Did you feel anxiety, irritation, sadness, or depression when you pumped/breastfed? Is this maybe even the reason you stopped? If so, you might have had D-MER – something I have firsthand experience with. Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER) is a condition affecting lactating women that is characterized by an abrupt dysphoria, or negative emotions, that occur just before milk release.

In this episode I talk to Alia who is the lactation consultant that first identified D-MER in 2007. She, herself, was a sufferer of D-MER while breastfeeding her third child and first described it as “a post-partum depression that comes and goes”. When she could not find anything on the topic, she started her own research and is now an international speaker and published writer on the topic.

I am willing to bet that most of you have not heard about D-MER, yet I am sure quite a few of us suffer from it. That is why it was very important to me to make an episode and I am very thankful to Alia for agreeing to talk to me. It was the first time I EVER talked to anyone about this and after we recorded the episode I was able to cope much better with my own D-MER symptoms.  

 d-mer.org

Facebook support group

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*This Podcast was created for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The host and guests are only sharing their stories and listeners should always refer to the CDC guidelines and their personal care doctor professional.  Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is solely at your own risk. The host and the guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.

*The contents of the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast, website, and social media account, such as text, graphics, images, and other material (“content”) are for informational and educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, nursing, or a medical condition you or your child might have.

The podcast host and their guests are sharing their own stories and experiences as information general in nature, and not specific to you, the reader or listener, and is not intended as individual medical advice. The content provided on the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast encourages you to make your own prenatal and postnatal care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast/website is solely at your own risk.

The host and their guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.

The biggest help in both of my post-partum journeys were my doulas. When I tell any new mom this, often I get the response: “What is a doula?”. I found out about doulas because my friend in LA had one for the nights, allowing her to catch up on sleep after she came home from the hospital. But doulas are so much more than that and that is why I sat down with my own doula and created this episode. We recorded this episode 2 months after my son was born and we are literally passing him back and forth during this interview so you might hear him in the background.

In this episode we talk about Kendra’s own pumping story for her two kids but also about the Doula profession itself.

What is a doula? What is the difference between a Post-Partum Doula and a Birth Doula? What do they do and how can they help you in your birthing and post-partum journey?

How do you find a doula? What should you look for in a doula? How can a doula help you with breastfeeding? All of these are questions we discuss in this episode.

Some of the products discussed in this episode:

Haakaa manual breast pump

One Step Sterilizer and Dryer Baby Brezza

Medela Microwave sanitizer bag

AppleCheeks cloth diapers

Silver nursing cups – nipple shields

Sarah Wells Pumping Bag

How to find a doula or get in contact with Kendra:

https://www.facebook.com/happywavesdoula/

https://happywavesdoula.com/

[email protected] or call 407-900-8941

https://doulamatch.net/

Follow us on Instagram: @busymompumping

Visit my site and show notes at: https://www.busymompumping.com/

Please leave me a review at: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1571193626

Subscribe for Android users: https://subscribeonandroid.com/busymompumping.libsyn.com/rss

*The contents of the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast, website, and social media account, such as text, graphics, images, and other material (“content”) are for informational and educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, nursing, or a medical condition you or your child might have.

The podcast host and their guests are sharing their own stories and experiences as information general in nature, and not specific to you, the reader or listener, and is not intended as individual medical advice. The content provided on the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast encourages you to make your own prenatal and postnatal care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast/website is solely at your own risk.

The host and their guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.

This episode is a quick look back at all the episodes that have aired so far as I reflect on what I have personally learned from my guests. It is a nice review, especially if you are just now joining us. You can listen to this episode and pick and choose which ones you feel might be worth listening to. Personally, these conversations have taught me a lot as I am embarking on my second round of breastfeeding but even beyond just breastfeeding, my guests have offered their advice on motherhood, parenting and career planning.

I want to thank all my amazing friends and guests for taking the time to talk to us and for being so open and honest when providing answers to my questions.  

