Born to be Breastfed

Plagiocephaly (flat-head syndrome) affects as many as 47% of infants. If you’ve seen babies wearing helmets, you know how common this condition is. Maybe you’re wondering: My baby has an unusual head shape; does he need a helmet? Wait! Those helmets cost thousands of dollars and the cost is seldom, if ever, covered by insurance. Can you treat plagiocephaly without a helmet?

Join Marie and her guest, plagiocephaly expert Andrew Dorough, DC, as they help you to realize you’re the only one who can find the best solution if your baby has a flat or unusual head shape. Is plagiocephaly just cosmetic? Should you do nothing and believe he will outgrow it? Should you do something now or wait until later…or doesn’t it matter? Does his head shape have anything to do with his continued feeding difficulties? In this episode Marie and Dr. Dorough will help you to follow your gut, ask the right questions, consider all of the treatment options, and understand how chiropractic care can help.

Can someone have a scary birth experience? Oh yes. And can that scary birth experience lead to post traumatic stress disorder? That’s a distinct possibility. And if post traumatic stress disorder occurs, how does it intrude on your experience in this pregnancy, or your hopes and dreams for the future of your family? Or maybe how it will change the way you think or your own sense of self-identity.

Join Marie and Colby Cohen-Archer, MS, PhD, as they discuss the impact of birth trauma on mothers, breastfeeding, postpartum mood disorders, and more. And they’ll talk about how to heal from birth trauma, as well as how to use some coping tips. And, if you or someone you know has had this experience, listen as Dr. Cohen-Archer lists several different ways to get help—including some you’ve ever heard of—and how you can find the help you need to feel better.

Have you thought of becoming an IBCLC? Have you wondered what that journey might be like? What if you’re already a nurse? What if you’re a licensed professional, but not a nurse? What if you have no healthcare background whatsoever?

Join Marie and her guests as they talk about their journey to becoming an IBCLC. Heather Yocom, RN MBA IBCLC, qualified for the IBLCE Exam after getting a scholarship to attend Marie’s live course in San Diego. Deborah Betts, SLP IBCLC, qualified after taking Marie’s live course in Baltimore. Sarah Ortega, CLE CLC IBCLC, who had no background in healthcare, qualified through Marie’s all-online course. How were their journeys similar—or different? What were the toughest parts of the journey? Why did they choose the preparation they chose? If they had it to do over again, what would they do differently? If you’ve ever wondered how your journey might be, get some real-life insight from three who took the journey and passed the IBLCE Exam on the first try!

Eating disorders affect as many as 30 million people in the United States. And, although they have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, eating disorders are seriously undertreated. Tragically, among those who seek treatment for anorexia each year, 1 in 100 will die; up to 20% will die within a year as the result of complications from the eating disorder, or suicide.

In today’s episode, Marie talks with Jacklyn Novatt, who nearly became one of those statistics. Luckily, she got help. Better yet, Jackie beat the anorexia in time to become pregnant and successfully give birth to and breastfeed twins. And in a wonderful “surprise ending” you’ll hear how the pregnancy and breastfeeding was a critical turning point for her.

Join Marie and Jackie and discover how to recognize the classic symptoms of anorexia, how to help a loved one get into treatment and support them in their recovery, and how to separate fact from fiction about anorexia.

You’re determined to be the best mother, right from the start. You want to grow your baby to be healthy. And, you want to make sure that while breastfeeding, you continue to nourish yourself so you can make the very best milk for your baby. How can you actually do that? Well, how about eating real foods? But what would those be? Join Marie and her guest, Lily Nichols RDN, CDE, author of Real Food in Pregnancy. Find out how Lily’s approach to prenatal nutrition differs from conventional information that we’ve heard for years. What are some of the number one foods that pregnant or breastfeeding mamas should eat, and why? What mistakes do most women make about nutrition? What are some of the biggest myths about nutrition in pregnancy, and why are your prescribed prenatal vitamins less than ideal? What is choline, and why is grass-fed beef or bone broth so important? Which recipes in Lily’s book did Marie like? Get the answers to these questions, and many more in this interesting episode.

