Really? Another class? After the childbirth education classes and the infant care classes, and books, and webinars on the interwebs, all in preparation to give birth, there's yet ANOTHER class that needs to be taken? In the words of a YouTube visionary, "Ain't Nobody Got Time For That." Well...we respectfully request to disagree. Why? After the breathing, and the contractions, and the pushing--then what? The average mom will spend 5-8 hours a day feeding her baby. Yup. Like a full time job. That means that in the first 6 months of your baby's life, you will spend around 1,000 hours--that's ONE THOUSAND HOURS--feeding your baby. So why wouldn't you take a class on something you're about to spend up to 40 hours a week doing? Well, let's talk about why you would take a breastfeeding class. You get to establish a relationship with breastfeeding professional who can then provide support after baby comes, if you need it. Reaching out for assistance after baby comes can be daunting, overwhelming, or even intimidating, especially if the people you need are strangers. Get the niceties out of the way before baby arrives, in class! A familiar face always makes things easier. And during class, you'll learn how to identify reasons why you would need more support after baby comes, so you'll have an action plan in place if you face challenges. You get to build the breastfeeding knowledge of your support network so that your partner/auntie/grandpa/sister can better help you. We encourage you to bring your whole posse to our breastfeeding class! Whoever is going to be hanging out with you to help after baby arrives should have the same information you do--not only so they know the whys behind what you're doing with breastfeeding, but also so that they can remind you if you forget something. Sleep deprivation, hormones, and all the newness of the postpartum can give you the infamous Mommy Brain, and having someone to remind you of what you learned in class can be absolutely priceless! You get to learn the NUMBER ONE thing you need to do to get breastfeeding off to a great start and how a lot of families (unknowingly) mess it up. Even if you don't recall anything else from class, you will leave knowing THIS one thing. We would tell you this one thing is but we have to save some of our secrets for class!! "Learn the NUMBER ONE thing you need to do to get breastfeeding off to a great start and how a lot of families (unknowingly) mess it up." You get learn what a truly good latch looks and feels like. Since this may be your first time breastfeeding, you may not know what to look for when it comes to your baby's latch right after birth. Or maybe your last baby didn't have such a great latch and you're trying to improve on it this time. Having your family there too will help them be able to see whether or not baby has a good latch--especially since it can be hard to get baby latched on well the first few times with only two arms.
You get to practice coordinating breastfeeding holds through the use of our weighted dolls. While this may seem sort of strange at first (or even a little creepy--darned little eyes that open and close), it can actually be a real eye-opener (pun intended) to position a doll that weighs close to what your own baby will weigh. Just don't look the doll in the eye. Join us as we start our very own breastfeeding class, Belly to Breastfeeding, which will be available every month, starting July 6!
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Isn’t summer in Florida fantastic? The beaches, the unpredictable weather, the hair-raising humidity… Pregnancy in the southern summer can be agitating. Researching the best local resources can be even more frustrating. So I’ve compiled a list of shops, groups, meetings, and people that I personally recommend as a must visit, do, or buy during and after pregnancy. 1. Chiropractic Care Carrying another human life inside you can take a toll on your entire skeletal system. Dr. Kaitlin Ross at Joint Venture Chiropractic will take the highest standard of care for you and your little one before and after delivery. Babies can benefit from chiropractic care as well. Click here for more information on infant chiropractic care. 2. Le Leche League Pensacola Breastfeeding isn’t always easy. Finding a support group doesn’t have to be. LLL of Pensacola holds meetings “to help mothers to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.” You can find their meeting schedule on their Facebook Page. 3. ICAN of Pensacola A newest resource for cesarean birth mothers is the Pensacola Chapter of ICAN (the International Cesarean Awareness Network). ICAN is a “nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC).” This could be a turning point for VBAC rates in Pensacola, and it is certainly a much-needed resource here since as many as 1 out of 3 moms in Pensacola have had or are facing cesareans. 4. Storkland Now, if you’ve ever been to Storkland, GET OVER THERE, GIRLFRIEND! You can get lost in there. Truly. Tell a trusted friend to call and check on you if they don't hear from you by a certain time. DO NOT tell your significant other (JUST KIDDING). They have EVERYTHING ranging from breastfeeding supplies, amber and hazelwood jewelry, car seats, baby wearing products, cloth diapers, and every nursery theme you can think of. Storkland is one of those places that carries many products that you can’t find it at chain department stores. They also provide gift wrapping and specialized registries. Be careful sitting in their nursery rockers, you may never get up. 5. Emerald Coast Birth Resources A list of local professionals ranging in knowledge from birth, mental health issues, breastfeeding, caring of the newborn, and fitness can be found here. Aside from brick and mortar resources, the support of fellow mothers and credentialed professionals is essential to making your journey from pregnancy, through birth, and into parenthood as smooth as possible. 