Toddler Stepping Stool

MoveMamaApparel

Changing Pad with Scale

Follow us on Instagram: @busymompumping

Visit my site and show notes at: https://www.busymompumping.com/

Please leave me a review at: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1571193626

Subscribe for Android users: https://subscribeonandroid.com/busymompumping.libsyn.com/rss

*The contents of the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast, website, and social media account, such as text, graphics, images, and other material (“content”) are for informational and educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, nursing, or a medical condition you or your child might have.

The podcast host and their guests are sharing their own stories and experiences as information general in nature, and not specific to you, the reader or listener, and is not intended as individual medical advice. The content provided on the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast encourages you to make your own prenatal and postnatal care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast/website is solely at your own risk.

The host and their guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.

Sam is a Client Success Manager for a Data Company and she breastfed both of her son. Sam had to travel while pumping so she talks about how she pumped on the road, in the car and in a bathroom at a conference. She also mentioned that her second son had a tongue tie and how that affected her breastfeeding journey initially. If you have not heard about a tongue tie yet, this might be worth listening to 😊 Her advise was around making sure you get what you need to make the pumping journey easier and more successful. Some of her favorite products were:

The Sepctra S1 cordless pump

The Elvie

Any kind of Handsfree Bra

Kindred Bravely

Milkmakers Lactation Cookies

MoveMamaApparel

Visit my site and show notes at: https://www.busymompumping.com/

Please leave me a review at: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1571193626

Subscribe for Android users: https://subscribeonandroid.com/busymompumping.libsyn.com/rss

*The contents of the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast, website, and social media account, such as text, graphics, images, and other material (“content”) are for informational and educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, nursing, or a medical condition you or your child might have.

The podcast host and their guests are sharing their own stories and experiences as information general in nature, and not specific to you, the reader or listener, and is not intended as individual medical advice. The content provided on the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast encourages you to make your own prenatal and postnatal care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast/website is solely at your own risk.

The host and their guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.

This interview took a direction I did not expect when I prepared my questions as my guest Lindsay answered the question of “who did you do it for?” with “ME!” This perspective is one that we had not really looked at yet and so I loved our conversation about doing this for yourself and treating it as a challenge. That comes with the need for an “Accountability Coach” and Mom Tribe. What a nice follow up to the discussion we had with Brandi. What we learned in this episode is that if you plan to breastfeed or pump that is up to you but if you do it, have help and someone cheering you on from the sidelines. If you do not, that is more than ok. There are so many other mommy skills to be good at and that we know you will rock!

We also talked about some feelings and how it is ok to not be ok and to ask for help when you need it!

Products Mentioned:

Milk Stork

Freemie Cups

Changing Pad with Scale

Follow us on Instagram: @busymompumping

Visit my site and show notes at: https://www.busymompumping.com/

Please leave me a review at: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1571193626

Subscribe for Android users: https://subscribeonandroid.com/busymompumping.libsyn.com/rss

*The contents of the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast, website, and social media account, such as text, graphics, images, and other material (“content”) are for informational and educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, nursing, or a medical condition you or your child might have.

The podcast host and their guests are sharing their own stories and experiences as information general in nature, and not specific to you, the reader or listener, and is not intended as individual medical advice. The content provided on the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast encourages you to make your own prenatal and postnatal care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast/website is solely at your own risk.

The host and their guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.

Brandi is one of the moms that I met in my Mom’s group at the Pump Station in Santa Monica, California. I refer to this group in my first Episode “The Cow” and how helpful finding my mom tribe was for me. Brandi and the other moms gave me so much advise and emotional support and we touch on the importance of finding your (honest) mom friends early on. Brandi also shares some funny insight on how she breastfed her son for 10 months while traveling to conferences and conventions and my favorite story involves a silk blouse and forgotten back up bra.

Brandi was also the one who taught me about Milk Stork – a milk shipping service for when you are traveling and wanting to ship milk home from your hotel.

