Born to be Breastfed

Mothers who breastfeed often prefer to use natural foods and natural treatments. It’s only natural, right? But just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s safe; essential oils are potent. If you’re a nursing mother—or anyone else, really—there are number of questions you should raise about essential oils before you use them. Is it an herb or an essential oil? Does it matter if it’s “sage” or “clary sage”? Is it okay to ingest it if it’s okay to put it on your skin?

Join Marie and her guest, certified aromatherapist, Lea Harris, as they take you on a whirlwind tour of the “essentials” of essential oils for everyone—and especially for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. You’ll discover how essential oils can help you to avoid using medications when you have a sore throat, a bee bite, or other simple ailments; some factors related to safe use—whether you’re breastfeeding or not; the difference in administration methods and dilutions, cautions for children, and much more!

The first 1,000 days of a child’s life is full of incredible developmental potential. Every child is born with the capacity to learn. But within a few short years, an achievement gap can be seen. Are there steps we can take at the beginning of the child’s life to prevent this gap? Join Marie as she talks with Dia Michels about the first 1,000 days, and the importance of the word gap—the differential in the number of words children in different socioeconomic groups hear during this time, a chasm of over 30 million words a year. How are the word gap and the breastfeeding gap linked? Tune in to find out strategies parents and health care providers can take to narrow the achievement gap.

You may think of the early newborn days as time of little sleep and endless

diaper changes, but it can be an exciting and positive time too. Many

mothers find that wearing their baby --in a sling, or a wrap, or some other

kind of carrier--adds to a sense of peace and wellness for both their baby

and themselves. As babywearing grows in popularity, it can be difficult to

know where to start. Join Marie as she talks with trained babywearing

consultant Samantha Bunnell to find out the answers to popular questions

about babywearing, such as: Why babywear? What are the risks and benefits of

adding this to your parenting groove? What equipment do you need? How do you

get started? How can you find a babywearing group in your community?

Questions? E-mail [email protected]

Perhaps you’ve heard of milk banks and wonder what they’re all about. Maybe you’re a mother with extra milk your baby won’t need who doesn’t want to see it go to waste, or a parent who can’t breastfeed but wants to feed your baby human milk. Perhaps you’re a nurse or lactation consultant who wants to support the babies and families in your care—or even to open a milk bank in your area. Tune in as Marie talks with Kim Updegrove, CNM, MSN, MPH, head of a Texas milk bank and president of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America’s executive committee, about issues related to milk banking. How do milk bank operate? What are the requirements for being a donor? Who receives milk from a bank—and how? For questions, e-mail [email protected] anytime.

Women can breastfeed successfully after cesarean section delivery—and many do. (In truly stellar hospitals, some mothers can even breastfeed before leaving the OR.) However, mothers getting started breastfeeding after cesarean face concerns that mothers who have delivered their babies vaginally tend not to experience, such as: post-op pain, pain management, post-cesarean restrictions, babies with lots of mucous, lack of bacterial colonization of babies’ gut, and—of course—“lift nothing heavier than the baby.” That’s just the tip of the iceberg. How do you breastfeed your baby—who was, have no doubt, born to be breastfed—when you are heading from cesarean delivery? How can moms best prepare for breastfeeding success after a scheduled c-section, and what strategies can help overcome the challenges after any c-section? Join Marie to find out.

A baby’s birth and early diet seem to play an important role in future gut health. Studies show that the gut bacterial composition of vaginally-born infants differs from those born after cesarean sections; similarly, the bacteria of those exclusively breastfed differs from that of babies who are exclusively formula-fed, or fed both breastmilk and formula. What difference does it make, for short-term health? How about long-term? What other factors might influence gut bacteria? Join Marie Biancuzzo and special guest Tara Haelle, author of Informed Parent (with co-author Emily Willingham). Questions? E-mail [email protected] any time.

In the U.S., approximately 20 million people have thyroid disease. The majority of affected people are women. No treatment, or too little treatment, can lead to serious health problems, including fatigue, infertility constipation, dry skin, thinning hair, depression or mood swings, joint pain and stiffness, and more. For new mothers, it can lead to breastfeeding problems. Wonder if your thyroid is causing you problems? Wonder what you can do? Join Marie as she talks with special guest Dr. Jolene Brighten, naturopathic doctor and author of “Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth: The New Mom’s Guide to Navigating the Fourth Trimester (Brighten Wellness, 2016) for discussion about thyroid disease and your health.

New parents often hear that they should let the baby “cry it out” lest they “spoil” the baby. Many parents take such advice to heart and try strategies like “crying it out,” especially at naptime or bedtime. After all, the argument goes, how will the baby ever learn to settle himself? However, our understanding of brain development in infancy and toddlerhood shows the error in such thinking: Babies need loving and responsive positive caregiving for healthy development. If you’ve done “cry it out,” you may worry that you’ve damaged your child. Take heart. There is hope. Join Marie as she talks with Tracy Cassels, PhD about how to support your baby’s needs and recover from “cry it out.” (Be sure to also listen to: “Sleep Like A Baby: What it Means and What it Doesn't http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/90522/sleep-like-a-baby-what-it-means-and-what-it-doesnt)

Sometimes, breastfeeding doesn’t go as you planned. This disappointing outcome can leave mothers struggling with feelings of loss, sadness, anger, grief, and even shame. Although you may feel isolated in this experience, such feelings are common—and a common risk factor for postpartum depression. How can you cope with your breastfeeding experience? How can you heal so that you can fully embrace your role as a mother, even if not feeding your baby as you had hoped? Join Marie as she speaks with Swiss lactation consultant, hypnotherapist, and author Hilary Jacobson on steps to resolve breastfeeding grief and overcome feelings of disappointment. Questions or comments can be e-mailed to [email protected]