The Feeding Hour

In this episode, we are happy to welcome Emily, from @theloveofbreastfeeding to share her story with us. We talk about the importance of movement and diet during pregnancy, and empowering mothers to make informed decisions for their babies' health. 

Emily's breastfeeding journey with her first child was difficult due to latch issues, low weight gain, and her daughter’s silent reflux and lip tie. Despite feeling dismissed and experiencing stress, Emily sought help from a lactation consultant and eventually became one herself, finding ways to support her daughter without a tongue tie release. Emily highlights how babies’ movement during breastfeeding affects latch and development, while also emphasizing the need for mothers to make informed health decisions. Staying active and prioritizing self-care during pregnancy is crucial for fetal development, and intuitive eating can positively influence childbirth.

Thank you, Emily for sharing with us!

Emily's Instagram: @theloveofbreastfeeding

Emily's Website: https://www.theloveofbreastfeeding.com/

Be on the lookout for Emily's podcast, dropping Monday!

Share your story by emailing [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/thefeedinghourpodcast.

In this episode, we are joined by Lisa Paladino, a Certified Nurse Midwife, IBCLC, mom, and grandma. Lisa shares her wealth of experience (over 35 years!) in mother-infant care and shares her own journey of feeding with her three children, including a cleft palate, tongue ties, and home births, with us. We also talked about her twins nieces and nephews, who were born at 30 weeks and spent time in the NICU.

We're all on a journey of lifelong learning, and the feeding world is no different. Thank you Lisa for sharing your wisdom with us!

Lisa's Websites: https://lisapaladino.net/

https://www.tonguetieexperts.net/

Lisa's instagram: @tonguetieexperts

Lisa's Podcast: The Tongue Tie Experts Podcast

Share your story by emailing [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/thefeedinghourpodcast.

If you like what you heard today, please leave us a review on whatever podcast you enjoy this episode!

• ​00:00:00 Skin-to-Skin Bonding Journey
• ​00:05:02 Breastfeeding Challenges
• ​00:09:04 Motherhood Struggles and Support
• ​00:11:08 Breastfeeding Challenges and Triumphs
• ​00:16:04 Breastfeeding and Surgeries
• ​00:18:59 Nurturing Bottle Feeding
• ​00:21:24 Babies and Bedtime
• ​00:24:55 The Intersection of Personal and Professional Journeys
• ​00:41:57 Seeking Help and Lifelong Learning
• ​00:46:39 Membership Benefits and Podcasts

Katherine Benkeser, a mother of three boys, is with us to share her feeding journey. She opens up about her struggles with an infant with tethered oral tissue/tongue tie pain during breastfeeding and multiple hospital admissions for her youngest. Katherine's story underscores the importance of timing and readiness in making decisions about interventions for children. She also advocates for the normalization of asking for support when facing challenges in motherhood and breastfeeding. Katherine's journey is a testament to the power of community, resources, and multiple sources of support. As a pediatric physical therapist, she highlights the benefits of joining a milestone group, where you can connect with other moms and share experiences. We hope Katherine's story can be hopeful for mother's facing similar challenges. Thank you, Katherine, for sharing your story with us!

Katherine's Practice: https://littlebtherapy.com/about/

Katherine's Instagram: @littlebtherapy

More on Katherine's Milestone Meetup can be found on her Instagram.

Share your story by emailing [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/thefeedinghourpodcast.

• ​00:00:00 Katherine’s Feeding Journey
• ​00:02:54 Navigating Breastfeeding Challenges
• ​00:07:44 Feeding Journeys and Challenges
• ​00:16:51 Approaching Developmental Milestones
• ​00:23:11 Improving the Latch
• ​00:24:57 Hospitalization and Feeding Challenges
• ​00:30:58 Feeding and Weaning Experiences

In this episode, Catherine and Abby dive into Michaeleen Doucleff's book, "Hunt, Gather, Parent." The book takes a look at ancient cultures and how their approaches to parenting can offer valuable lessons for us today. One of the key takeaways is that involving children in chores from a young age can boost their ability to handle tasks on their own and even enhance their mental well-being. Inuit culture, in particular, emphasizes the significance of emotional intelligence and togetherness, teaching kids how to navigate adult environments in a supportive way. Gradually exposing children to adult activities helps build their confidence, tolerance, and independence.