Are you thinking of becoming an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC)? Or are you already an IBCLC, and you need to recertify? Are you aware of all of the changes in expanded eligibility requirements, changes in how clinical hours will be calculated, changes in the recertification process, and changes in the exam schedule and upcoming deadlines? Don’t rely on what your friends tell you, or what you’ve read or done in the past. Get the latest information so that you can plan ahead.

In this episode, Marie summarizes the most recent statements from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) so that you can comply with the new requirements and choose the right options to embark upon or continue your journey as an IBCLC. As a bonus, Marie will name names—telling you topics that might not have been on your radar in the past, and should be now if you are taking the IBLCE exam!

If you’ve been in a store’s baby section lately, you’ve probably noticed the formula. It’s hard not to notice it—there are more kinds of formula than ever before, and they take up a lot of shelf space. Milk-based, soy; regular, hypoallergenic … the variety can be overwhelming! What’s a parent to do? Before you buy any formula—and before you feed any to your baby—make sure you know all about it. Join Marie and special guest Dr. Heather Patisaul of NC State University for a conversation that provides the ins and outs of soy formula. Make sure you know about the phytoestrogens in soy and how they affect the body (short-term and long-term). Tune in for an eye-opening discussion of a product that’s become pervasive—for better or for worse, and consider information you need to make the best decision possible for your baby and your family.

Everyone agrees that exercise is good. But if you’re an expectant or breastfeeding mother who has never exercised, should you start now? Are the guidelines the same for a nonpregnant woman as for a pregnant woman? And does “exercise” mean taking a walk around the block, or competing in a triathlon? Are there any studies to substantiate recommendations about amount and type of exercise for pregnant women? How does prenatal exercise affect the onset and length of labor—if at all?

Join Marie and her guest, author Linda May, PhD, as they discuss the results of over 700 studies that address exercise during pregnancy. Be prepared for several surprises! You’ll learn about how exercise does and doesn’t affect the pregnant mother, her baby while in utero, and the long-lasting effects it can have on the infant or child. And, if you’ve encountered some barriers to getting enough exercise, get some simple tips to get moving and stay moving during pregnancy.

By now, nearly all parents and professionals understand: Breast is best! And, breastfeeding is natural! Unquestionably, these statements are true. But those lines of logic and encouragement are aimed more toward milk and babies. What do mothers think? What do mothers feel? How might those feelings continue into those first few weeks after going home from the hospital?

Join Marie and her guest, Dr. Marie Dietrich Leurer, as they discuss what Dr. Dietrich Leurer learned in her research study. How do mothers react to their breastfeeding experience? Is breastfeeding easy or difficult? Is breastfeeding instinctive, or learned? What about confidence? Do women describe breastfeeding experience as positive or negative…or both? And, do some mothers simply dislike breastfeeding? Come along as we talk about the facts that describe feelings!

It’s just food. Or just a beverage. You don’t need to worry about whether it will affect your milk or your baby, right? Or, maybe you should worry? Heck, maybe you’re already worried, but perhaps there’s nothing to worry about!

Get answers about safety, side effects, allergies and more as Marie interviews her guest, Philip O. Anderson, PharmD, FASHP, FCSHP, the author of the National Library of Medicine’s LactMed database. They’ll talk about the research to substantiate answers to questions about food and beverages that you probably consume on a regular basis, as well as some foods you might never have heard of. Listen as Marie asks Dr. Anderson about the effects of coffee, tea, colas, chocolate, alcohol, garlic, onions, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, fava beans, turtle meat, and more! Are you curious about food allergies, maternal vaccinations while breastfeeding, food poisoning, botulism and breastfeeding? Get the information you need on those topics, too!