I hope you get a good laugh and enjoy our conversation. Most importantly, I hope it inspires you to find your own Mom tribe.

Also, if you have not watched “The Letdown” please do so – this was my ultimate inspiration to joining a moms group and it almost exactly reflected what I found in these women. Weird humor and everything!

Follow us on Instagram: @busymompumping

Visit my site and show notes at: https://www.busymompumping.com/

Please leave me a review at: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1571193626

Subscribe for Android users: https://subscribeonandroid.com/busymompumping.libsyn.com/rss

*The contents of the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast, website, and social media account, such as text, graphics, images, and other material (“content”) are for informational and educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, nursing, or a medical condition you or your child might have.

The podcast host and their guests are sharing their own stories and experiences as information general in nature, and not specific to you, the reader or listener, and is not intended as individual medical advice. The content provided on the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast encourages you to make your own prenatal and postnatal care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast/website is solely at your own risk.

The host and their guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.

Today’s episode is one where I get to merge my passion, audio books, with this podcast by suggesting trigger free books to you as new moms or at least warn you of some of the triggers that might exist in the book so you can decide for yourself if you want to read it. Post-Partum Anxiety and Depression is a real thing, and I hope that these books allow you to escape a bit into a story without having to fear the story turns dark and worrisome. Books I review in this episode are the following:

 9 perfect strangers by Liane Moriarty (only as an example of a book that DID trigger me)

Where the Crawdats Sing by Delia Owens

The Hypnothists love story by Liane Moriarty

What Alice forgot by Liane Moriarty (only as a suggestion if infertility and miscarriage does not trigger you)

The Whiper Network by Chandler Baker

The last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

A fine Imitation by Amber Brock

A gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Follow us on Instagram: @busymompumping

Visit my site and show notes at: https://www.busymompumping.com/

Please leave me a review at: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1571193626

Subscribe for Android users: https://subscribeonandroid.com/busymompumping.libsyn.com/rss

*The contents of the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast, website, and social media account, such as text, graphics, images, and other material (“content”) are for informational and educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, nursing, or a medical condition you or your child might have.

The podcast host and their guests are sharing their own stories and experiences as information general in nature, and not specific to you, the reader or listener, and is not intended as individual medical advice. The content provided on the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast encourages you to make your own prenatal and postnatal care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast/website is solely at your own risk.

The host and their guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.

Angela is a lawyer who breastfed both of her children and while she exclusively pumped for her first son, she almost exclusively breastfed her second. This meant scheduling pump sessions around meetings and depositions so she could go pump or meet her nanny to breastfeed her son.

In this episode we talk about jaundice, fixing clogged ducks in hot tubs, tracking your production with helpful apps. We even discuss how to still pursue your career while wanting to be an involved hands-on mom. I bring up my favorite book and author “Lean In” from Sheryl Sandberg and the advice she gave me once on how to level out the playing field.

Favorite Products and Resources:

finger feeding and boob feeding tubes

Clarisonic face brush to help with clogs, but I think anything with that sonic vibration will do (e.g., electric toothbrush).

While we are at it, let’s just add that Hot tub in here

App: https://www.babyconnect.com/ (Angela also used this to track nursing times for her second son)

Turning nursing camisole to hold flanges hack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwqdT_931Tc

“Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg

Follow us on Instagram: @busymompumping

Visit my site and show notes at: https://www.busymompumping.com/

Please leave me a review at: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1571193626

Subscribe for Android users: https://subscribeonandroid.com/busymompumping.libsyn.com/rss

*The contents of the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast, website, and social media account, such as text, graphics, images, and other material (“content”) are for informational and educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, nursing, or a medical condition you or your child might have.

The podcast host and their guests are sharing their own stories and experiences as information general in nature, and not specific to you, the reader or listener, and is not intended as individual medical advice. The content provided on the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast encourages you to make your own prenatal and postnatal care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast/website is solely at your own risk.

