Breastfeeding can be challenging. And breastfeeding after a c section can come with a unique set of struggles. I am here to sort out some myths about nursing after a …
Breastfeeding Tips for Planners | Is My Baby Getting Enough?
I founded Blissful Birthing in January 2014. Since that time my team and I have worked with hundreds of families. The most common concern we see among new moms who …
What Breastfeeding Products Do I Need?
There are SO many products on the market geared towards breastfeeding moms. It can be super overwhelming to decide what you need to get – do you need it all? …
Does Breast Milk Cause Cavities?
Our doulas see this question ALL the time in Facebook parenting groups: does breast milk cause cavities? There is a lot of information “out there,” but rarely from qualified sources. …
Pass the Mommy Juice! | The Dangerous Mommy Wine Culture
After a long, difficult day we all need to relax and unwind. This is self-care and how we do that will vary from one person to the next. There is …
How To Go Dairy Free When Breastfeeding
Some of us (adults and babies) don’t tolerate dairy well. A milk protein intolerance may present in a young baby as: fussiness after feeding that does not stop painful (lower …
Common Breastfeeding Myths Busted by a CLC
In this age of the internet, information is readily available. Add in anecdotes from well-meaning friends and family and it can be overwhelming to disseminate what is current and accurate …
How to Freeze Breast Milk: Common Mistakes and Must-Dos
One of the most common questions our lactation counselors are asked is regarding how to freeze breast milk. The most important thing to remember is that having a huge stash …
Haakaa vs Milkies Milk Saver | A Lactation Counselor Weighs In
If you’ve been on any of the local Facebook mom groups for any amount of time you have likely at least seen the word “haakaa”. Most, if not all, moms …
What Do I Do With My Breast Pump When I Finish Using It?
What do I do with my breast pump when I finish using it? It is totally awesome that insurance companies are covering breast pumps since roughly 70% of women go …
The Truth About Nipple Confusion and What You Need to Know
“Don’t give your baby a pacifier or they will have nipple confusion!” “Wait 6 weeks to offer a bottle so your baby doesn’t develop nipple confusion.” If you’re pregnant or …
Can I Give My Baby Formula with Breast Milk?
Not all mothers are able to provide their baby with breast milk, exclusively, for the first year of life. Supplementing with formula is a reality for many families. My team …
Is a Weighed Feed Helpful for Breastfeeding Success?
Best practices for breastfeeding ‘success’ are constantly evolving as more information becomes available. For example, it used to be common to advise new moms to nurse their baby for 20 …
Boost Your Milk Supply: A CLCs Take on Galactagogues
It is not uncommon for new mothers to wonder if they are making enough milk for their baby. A quick Google search for products to boost your milk will yield …
T is for Thrush
You probably know thrush as a fungal infection that breastfeeding mothers may have to worry about, but did you know that your bottle-fed baby can develop it, too? Thrush is …
O is for Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a role in regulating: social interaction, sexual reproduction, maternal-child boding, labor, and milk production. They hypothalamus produces this hormone. Physical affection causes an increase …
K is for Ketosis
With all the buzz about keto diets, I thought i would take some time to discuss the original ketogenic diet – breastmilk! Did you know that newborns are born in …
J is for Jaundice
Jaundice occurs when bilirubin, a metabolic product of the breakdown of red blood cells (RBCs) builds up in the blood. It manifests as a yellow tine to the skin and …
Oh, Baby! Take Your Shirt Off! | Skin-to-Skin
By now I’m sure you’ve seen the picture of “The Rock” skin-to-skin with his new daughter Tiana. It’s sweet, beautiful, and beneficial. You’ve likely heard about and researched the benefits …
Early Breastfeeding – 10 Tips for Breastfeeding Sucess
If you’ve read my posts, joined my Facebook group, or spoken to me in person, you know that I am constantly reassuring new moms that just because breastfeeding is natural …
Breastfeeding Basics – What You Need to Breastfeed Successfully
Nipple cream and nursing pads, breast shields and Boppys, shells and storage bags. Take a quick walk down the breastfeeding aisle at any baby store and your head is sure …
I Want to Stop Pumping! – How to Wean from the Breast Pump
rIf you’re an exclusively pumping or working mom you likely have a love/hate relationship with you breast pump. There will come a time that will likely be met with a …
Tips for Building a Breast Milk Stash
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively for at least the first six months of your baby’s life. This may seem like a lofty goal for women who must return …
Breast Milk and Alcohol – What Every Breastfeeding Mom Needs to Know
For breastfeeding moms parades, celebrations, and get togethers raise the question about the safety of alcohol and breast milk. As a lactation counselor I’ve seen a great deal of misinformation …
Pumping Exclusively: One Mom’s Breastfeeding Journey
This post is a bit different than our others. It was written by a local mom who’s idea of exclusively breastfeeding didn’t go exactly as planned. After hearing about her …
Common Breastfeeding Myths Busted
As a lactation counselor in Westchester, NY, Putnam, NY, and Dutchess, NY, I work with women and their new babies during the first weeks and months of the baby’s life. …