Milk banking Non-profit milk banking in the United States is rapidly growing! We have the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) here is the US, Mexico, and Canada. At this point we have 27 milk banks and 5 under development in North America. Milk banking was developed in 1985. These milk banks have donor screening, testing for bacteria, and pasteurize the donated breastmilk. …
General Breastfeeding
Nursing Bras: Are You Comfortable?
Nursing bras that fit!!! I am so excited because I just received my first order from Cake. These are nursing bras in sizes that are hard to find! I have made it part of my mission to have nursing bras that fit almost any mother that walks through our door. Why am I so passionate about this? Let me tell you about how this came to be. My story (FYI TMI, don't read if you are interested!): When I …
All Things Breastfeeding 48: D-MER
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
All Things Breastfeeding Podcast Episode 37: Breastfeeding and Dentistry
Breastfeeding and dentistry? What do teeth have to do with breastfeeding? This week on the podcast Barbara and Barb discuss breastfeeding and dentistry. Is there any truth to the idea that breastfeeding causes cavities? There was a recent study that found babies who had been breastfed for more than 6 months had more cavities than the babies who were not breastfed for at least 6 months. …
All Things Breastfeeding Podcast Episode 36 : Breastfeeding and Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression can happen to any women, no matter how much she wanted her baby, no matter what her socioeconomic status. This week on the podcast, Barbara and Barb talk about postpartum depression (PPD). A very common occurrence in many woman after they have a baby, yet not talked about often enough. We were inspired to talk about this subject after doing a podcast with Michelle. She had …
All Things Breastfeeding Podcast Episode 35: Breastfeeding in Public
Breastfeeding in public! This week, Barbara and Barb do a round-up on breastfeeding in public, just in time for the summer. Moms are out and about, and babies still need to eat. We discuss a recent incident where a breastfeeding mother had an employee suggest she might be more comfortable nursing in the bathroom after other customers had been complaining. People don't understand how brave a …
Breastfeeding: Babies first milestone
I am doing a presentation for Gold Lactation 2017 on April 10th, 2017. Here is a little podcast about what I will be talking about, just a little taste. Enjoy! …
Let’s place the blame where it belongs
"Let's place the blame where it belongs". What does that mean? There is a group out there that is making me pull out my hair. This group is "Fed is Best" which was formed in 2016 as far as I can tell. A mother who is also a physician, had a terrible experience with her baby. In an open letter, she claims that because her newborn did not receive adequate nutrition from exclusive breastfeeding her …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 33: What’s In The Numbers?
What's in the numbers? This week on the podcast we talk about numbers! Birth weights, how accurate they might be, comparing one scales weight to another, and all the variables to take into consideration when looking at numbers. Sometimes the scales might not be calibrated properly. What if the baby was weighed with a full belly and full of poop? The next weight might have your baby starving and …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 32: Breastfeeding Support Groups
Are breastfeeding support groups right for you? This week on the podcast, Barbara and Barb chat all things breastfeeding support groups. Why are they helpful and who might benefit from a breastfeeding support group? Many people feel that a "support group" is old fashioned or if you need to go to one, it is a sign of weakness. Far from it! Gathering with a group of like minded people feels …
All Things Breastfeeding Episode 29: Breastfeeding In The News Roundup
All Things Breastfeeding has a news roundup this week on the podcast. We chat about important breastfeeding topics and some hot button issues this week! Join us while we lay it all out. The good and the bad. All Things Breastfeeding Show notes: 9 Things Your Lactation Consultant Desperately Want You To Know About Low Milk Supply Internet and Breastfeeding: Friend or Foe-podcast …