For over two decades, we’ve had good evidence that cue-based feedings are best for breastfed infants born at term. Until recently, the evidence for cue-based feeding for late preterm infants has been less convincing. Anyone listening to my interview with Dr. Tena Fry will gain some great insights that they might not Read more…
Wouldn’t it be grand if you could successfully influence mothers, bosses, friends, and everyone you know to promote, support, and protect breastfeeding? What if I told you that you and other healthcare professionals can influence others in this way—and more—by adhering to six simple principles from an 80-year old book? Read more…
For various reasons, older babies might abruptly stop wanting to nurse. As I explained in a recent podcast, parents have many misconceptions about weaning. Often, parents misinterpret a nursing strike as “she weaned herself.” There is strong evidence that babies self-wean, but that’s a gradual process rather than abruptly. Here Read more…
Not every breastfeeding mother wants or needs an in-person visit along with the pressure of showing up at the appointed time. Not everyone needs to have the one-on-one expertise of an IBCLC. Going to a support group might not appeal to some moms. (You wouldn’t find me at a support Read more…
Some years ago, a good friend of mine had just returned from a prenatal visit. She began asking me some questions about her pregnancy and anticipated birth. At the time I was working as a labor/delivery nurse, so I felt entirely qualified to provide accurate answers. However, after hearing several Read more…
Last week, a woman who was having her second baby (by repeat cesarean surgery) asked if I would come to the hospital with her. I did. She was hoping I could help her to optimize that first hour or so when breastfeeding is so important as she had been only Read more…
Most of us are aware of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) feeding recommendations. The AAP recommends that parents “introduce solid foods around 6 months of age.” The important word that parents and providers often miss is “around.” Honestly, some babies just aren’t quite ready for solids at exactly 184 days Read more…
Most everyone knows and agrees that exclusive breastfeeding is the ideal way to feed a baby until he is about 6 months old. Thereafter, parents and professionals seem to have some misunderstandings and misinterpretations about the immune properties, and the amount of breastmilk babies need after 6 months. Two big misunderstandings. Read more…
A mother has posted a photo of herself breastfeeding her 4-year old. Fox news reports that she is “being shamed on social media for nursing her kids beyond the ‘normal’ age.” And that it’s “gross” and “disgusting.” Okay, and that “normal” age would be…what? And the social norm would be exactly the Read more…
Soy formula became available in the United States in 1929, or perhaps even earlier. It was invented for those infants who were “allergic” to cow’s milk. (Not cow’s-milk-based formula.) About 12% of the formula sales in the United States are for soy-based formula. Soy formula contains 4,500 times—or more— the Read more…