Robin Berger - Breastfeeding & Parenting Support

01/09/2024

🤔 BREASTFEEDING MYTH 🤔
A large percentage of our population just can’t make enough milk to fully nourish their babies.

We are mammals. Our bodies were made to breastfeed. Our species has survived for hundreds of thousands of years this way. It is actually UNCOMMON for a mom to carry a pregnancy, deliver a baby, and then just not be able to feed it. It does not make sense.

While there are some moms who may have real issues with milk supply, much of the time it is due to inaccurate advice to supplement with formula because of a “perceived” low supply issue instead of a real supply issue.

This can then cause a real issue that could have been avoided given proper support and information.

📸 Photo courtesy of one of our mamas, Cristen 💕

01/09/2024

Mother’s milk is SO much more than a ‘milk delivery system’. 💙

Of course, breastfeeding works when your baby is hungry or thirsty.

But nursing also helps when your baby is sleepy, frightened, anxious, or sick.

Nursing helps when they’re cold, or tired, or upset, or in pain.

And there’s no better way to sooth a toddler meltdown than a nursing session.

So in a nutshell: 💦(.)(.)💦

01/06/2024

There are many more instances where you should potentially meet with an IBCLC but here are a few things I’ve encountered this week and wanted to share.

01/06/2024

“Breastfeeding reminds us of the universal truth of abundance; the more we give out, the more we are filled up, and that divine nourishment – the source from which all draw is, like a mother’s breast, ever full and ever flowing.” —Sarah Buckley

May your 2024 be a year of abundance!
Happy New Year from

01/06/2024

Full-term typically developing newborns are born with buccal fat pads (commonly called sucking pads).

These develop toward the end of pregnancy when other fat is developing on a baby’s body, so premature babies do not develop them and near-term babies may have thin ones.

Sucking pads are balls of fat in a baby’s cheeks that help keep the cheeks against the gums, so the baby can attain appropriate intraoral pressure during feeding.

They supply lateral stability in the mouth until the baby’s cheek muscles (particularly the buccinators) gain control of the process between 4 and 6 months.

•How else is a baby’s mouth designed for feeding? •

Well, an infant’s tongue is large compared to the rest of the mouth, which increases contact with breast milk — the baby’s ultimate goal.

A baby’s tongue is cushioned on either side by the fat reserves in the cheeks.

In addition to the physicality of the mouth, babies’ upper airways are equipped to enhance breastfeeding. The epiglottis is a small flap of cartilage that covers the baby’s windpipe and prevents milk from going into the airway; instead, the milk is directed to the esophagus.

•What about those lips? •

Flanging of the upper lip is good, but not critical…

You’ve heard this as lip-flanging, lip-flaring, fish lips, and probably a few other descriptors. Those descriptors are saying that the upper lip flips outward around the nipple/areola.

A lack of lip flanging isn’t necessarily worrisome— a neutral position of the upper lip is fine. If baby has a deep latch and good suction, good milk transfer will occur. If the upper lip is sucked inward, or the upper lip flanged too far back, comfortable attachment and good milk transfer is unlikely.

•What are signs to look for and listen for that may indicate a problem? •

•Dimpled cheeks while feeding
•Milk spillage
•Clicking noises
•No audible or visible swallows
•Lip blisters or a “two tone” appearance to lips
•Popping on and off the breast
•Painful breastfeeding

Dm for 📸 credit!

01/01/2024

True story 🎉🥳🍾

12/29/2023

True story 🤷‍♀️

12/29/2023

12/28/2023

A lil’ Christmas Eve check in.

⬇️ drop an emoji that represents how you’re doing!

Mine is 🤱🏾📝☕️👶🏽 because breastfeeding things don’t take holiday breaks!

12/27/2023

12/26/2023

T'was the night before christmas
And all throught the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The baby all cosy asleep in their bed
Started stirring and rooting and bobbing their head.
The Mum, she awoke to see what was the matter.
Her heart melted to hear her baby chatter.
She lifted the baby up to her breast,
Rewarded with milk, snuggled as if in a nest.
The baby drifted off
For a long winter sleep.
A treasured moment for the Mum to keep.

