clipped with a scalpel; another says a laser is the way to go. Someone else says there’s no reason to do anything about it at all. It can be hard to figure out what’s fact and what’s false.

Join Marie and special guest Dr. Lawrence Kotlow for an eye-opening look at TOTS, and its role in infant distress, reflux, and maternal discomfort during breastfeeding. Find out about how TOTS is diagnosed, and learn about treatment options. Learn what you can do to overcome your baby’s TOTS and ensure optimal breastfeeding for you both.

Dr. Miriam Labbok was my first-ever guest on this show. I invited Miriam to speak with me about the importance of breastfeeding as a public health priority, not just because of her expertise but also because of her warmth and candor. Miriam was a leader in breastfeeding advocacy, and her legacy lives on. This encore presentation of our October 2013 talk is aired in her honor. -Marie, 8-22-16

Although we often think of it as a one-on-one experience, breastfeeding has gained attention as a public health imperative. This show talks about why that is, recognizing some major reasons why breastfeeding is critical for the health of mothers, infants, and societies. Join Marie as she talks with Dr. Miriam Labbok, Professor of the Practice of Public Health and Director of the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute -CGBI- and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Everyone has an opinion, and they’re usually pushing it as “fact.” Breastfeeding advocates sing a litany of benefits that breastfeeding provides. Critics insist that breastfeeding is difficult and ties you down. Others imply that you’re a bad mother if you don’t breastfeed. With so many message and feelings, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, confused, guilty, or just plain crazy!

Join Marie and special guest, author and expert Dr. Paige Hall Smith discuss why, despite all the pressure, you should not feel guilty. Paige will explain that your feeding decision isn’t a real “choice” unless you’ve had adequate information and support. Learn how to arm yourself with ready-made comebacks for critics, and why it’s not breastfeeding that constrains you, it’s how society puts constraints on your breastfeeding experience. Gain reassurance that the bodily demands of lactation are part of “extreme care” work which—although perhaps not valued by society—are completely worth i