Sooner or later, every new parent hears that their baby “needs” a pacifier. The reasons offered may vary, but they all have one thing in common: They’re false. Not every baby needs one. But if you want to reality-check the myths, here’s the scoop on the top ones you’re likely Read more…
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…
Breastfeeding mothers who are going back to work have a lot on their minds. You might have already started worrying about keeping up your milk supply and expressing milk in the workplace. But have you thought about how your childcare provider could make or break your breastfeeding experience? Here are Read more…
With the holidays approaching, that often means changed schedules and routines. Whether it be to visit relatives or enjoy time away, you may be considering travel. Or, you may be planning on hosting a large dinner or even shopping for the perfect gift. The holidays can often be stressful, and Read more…
As the holidays approach, many people find themselves heading to airports. The TSA predicts that more than 25 million people will travel through TSA checkpoints during Thanksgiving weekend alone. Undoubtedly, among those will be many nursing mothers. As a nursing mother, you choose air travel for the same reason other people Read more…
Being a mom while serving in the United States military isn’t always easy. Deployments, training, and often unorthodox hours all add to the complexities of being a working mother. But breastfeeding in uniform makes things is likely to be present more complexities than other jobs. Nevertheless, many moms have made Read more…
A 2017 article says that about 50% of millennials have at least one piercing other than the soft tissue of the ears. And, up to 20% of U.S. adults have at least one tattoo. Removal of a tattoo is another example of body modification. Whether you already have a body mod, or 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…
Nursing mothers are often told that eating chocolate while breastfeeding makes babies irritable and fussy because it contains caffeine. That’s a myth. In fact, it’s a myth within a myth. But there are more considerations to look at before jumping to this conclusion. There at least 5 questions to ask Read more…
1. Therapeutic In our recent podcast interview, Maya Bolman, RN, IBCLC, and Ann Witt, M.D., make the distinction between hand expression, breast massage, and therapeutic breast massage in lactation. Although these are all related, they are different. 2. Roll Using a rolling motion, with one hand on the bottom and Read more…