D-MER? What is D-MER? This is a condition that every family should be aware of, not because it is going to happen to you. It is actually quite rare. But because when it does happen to a breastfeeding family the mother can feel like she is going crazy. So please listen to this podcast so you can help other families! D-MER stands for Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. Let us explain. When a mother …
Nipple Shield Survey: For Parents, For Professionals
Nipple Shields The history of using nipple shields goes back in modern history for quite a long time. The debate about if they should be used, how they should be used, and why they should be used has caused many disagreements in our field. The research on nipple shields is limited. The purpose of these surveys is to get a sense of how and why nipple shields are actually be used by families and …
All Things Breastfeeding 47: Breastfeeding and Medications
Breastfeeding and Medications Breastfeeding and medications can cause a lot of confusion! Many mothers are told they cannot breastfeed while taking certain medications but this is often not true. We will discuss how medications can possibly get into breastmilk, a process called diffusion, FYI, and what families can do if they have questions or concerns about medication usage. Most …
Important Update! Changes to the IBCLC Credential
My dear colleagues Liz Brooks has a great summary of the new changes to the IBCLC credentialing process . I agree with Liz that most of these are a move in the right direction! I wanted to let people know about these changes and how they relate to my 90 hour course, the CCLS certificate. Proposed changes: The first change is to have specific required education credits for communication skills. …
All Things Breastfeeding 46: Busting Breast Feeding Myths
Barbara and Jessica are busting breast feeding myths! What have you been told about breastfeeding? So many things! People have all kinds of thoughts and opinions. Breast feeding myths come from many places. Family and friends have many old wives tales or assume that what happened to they must be going to happen to you, no matter how weird. Sadly, our health care providers can also harbor …
Quality in a Lactation Course?
Quality in a lactation course? What does that mean? First of all we have to look at what is the purpose of education in the first place. Then ask how can an instructor structure the educational content to make the time spent on it as valuable as possible. What is the purpose of education? Why do we bother with learning? In general, the purpose is to help facilitate positive behavior change. If …
All Things Breastfeeding 45: Top 5 Breast Feeding Concerns
What are the top 5 breast feeding concerns? Well, we have been busy bees figuring this out and helping to provide information to families! I have spent a lot of time and resources on marketing this past year trying to address the needs of my clients. This means a new website! I have created new sections on the website that address specific topics that many families have concerns about. The top …
Want More Breastmilk Later? Tell Your Body You Want It From the Beginning
Want more breastmilk later? Tell your body you want it from the beginning? What do I mean by this? Biologically, it makes no sense that women who get pregnant and give birth struggle with breastmilk production. Literally this would be a bad design from nature and nature is an amazing architect. The normal progression is you get pregnant, you give birth, you make milk. It is the mammal thing to …
All Things Breastfeeding 44: World Health Assembly and Breastfeeding
Why are we talking about the World Health Assembly and breastfeeding? Because world policy sets the priorities for money spent on support. And we all know we can use more breastfeeding support. The New York Times released a story about the news. Here is another story about this. What was the controversy? World Health Assembly and breastfeeding news was all about the USA trying to block other …
How to become an IBCLC
How to Become an IBCLC Note: These are Barbara’s interpretations of the IBLCE website to attempts to try and clarify this process. For more information about our dynamic 95 hour courses which fulfill the "Lactation Specific Eduction", please go here! Want to know more about becoming an IBCLC or our 95 hour professional lactation course, the CCLS? Contact us or email barbara@bfcaa.com for …
New 90 hour lactation course! CCLS- Clinical and Communication Lactation Specialist
What? A new 90 hour lactation course? Yes, a new 90 hour lactation course! Let me tell you about how this came to be. The thing I love most about my work is teaching. Whether I am helping one on one with a family, offering a prenatal course, or working with a group, I am a teacher at heart. When I was twenty-one years old, I literally had an epiphany out in a field in the upper peninsula of …
Could my lactation services or breast pump be covered by insurance?
Could my lactation services or breast pump be covered by insurance? This is such a common concern! Love it or hate it, the Affordable Care Act is great for breastfeeding! Breast pumps are a required benefit but your company could provide you with the best pump available or a simple hand pump. Covering lactation services is also a required benefit but insurance companies are still sorting out …
Why Women Really Quit Breastfeeding
Why Women Really Quit Breastfeeding When we talk about the reasons mothers quit breastfeeding in the early weeks those reasons are pain and worried about having enough breastmilk. However, after about 7 weeks or so, most of these issues have worked themselves out with time or by getting some expert help from an IBCLC. But then comes the next big challenge just as things are getting …
Hospitals Preventing Formula Feeding?