The host and their guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.

Lauren is an actress, writer and producer who has written and sold multiple original screenplays throughout her short but impressive professional career. Most recently, she created, wrote, produced, and starred in A California Christmas, one of a small handful of feature films to start and complete production during the pandemic. You can find this movie as well as her movie Roped on Netflix.

What is of importance to us today is that Lauren is a breastfeeding mom, and she talks to us about the challenges women in the movie industry are faced with when wanting to breastfeed when returning on set. Lauren was lucky in her journey as she produced the movie she starred in and it allowed her to add “mommy time”, aka pumping time, into the schedule. Throughout the interview she makes it a point to remind us that this is not common and that the industry is not set up to allow most females in different roles on set to do the same.

This interview showed me even more how there are still many industries that are not set up to support breastfeeding mothers and I am so thankful to Lauren for being on our show, sharing her experience and spreading the awareness.  

Follow Lauren on Instagram: @Laurenswickard

Follow us on Instagram: @busymompumping

Visit my site and show notes at: https://www.busymompumping.com/

Please leave me a review at: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1571193626

Subscribe for Android users: https://subscribeonandroid.com/busymompumping.libsyn.com/rss

*The contents of the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast, website, and social media account, such as text, graphics, images, and other material (“content”) are for informational and educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, nursing, or a medical condition you or your child might have.

The podcast host and their guests are sharing their own stories and experiences as information general in nature, and not specific to you, the reader or listener, and is not intended as individual medical advice. The content provided on the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast encourages you to make your own prenatal and postnatal care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast/website is solely at your own risk.

The host and their guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.

I recently posted about hair loss on the Busy Mom Pumping Instagram account and my friend who is the host of the “Girls with Guts” podcast suggested I talk to Dr. Abby as she is an expert on this topic, and she is a breastfeeding mom herself. Win Win!

Dr. Abby is a dermatologist in Massachusetts as well as an assistant professor at the Harvard Medical School and she will be talking to us about Telogen Effluvium – temporary hair loss that happens after some sort of stress… like birthing another human being.

Even if you are not breastfeeding this is a great topic of discussion and just skip straight to minute 15 in this episode. Dr. Abby talks about what causes hair loss and how we can prepare for it. As a dermatologist, she also gives us some advice on skin care and points out that self-care is an important part of it.  

BUT I would suggest listening to the episode in its entirety as she talks about how she fit breastfeeding her two children into her work schedule and how she chose her career path to ensure she could still have an active private life.  

Follow Dr. Abby on:

Instagram: @abby.waldmanmd

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNI5Bp59r_SFle-ObBG3H4Q/videos

Hair Loss - Telogen Effluvium:

Vitamin D and Iron Supplements

Keep taking your prenatal vitamins especially if they are not in the gummy form

Self-care – destress (if at all possible)

Avoid Rogaine

Skincare Advise

Melasma: Azelaic acid + SunScreen (SPF30) + Vitamin C and E Serum + Retinoid

Hyperpigmentation: hydroquinone

Circles under your eye: a good night crème. Dr. Abby often just uses Vaseline or aquaphor (I already have this for diaper rashes)

Follow us on Instagram: @busymompumping

Visit my site and show notes at: https://www.busymompumping.com/

Please leave me a review at: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1571193626

Subscribe for Android users: https://subscribeonandroid.com/busymompumping.libsyn.com/rss

*The contents of the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast, website, and social media account, such as text, graphics, images, and other material (“content”) are for informational and educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, midwife, pediatrician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, nursing, or a medical condition you or your child might have.

The podcast host and their guests are sharing their own stories and experiences as information general in nature, and not specific to you, the reader or listener, and is not intended as individual medical advice. The content provided on the Busy Mom Pumping Podcast encourages you to make your own prenatal and postnatal care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast/website is solely at your own risk.

The host and their guests only state their own opinions and do not represent any organizations or institutions.