Delaying smartphones and social media for children can promote more outdoor play and healthier interactions, as suggesting in Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation.

Overall, it's a reminder of how we can nurture our children in ways that support their growth and well-being!

Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff

https://shorturl.at/u49m4

The Anxious Generation

https://shorturl.at/jLWip

Sign up for our email list: https://bit.ly/thefeedinghourpodcast

Share your story by emailing [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/thefeedinghourpodcast.

In this episode, we’re happy to have Cecile sharing her feeding journey with her two boys. She talks about the challenges of breastfeeding, including tongue ties, the birth crawl, and the importance of support, as well giving herself grace as a mother and sticking with her goal of breastfeeding despite challenges.

Cecile tell us about breastfeeding her first child, the learning curve that came with that, and her feeding experience with her second baby, feeling more confident and prepared. She advises moms to commit and give the journey your all.

We also discuss the amazing birth crawl, where babies instinctively crawl to latch on right after birth. It’s fascinating how challenging births can impact this. Plus, positioning can lead to head preferences in babies, but stretching and bodywork can help with latching. If your baby struggles on one side, don’t hesitate to seek help from a physical therapist, lactation consultant or chiropractor.

Sign up for our email list: https://bit.ly/thefeedinghourpodcast

Share your story by emailing [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/thefeedinghourpodcast.

In this episode, Abby and Catherine dive into the purpose of the podcast, by sharing their own journeys in pediatric feeding and speech pathology. The bond between mothers and children inspired Catherine, who observed while working as a teacher in Northern Idaho. Catherine and Abby sought mentorship to pursue their interest in pediatric feeding and speech pathology. Abby gained valuable experience in early intervention, focusing on language and feeding with babies aged zero to three. Abby took on feeding cases in a private practice setting, becoming the go-to person for feeding issues. Abby's personal experience with her premature son led her to delve into lactation and become an IBCLC.

Sign up for our email list: https://bit.ly/thefeedinghourpodcast

Share your story by emailing [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/thefeedinghourpodcast.

• 00:00:00 The Journey to Motherhood
• 00:03:23 The Journey to Pediatric Feeding
• 00:07:14 Speech Pathology Journey

• 00:16:33 Conversations on Attachment Parenting
• 00:19:49 Feeding Journey and Motherhood
• 00:23:45 Navigating Feeding Challenges

trailer

Today Abby and Catherine welcome Nadda Diasti, holistic SLP, IBCLC, sleep coach, to discuss tongue ties, airway health, and its efffects on feeding.

We dive into the common confusion parents face when getting differing opinions from various providers regarding tongue ties, and why it’s crucial to focus on building feeding skills and looking at other factors before considering any release for tongue ties.

Did you know that tension in the body, especially around the neck, can influence tongue mobility? This tension can lead to asymmetry in the mouth. That’s why it’s essential to address any tension or dysfunction outside of the mouth before jumping into a release for feeding issues.

Another key point is that the severity of a tongue tie is determined by where it’s attached, but any tie that affects function should be looked into. Delaying intervention can sometimes lead to long-term complications, which might require further treatments down the road, like palate expansion.

Also, fascinatingly, tongue ties and low tongue posture can impact sleep and airway quality, which can lead to inflammation and sleep disturbances. Poor sleep, in turn, could contribute to behavioral issues, learning challenges, and even symptoms similar to ADHD.

We discuss mouth taping during sleep as a potential way to help improve nasal breathing. Just a gentle reminder though: it’s really important to ensure clear airways and proper nasal breathing during the day before trying that out!