Hospitals preventing formula feeding? Are formula manufacturers just writing these articles themselves now? I have never had a hospital refuse to feed a crying newborn for 6 days. I am not saying this didn't happen, it's possible, but as I have said in the past, my families are having to beat off formula pushing in hospitals, even ones that are Baby Friendly. I have a lot of questions as well. …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 43: Jessica’s Working and Breastfeeding Story
Jessica's Working and Breastfeeding Story! We are adding a new type of podcast to our collection beginning with our new intern Jessica! We have been having mothers share their breastfeeding stories but now we want mothers to hear from other mothers about the realities of going back to work while you are breastfeeding. Jessica's working and breastfeeding story is worth the listen as you consider …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 42: Breastfeeding Missions
Breastfeeding Missions? What does this mean? I, Barbara Robertson, want to make Breastfeeding Missions a reality! I have always worked on giving back to the community. I have been hosting a weekly, free, breastfeeding support group for over 10 years, volunteer when I can for her local WIC office, and offer a sliding scale for her consultation services for families who need it. I am still a La …
Breastfeeding and Depression: Where is the balance?
Breastfeeding and depression? I just read this article about breastfeeding and depression from the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. May 2nd is World Maternal Mental Health Day. I have actually been thinking a lot about this. Where is the line between working really hard to succeed at something and driving yourself crazy? Breastfeeding can be so hard in the beginning. It can feel like all the …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 41: Barbara’s Journey to how to become an IBCLC
How to become an IBCLC? This week Barbara and Barb talk about Barbara's journey to becoming an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant)! Some people think because the IBCLC credential is consider part of the health care field that you have to be a nurse. This is not true! Many of the biggest movers and shakers in our field are not RNs. Cathy Watson Genna has a bachelors of …
6 Ways Blogs Make It Hard to Breastfeed: Breastfeeding Miss-information and more!
I just read the blog, 6 Conditions That Can Make It Hard to Breastfeed According to Science. Of course, the word science caught my eye! I love science about breastfeeding! So, what did it say? Here are the conditions they had listed that make breastfeeding hard: 1. Flat or inverted nipples 2. Nipple piercings 3. Postpartum depression 4. Having a c-section 5. Raynard's Phenomenon of the …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 39: Breastfeeding Story: Dawn
As promised, we are back in business and Dawn is going to be sharing her breastfeeding story. Dawn's work with babies has led her down paths she didn't expect. Isn't this often the case? Who knew my own struggles with breastfeeding would lead to a whole career I never imaged? We encourage you to check out some of Dawn's resources that are below. Dawn tells us about her two experiences. With …
Breastfeeding: Helping to level the playing field
Breastfeeding: Helping to level the playing field... What does this mean? Here is one of my favorite quotes to help explain: "Breastfeeding is a natural "safety net" against the worst effects of poverty. If the child survives the first month of life (the most dangerous period of childhood) then for the next four months or so, exclusive breastfeeding goes a long way toward canceling out the …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 40: Breastfeeding Podcast Update
Barb is getting ready to take her IBCLC exam in April and I have been busy doing other things besides creating a breastfeeding podcast! But we are back to making our breastfeeding podcast! I am being joined by my new intern, Jessica, who is going to continue my podcast journey. Don't worry, Barb is not gone! You will see her here and there! We want to be able to deliver our breastfeeding …
Why mothers “fail” at breastfeeding: Unresolved breast feeding pain
How about this for a starting point, "Scientists know more about what's in a tomato than what's in human milk, according to Katie Hinde, a lactation researcher and associate professor at Arizona State University. (And we know twice as much about erectile dysfunction.)" Are you joking? I wish. We haven't even IDENTIFIED all of the ingredients in breast milk. Let alone the nuances for the act …
Is a lip tie real?
Tongue tie, lip tie, oh my! What to do about a possible lip tie? I just finished reading Why Upper Lip-Tie Isn’t a Thing Please don't slam me for this title! I didn't write it! I am also not sure what to think. I googled the author but couldn't find much about her. Her blog seems to be well thought out, well researched, and I do agree that in many areas casing the allusive cause of poor …