International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
My own journey with Breastfeeding my first child - and the support that I received from IBCLCs - inspired me to earn my IBCLC Certification in 2016. I have continued to support families with their Breastfeeding goals with my clinical experience and this specialized Lactation Education - the IBCLC is considered the Gold Standard in Lactation Care.
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Helpful Lactation Tips for New Moms
Avoid the Guilt
Feeding your baby formula doesn’t make you a “bad parent” or a “failure”! A fed and growing baby is best, and the way you feed your baby should allow you to enjoy these precious moments and not create more stress.
Pumping Schedule
If you’re pumping breast milk, try and incorporate 1-2 sessions in the late evening to early morning hours. The body’s Prolactin (milk producing hormone) peaks during these hours.
Help with Baby Formula
If you are introducing formula to your baby, it can be confusing to see all the different brands on the market. Talk to your Pediatrician to see which formula will suit your baby best.
Supplemental Support
Supplements like Fenugreek and Brewer’s Yeast can help support and boost your breast milk supply, but ultimately it is either nursing or pumping at 2-3 hour intervals that increase and maintain your breast milk supply early on.
Alcohol and Breast Milk
Don’t pump and dump that breast milk just because you’ve had some alcohol to drink! An 8 ounce glass of wine or 2 beers are perfectly fine for a nursing mother to consume. Just wait 2 hours after consumption of alcohol OR until you no longer feel the effects of alcohol, to nurse or pump breast milk.
Pacifiers
When introducing a pacifier to your newborn, wait until they are over 3-4 weeks old so that it doesn’t interfere with establishing breastfeeding. Why? If the baby is sucking on a pacifier too early, feeding cues such as licking or smacking the lips, opening the mouth, sticking the tongue out, and rooting may be missed.