We hope you find this discussion helpful in navigating the journey with tongue ties and their wider impacts on health!

Video available - https://youtu.be/yd6ofjDu9FA?si=4HPGuNcoEWhE0RAb

Sign up for our email list: https://bit.ly/thefeedinghourpodcast

Share your story by emailing [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/thefeedinghourpodcast.

00:00:00 Understanding Tongue Ties

00:07:36 The Impact of Tension and Dysfunction

00:18:12 Early Intervention in Tongue Function

00:21:18 The Impact of Tongue Tie on Sleep

00:26:10 Sleep Apnea and Mouth Taping

00:31:08 The Importance of Tongue Function

In this episode, Catherine and Abby talk about the amazing importance of infant mental health and neuroprotective care, as well as the vital role that speech-language pathologists play in helping little ones thrive in the NICU. The speakers shared heartwarming insights on how these approaches can foster healthy social and emotional growth for our tiniest patients.

They emphasized how speech-language pathologists can be wonderful advocates for babies’ development in this special environment. We learned that things like prenatal experiences, a nurturing caregiving atmosphere, and good nutrition have a big impact on a child's brain development and overall well-being.

It’s important to remember that early days in the NICU can shape a child’s development, which means they often need extra support to co-regulate. Simple things like reducing stimulation and encouraging skin-to-skin contact can make a world of difference for babies recovering from tough birth experiences. Acknowledging the challenges faced at birth and working towards healing can foster better attachment and promote healthier mental health outcomes. Building those important bonds and patterns of repair is key to nurturing infants' emotional development!

Video available - https://youtu.be/yd6ofjDu9FA?si=4HPGuNcoEWhE0RAb

Sign up for our email list: https://bit.ly/thefeedinghourpodcast

Share your story by emailing [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/thefeedinghourpodcast.

Chapters

00:00:00 Infant Mental Health and Neuroprotective Care

00:02:54 Advocacy for Infant Mental Health

00:05:51 The Importance of Early Brain Development

00:17:28 Early Experiences and Regulation

00:22:35 Processing Traumatic Birth Experience

00:26:13 The Importance of Infant Mental Health

In this episode, Abby and Catherine discuss the importance of cue-based feeding, seeking help when needed, and the benefits of breastfeeding for newborns. The first few days after birth are crucial for establishing milk supply through frequent feedings. Feeding should be cue-based, with the baby latched on effectively every 1-2 hours. Babies' cues for feeding include alertness, stirring, and moving hands or lips. It is important to wake up sleepy babies for feedings in the first two weeks. Breastfeeding promotes social cues, and babies start practicing swallowing amniotic fluid in the womb. Tongue ties or other oral motor issues can affect breastfeeding and should be evaluated by a specialist. It is important to seek help from lactation consultants or other professionals if there are difficulties with breastfeeding. Feeding patterns may change over time, and it is important to respond to the baby's cues and seek support when needed. Breastfeeding early milk, known as colostrum, is thicker, yellower, and more nutrient-dense. Hand expression of colostrum can be beneficial for first-time moms to learn and have as a backup for baby's feeding. Stressing the importance of open conversations about breastfeeding experiences, we aim to create a supportive community where we can all learn from each other's stories.

Video available - https://youtu.be/yd6ofjDu9FA?si=4HPGuNcoEWhE0RAb

Sign up for our email list: https://bit.ly/thefeedinghourpodcast

Share your story by emailing [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/thefeedinghourpodcast.

00:00:00 The Importance of Early Breastfeeding

00:05:16 Breastfeeding Cues and Tracking

00:12:26 Breastfeeding Challenges and Seeking Help

00:17:49 Feeding and Sleep Patterns

00:21:21 Navigating Challenges in Motherhood

00:24:07 Feeding Cues and Patterns

00:27:40 Breastfeeding Benefits and Tips