The LC & Doula Diaries

To celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week, we welcome Semone Williams as a guest lactation expert. Semone is currently preparing to take her IBCLC exam and has significant experience helping hundreds of families in their breastfeeding journeys. She is a Peer Counselor through WIC and a Lactation Counselor at Augusta University Hospital, as well as currently holding the position of chairperson of The CSRA Breastfeeding Coalition in Augusta, GA.

Semone shares her own breastfeeding journey and how that led her to pursue becoming an IBCLC herself. She discusses the needs she sees in our own community in Georgia, as well as larger issues facing black mothers throughout the country.

Points we discuss in this episode include:

● When black moms feel encouraged in their BF journey, it makes a big difference in how they keep going.

● We need more black moms supporting black moms.

● ROSE (Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere) is an incredible resource for black breastfeeding women: www.breastfeedingrose.org

● It’s so important to win grandma over in supporting breastfeeding, because the matriarchal structure is huge in the black community: women want to make their mothers proud.

● Utilize all the help available to you, from BF support groups, to lactation counselors, to friends and family, and more. WIC has phenomenal Peer Counselor BF support services that are often under utilized.

● The infant mortality rate for black babies is 2.3 times that of white babies and black babies are 3.8 times more likely to die from low-birthweight complications than white babies. HIgher BF rates could literally help save lives.

What should we all be doing?

● Support black IBCLCs! We need to see them working in more places and also fulfilling prominent leadership roles.

● Don’t count yourself out. You have the ability to breastfeed and even help other women breastfeed!

● ALWAYS look at another race with the same compassion as you would your own. See the need and meet it. Be gracious and encourage mom.

As professionals who frequently work with new moms, Sally and Melissa have observed that reactions to postpartum life range from “nobody ever told me about ______________” to “it sounds so awful - I’ve been dreading it.”

While postpartum life certainly has its challenges, it doesn’t have to be sheer misery. In this episode, Sally and Melissa discuss ways to help ease the transition into life with a newborn and find the community and professional support that you need.

Highlight reel of our best tips:

● Set your phone to “Do Not Disturb”. You have your hands full with a new baby and the last thing you need is a well-meaning friend or relative calling/texting you frequently to see how you’re doing. Plus, we can guarantee it WILL ring when you’re trying to nap!

● Home expectations: discuss this very clearly with your partner. How soon are you okay with family members or friends visiting, and how long may they stay? How will you handle any difficult family dynamics during this time? What will household chores look like during this time? In other words, what can be left undone, how can your partner pick up extra duties while you recover, and is it in the budget to hire a cleaning service, etc?

● Ask for, and accept, help. Pride doesn’t serve anybody well in this season of life. Let others be a blessing to you by providing practical help!

● Find a pelvic floor physical therapist in your area and book an appointment with them ASAP. Even a textbook smooth birth still has effects on the body that could benefit from a pelvic floor PT.

● ….and more! Tune in for the rest of our tips!

Postpartum Depression Hotline:1-800-944-4773

Our FAVE postpartum books:

The Fourth Trimester

Pregnancy, ChildBirth, and the Newborn

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

Happiest Baby On the Block

The No-Cry Sleep Solution

Social media Links:

www.facebook.com/babiesbumpsboobs

www.instagram.com/lcdouladiaries

Sally’s homepage: www.thebreastfeedingguru.com

Melissa’s homepage: www.strongbirthjourneys.com

Email us at [email protected]

Sally and Melissa go through the most important elements you need to consider in preparing for your birth and (spoiler alert): it’s not just about going to a childbirth class! We do highly recommend you go to a GOOD class, but getting ready for birth is so much more than that! Infant care, nutrition, community support and more - listen to the show for the tip you won’t find in any books or doctors’ offices!

After listening, you may be wondering how to find a truly well-rounded childbirth education class - here’s what to look for: https://www.thebump.com/a/childbirth-classes

Doulas can be a great support for you in your birth goals. Here’s where to start looking for doulas: www.doulamatch.com

https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula/find-a-doula/

https://cappa.net/

Local community support is crucial - make sure to check out mommy groups/boards or ask your doula what types of resources are available to parents in your specific area.

Finding, and talking to, lactation consultant before is important.  This is an excellent, and international, resource:

https://portal.ilca.org/i4a/memberDirectory/index.cfm?directory_id=18&pageID=4349

Preparation is key - it may seem overwhelming at first, but you will be glad you took the time to consider these areas before your baby arrives. You’ve got this!

Social media Links:

www.facebook.com/babiesbumpsboobs

www.instagram.com/lcdouladiaries

Sally’s homepage:  www.thebreastfeedingguru.com

Melissa’s homepage: www.strongbirthjourneys.com

The benefits of breastfeeding are well-known …. Or are they?  What’s so special about breast milk? Does breastfeeding have to be all or nothing? There are lots of cool, weird and little-known facts in this episode! Tune in as Sally, a lactation consultant, shares all the gems she’s found along the way.

Have you ever wondered what the REAL benefits of breastfeeding are or if it’s just hype? In our first episode of the LC & Doula Diaries, lactation consultant, Sally, and doula, Melissa, unpack it ALL for you.

We’ve all heard that “breast is best”, as well as “fed is best”.  Both of these statements are true. It’s important to understand as much as you can about breastfeeding and breast milk. Whether a mother is determined to breastfeed, unsure about how she wants to feed her baby or decides to breast and formula feed, this information is a must for making the best choice for her and her baby.

Highlights from our discussion:

No matter what you decide for your family, knowledge is power and having all the facts enables you to make an informed decision, which is what we want for every mama!

Keep up the good work!

Social media Links:

www.facebook.com/babiesbumpsboobs

www.instagram.com/lcdouladiaries

Sally’s homepage:  www.thebreastfeedingguru.com

Melissa’s homepage: www.strongbirthjourneys.com