Pacifiers are one of the hotly contested topics in baby care. Should every baby get one? Is using a pacifier protective against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)? Do pacifiers mess with breastfeeding? Does sucking on a nuk lead to more ear infections or crooked teeth? Are hand-rolled pacifiers from Cuba superior? Since it’s been awhile […]
While breastfeeding is something you’d think would come naturally to mammals, it is a learned skill for both parent and baby (or babies). To make things even more interesting, we may carry forward experience and knowledge to subsequent babies, but we’re still presented with a new person who we are getting to know under new […]
This topic is a long time coming to this blog, and for a simple reason: I’m not itching for a fight about it. However, I have reached peak tongue and lip tie, and so I’m donning my flame-retardant suit and throwing this out into the world. Tongue tie, lip tie, and normalcy of the frenulum […]
With the emphasis put on building a good milk supply—which, don’t get me wrong, is important—and the folks who talk about all of the foods, drinks, herbs, and pills they take to build their milk supply, it would be easy to think that more is always better when it comes to the amount of milk […]
What are the top two questions posed to IBCLCs and other breastfeeding peers and professionals? How do I make enough milk? and Is my baby getting enough? The answers are simple and complex. I make an attempt to scratch the surface in these two blog posts: How do I make enough breastmilk for my baby? […]
Concerns about milk supply top the list of new-parent worries. Almost everyone who breastfeeds wonders, at some point, if they are making enough milk. The principles behind milk production are simple, yet our individual bodies, babies, and lives are not. This post is meant to cover the basics of milk supply and production. You may also […]
How do you know if your breastfed baby is getting enough to eat? The answers lie in their diapers and on a scale. If you have questions or concerns about your milk supply or how much milk your baby is getting from the breast, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to visit an […]
There are few topics in parenting where I will put on my stern mom voice and tell you what to do. Many of our choices as parents are more of a matter of opinion and preference than safety. What we do is (largely) based in love and a desire to do the best for our children. […]
Ah, the holidays. Good food, good cheer, family togetherness (which has its pros and cons), and people passing around the baby for snuggles. For most people, whether they’re lactating or not, the holidays also come with their fair measure of stress and challenges. While my advice in general for this time is to do whatever […]
By Erin Margaret Joyce When I was 15, the subject of breast reduction was brought up by my doctor due to significant back pain and a curving spine. At the age of 17, I finally went through with it and had my breasts reduced. The reduction itself was probably one of the best things that could […]