Merry Christmas.

Poem by Elanor Jemison

Art by Kat Blockley from A Common Treasury .common.treasury
Kat.blockley.com

If you have an issue with feeding and you want to talk it through with someone, call the feeding helpline 0300 330 0700 8am-midnight everyday. Including Christmas Day, Boxing Day New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.

12/26/2023

Merry Christmas to you and yours! 🎄

12/25/2023

Accurate af 😬

12/23/2023

Timely info from .lactation.prenatal :

It’s true: rates of mastitis increase over the holidays.

Family gatherings where everyone is passing the baby around (ahem, because EVERYONE thinks they can settle the baby better than you, ammirite?), losing track of time while socializing, feeling awkward feeding during the gathering....there are many situations that can lead to Christmastitis.

In addition, decorating, travelling, shopping, cooking, and just being so darn BUSY can all lead to skipped feeds and prolonged breast fullness.
You will KNOW this is happening because your breast (it commonly affects just one breast at a time, though it can affect both) will feel swollen, hard, and warm to touch. Redness, pain, fever, and an overall flu-like crappy feeling are also common markers for mastitis.

What to do?

For prevention:
- Set clear boundaries for yourself and others
- Pay attention to how you’re feeling: don’t try to ignore engorgement
- Don’t try to do it all (maybe don’t feel obligated to host any holiday dinners this year)
- Be assertive with pushy family members: you know your baby’s feeding cues best.
- Take it easy and rest whenever possible

For treatment:
- Don’t try to ignore or brush off symptoms: I know, you don’t have time for mastitis, but ignoring it will only make it so. much. worse.
- Continue to feed your baby on-demand
- If you feel engorged between feeds, you can hand express or pump JUST for comfort (a few minutes might be enough to soften tissues and make you more comfortable- too much extra milk removal can cause oversupply and worsen the situation!)
- Cool compresses between feeds to ease inflammation
- REST!
- See your doctor: antibiotics may be needed (yes, they are safe to take during breastfeeding!)

12/23/2023

Most medical providers are NOT lactation specialists! Does this mean they’re crap? No. Does this mean you don’t listen to them at all? Also no.

Does this mean that if you’re getting advice from a generalist about a specific issue, you will greatly benefit (and likely save your breastfeeding journey) by working with someone who specializes in the issue?
YES 🙌

The specialist (in this case, lactation consultant) can work with you in three ways:

•reassure you that what you’re being told is a problem- actually isn’t
•provide guidance on issues that need to be addressed- but aren’t
•work WITH your medical provider, as a team to help you stay safe, healthy, and meet your goals

What would you add to this list of “code phrases?”

12/22/2023

12/22/2023

Our Mama Village. ❤

12/22/2023

Your milk contains oxytocin, a hormone that induces feelings of well-being and stimulates processes related to growth and healing.

During breastfeeding, oxytocin is also released into the brain of the mother and the baby, where it reduces feelings of stress, decreases sensitivity to pain, and decreases inflammation.

Breastmilk is our human first food, but it is also a vast network of complex elements working together to build our bodies; nervous systems, genetic coding, immune systems, brain wiring and function etc... And whilst that is being built, your body and milk protect your child.

Discover more about just how brilliant you and your body are at https://www.human-milk.com/science

12/22/2023

This 👇

http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/qa/nursing-beyond-the-first-year

12/22/2023

❤🌡 BREASTFEEDING FACT 🌡❤
Your Breasts Are Able to Detect Even a One Degree Drop in Your Baby's Temperature and Warm Up.

You are the best incubator/warmer there is. Period.

Wrapping that baby up like a little burrito is only necessary if he/she will be away from you. But the best way to keep her warm in the early hours, days, and weeks is to cuddle with them skin-to-skin with a blanket over the two of you.

Your skin contact means that baby will have to expend fewer calories regulating her own temperature.

AND...Dads can do it as well! ❤️

📸:

12/21/2023

🤱 BREASTFEEDING FACT 🤱
"Cluster feeding is when a baby breastfeeds in short intervals, grouping the feedings by nursing for short periods of time but closer together than other times of the day."

