Born to be Breastfed

Transitioning back to work after the arrival of a new baby can be difficult for any parent. It’s no wonder that a cottage industry has developed around helping parents successfully navigate the workplace waters while meeting the needs of their family. Tune in as Marie and special guest “workplace crusader” Rachael Ellison, MA talk about practical strategies for working parents, including: pumping at work, establishing boundaries at work for pumping, discussing transition needs with managers, transitioning to parenthood and identity, and dealing with challenges during the postpartum time. Questions? Comments? E-mail [email protected] any time.

Mothers of healthy, full-term infants can tell you about the challenges and barriers they sometimes face in breastfeeding. (We talk about them on this show every week!) But mothers of children born early, ill, or with a health condition face additional challenges for which they are seldom—if ever—prepared. Join host Marie Biancuzzo and special guests Anna Jaworski, Nancy Sands, and Amy Gerrish Bennett for discussion of the particular challenges faced by mothers who breastfeed children with congenital heart defects. How is breastfeeding different for these mother-baby dyads? What sort of supports do the mothers need to succeed in meeting their breastfeeding goals? For questions, e-mail [email protected] anytime.

Now that your newborn has arrived, it may seem like you have little time to think about anything but the baby. The baby’s sleep, the baby’s diet, the baby’s needs. But you have needs too. Your body is recovering from the hard work of pregnancy. The postpartum changes of the “fourth trimester” can be both intense and alarming. 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) about tips and techniques that support healing and the transition into motherhood. Questions? E-mail [email protected] any time.

With a newborn in the house, it can seem like you’ll never sleep again. (Don’t worry—you will!) One strategy for coping with infant sleep patterns that can help ease sleep-related frustration and stress is to know what to expect. If you’re finding that “sleeping like a baby” is different from what you thought it would be, tune in for this show. Join Marie as she talks with Tracy Cassels, PhD about typical infant sleep—the myths, the truths, the whats, and the whys. This show is sure to help everyone in the family sleep a bit easier.

So many women have questions and concerns about pumping milk. Whether it's an unplanned and unfortunate circumstance, such as pumping for a premature baby who is unable to suckle, or a planned circumstance, such as visiting a relative or returning to paid employment, mothers seem to have the same or very similar concerns. While mothers have often had fairly good instruction on the technique of operating a pump and successfully using it to express their milk, they seem to have a long line of questions about why their volume of milk isn't what they had expected, how to multi-task and pump on a busy or fixed schedule, myths and facts about using a friend's pump, how to prevent or solve the problem of sore nipples when pumping, and how to wean from the pump. Join Marie Biancuzzo as she tackles these concerns and give you the answers you need!

Although rates of breastfeeding are generally on the rise, new data show that rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration continue to be lower among black mothers than among those of other ethnic groups. Join host Marie Biancuzzo and special guest Kimberly Seals Allers for discussion of cultural norms, particular challenges, and ways of supporting black families in initiating and continuing breastfeeding. Find out about the possible influence of socioeconomic, cultural, and parenting perspectives. Learn how health care providers, public health advocates, media, family, employers, and community all contribute to the current situation—and how they can support positive change. For questions e-mail [email protected] at any time.

The science of epigenetics tells us that environmental factors can influence our genes or genetic development. Breastmilk is well-known for its ability to prevent illness and disease (e.g., necrotizing enterocolitis, infectious diseases, and more.) Nutrition in early life—such as whether a child receives his mother’s milk or an artificial formula—may affect which genes are activated and, ultimately, overall health. Tune in as Marie talks with pediatrician and breastfeeding specialist Dr. Jenny Thomas about how breastfeeding and genes work together to support your baby’s health, and how the decision about what you feed your baby may be important for future generations as well. Questions? Marie is always available via e-mail to [email protected]

Pregnancy is a time of waiting—with great excitement—for the arrival of your new baby. It’s also a time of preparing, filling out baby gift registries and thinking about details like where baby will sleep, what kind of baby carrier will work best, and whether you will need a breast pump. In U.S. society, new mothers aren’t encouraged to think about what the weeks after birth will mean for themselves, physiologically and emotionally. Yet the first six weeks—often all that many mothers can take of maternity leave—are vital for bonding with your baby, and for your baby’s development. Join Marie as she talks with Dr. Cheryl Zauderer, author if Maternity Leave: A New Mother’s Guide to the First Six Weeks Postpartum (Praeclarus Press, 2015), about what happens during the first six weeks, to help new and expectant mothers feel ready and put their minds at ease. Questions? E-mail [email protected]

You've heard of hypnosis. You may even be familiar with hypnobirthing (the topic of Marie's June 15, 2015 episode: http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/85954/hypnobirthing). Did you know hypnosis can be a positive tool for breastfeeding, too? Join Marie as she talks with special guest Robin Frees, IBCLC about how mothers can use hypnosis to overcome barriers that commonly arise during breastfeeding, such as low milk supply, and inhibited milk ejection reflex. Find out about strategies such as hypnotic relaxation, imagery, and breathing, and learn how these can help whether you're breastfeeding the baby in your arms or using a pump to express milk for later feeding. This just might make the difference between surviving your breastfeeding experience and celebrating it! Questions? E-mail [email protected] any time.

Three of four people who set New Year resolutions keep them through the first week. But fewer than 1 in 10 goal-setters actually achieve them. Yet people who don’t identify their aims are even less likely to attain them.

As a breastfeeding mom, maybe you have found it difficult to set your schedule and get things done in the same way as before you were feeding a baby every few hours. Maybe you wonder if you will meet your goal to breastfeed your baby beyond 6 months, when so many moms don’t. What are the differences between those who achieve their goals, and those who do not? What strategies can help you meet your goals?

As Hillary DePiano astutely notes under the tag MOTHER TIME: We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them.” 365 days from now, will you have met your goals?

Join Marie for help with your resolutions, including intriguing facts, thought-provoking info, and practical tips for getting from wishing to achieving what you really want.