Cluster feedings can happen at any time during breastfeeding but tend to occur more in the first 3 months.

This can be the result of normal growth spurts that occur at around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, where the baby is in a time of rapid growth and needing to eat more. Breastfeeding more often will “demand” more from the mother’s breasts and will quickly increase her milk supply to adjust to the baby’s needs.

Cluster feeding also occurs anytime and especially in the evening hours when most babies tend to just be fussier.

This behavior is completely normal when breastfeeding, as long as the baby has wet and p**p diapers, and is continuing to gain weight. Moms should avoid supplementing with bottles at this time as that could decrease their supply.

Typically by the time the baby is 3 months old these fussy times and the cluster feedings that are associated with them start to resolve and the baby will eat at more regular intervals and sleep more regularly.

(📸: Fresh Pine Photography - St. Louis Motherhood Stories)

12/21/2023

There is SO much misinformation when it comes to alcohol and breastfeeding.

Here are some facts 👇🏼

〰️ Less than 2% of alcohol reaches your blood and milk.
〰️ Alcohol peaks in your blood+milk approx. 30-90mins after drinking. {The time does vary depending on your weight, % of body fat, how much food you ate, etc.}
〰️ Alcohol leaves your milk just as it leaves your blood.
〰️ Up until around 3 months of age, infants detoxify alcohol at around half the rate of an adult. An older baby or toddler can metabolize the alcohol more quickly.
〰️ Keep in mind: Higher levels of % consumption can temporarily interfere with your milk letdown.

A 2007 study suggests that lactating women may metabolize alcohol more quickly compared to non-lactating women (Pepino et al 2007).

Dr. Jack Newman MD, FRCPC believes that a mother can drink some alcohol and continue breastfeeding as she normally does.

Dr. Jack Newman says this in his handout More Breastfeeding Myths:

“Reasonable alcohol intake should not be discouraged at all. As is the case with most drugs, very little alcohol comes out in the milk. The mother can take some alcohol and continue breastfeeding as she normally does. Prohibiting alcohol is another way we make life unnecessarily restrictive for nursing mothers.”

👇🏼 Some tips:

〰️ If you’re away from your baby, try to pump as often as baby usually nurses (this is to maintain milk supply, not because of the alcohol).
〰️ Never share a bed or other sleeping surface with your baby if you have been drinking as drinking affects your natural reflexes.
〰️ If your breasts become full, you can hand express or pump. If you don’t feel comfortable feeding baby. You can save milk for milk baths (you can even use it externally on baby’s skin for eczema, rashes, sunburns etc)
NEVER DUMP THAT PRECIOUS LIQUID GOLD!!

Please never feel pressured to drink! There’s many great mock tails you can sip on that are alcohol free. But in general, if you are sober enough to safely hold your little one, you are sober enough to breastfeed.
Thank you for following - We are SO grateful to have you here!!! We want to wish you and your family a safe and Happy Holidays! 🎄

12/20/2023

Wastewater signals show COVID is circulating in our communities. If you have not received the updated XBB COVID vaccine yet and are eligible, you can contact your local pharmacy for appointment availability. Visit wdgpublichealth.ca/prevention for more ways to protect yourself and your family this respiratory illness season.

12/17/2023

Did you delay your baby’s first bath?

12/17/2023

12/14/2023

You wouldn't let anyone else tell you how to decorate for the holidays.

Or what to eat, drink or wear.

Even though adulting can be hard, and it can be helpful to have genuine experts on hand to get good information and advice, we want to make our own decisions about most things.

Your pregnancy and birth are no different.

In fact, they’re more important.

Because the decisions that we make about pregnancy and childbirth can shape our experiences, health and lives, as well as those of our children and families.

So it's important to make the decisions that are right for you.

Your body. Your baby. Your decisions.

All year round.

For more information, see www.sarawickham.com/me

12/13/2023

12/11/2023

Delivering a baby via C-section may not be what you planned for your pregnancy and newborn, mama, but you are a warrior and your scar represents love.