6. L.E.A.P.S. “Love, Encouragement, and Postpartum Support” is the motto of this fantastic mothering support group. Connecting with other mothers and being able to open up in a safe space can take the world’s weight off of your shoulders. Being a parent is tough cookies, you don’t have to do it alone. They meet twice a month at the Community Educational Center at Ever'man's Cooperative Grocery. AND just this week, they have added two new meetings specifically for parents of black and brown babies! See their Facebook page for more information on meetings. 7. Pensacola Therapy Services Did you know that approximately 1 out of 7 women will experience a mood disorder such as depression, anxiety, or OCD? And mood disorders aren't just for the postpartum timeframe! They can happen during pregnancy as well. We are so fortunate to have this amazing resource in the area--the owner of Pensacola Therapy Services, Eileen Wolfe, has done extensive training with PSI (Postpartum Support International) and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders pertaining to pregnancy, birth & the postpartum. If you or someone you know is pregnant or with a new baby, and struggling with feelings or thoughts, contact Eileen today through her website! 8. Maternity, Birth & Newborn Photography You always want to have the perfect photos for the once-in-a-lifetime moments. Amanda at Finding Beauty in the Ordinary specializes in everything pregnancy, newborn, and family (in fact, she took many of our website pictures as well as the picture in the blog header!). If you desire to capture the precious moments of birth, Natalie Zepp or Cassie Ringl would be the people for you! 9. Mom-Baby Circle Ever need a moment to just sit and have non-structured adult conversation? Located at Old Thyme Remedies, Mom-Baby circle meets several times a month. Moms with babies and toddlers 3 years old and under are welcome to drop in. There’s no fee and it is facilitated by Belly to Cradle’s doulas (come see ME!). You can visit their Facebook Page and click on the Events tab for their next meeting time. 10. The Belly to Cradle Resources Page Looking for a childbearing resource not listed here? Pregnancy-specific fitness options, health food stores, or a list of all the OBGYNs in town?? Then have we got the directory for you! We have worked hard to provide a robust list of all the possible services YOU might need for your pregnancy, birth & postpartum--and if you know of a resource that's not on the list, or you are a provider and would like to be added, PLEASE contact us--we'd love to know about it! Happy Summer-ing! Your Doula With Pearls, Lauren Ever since I became a lactation consultant in 2015, I have encountered misconceptions about what the role of a lactation consultant really is--the main one being that we only approve of breastfeeding, and judge families who choose any feeding method other than breastfeeding. Friends would find out that I was a lactation consultant and say immediately, as though I might automatically judge, "Well, I couldn't breastfeed because..." Patients have told me, with shame, "Last night I gave the baby formula during cluster feeding, but I only gave it one time. I know I wasn't supposed to." My answer, always and immediately, is that there is no right or wrong way to feed your baby. You have to do what works for you, not what pleases everyone else. As a lactation consultant, I will reassure you that no matter how you feed your baby, it is never "wrong" or "harmful." So let's clear up some of these misconceptions about what lactation consultants do and don't do. Lactation Consultants DO:
My answer, always and immediately, is that there is no right or wrong way to feed your baby. Although that sums up our job description, the role of a lactation consultant is so much more than that. Just because breastfeeding is healthy and natural, doesn't mean it comes naturally. This is more than just a job to us--breastfeeding is something we are truly passionate about. We are passionate about helping moms and families achieve their desired feeding goals. We want to be your support system during this exciting, stressful, scary and emotional time in your life.
Here at BTC, we:
Ultimately, we will help you find out what is best for your family and then we will support you on your journey. We want to give you the confidence and support you need in order to reach your goal of a positive mother/baby bonding experience. Our goal is to help you feel proud of the goals you accomplished and guide in how YOU choose to feed your baby. After all, mom knows best:) To schedule an appointment with either Kendal or Jen, visit our Lactation Appointment Booking page today! I sat on the couch next to her as she peacefully nursed her beautiful two-week-old daughter, a strand of misplaced hair hanging over her sleep deprived eyes. "I feel like I JUST figured out breastfeeding!" she exclaimed. "And now that we have all the kinks worked out, I am totally scared about what will happen when I have to go back to work in two months." I knew exactly how she felt. I breastfed my first three children--my boys--while working full time. Fortunately for me, I had a mostly positive, successful experience while pumping 3-4 times a day. But that is not the reality for many mothers who return back to work. The number one worry many mothers express to me is their ability to step away from their job for even 10 minutes to pump.The second concern they have is "where will I pump?"--a very valid concern since many workplaces lack a "real" (aka, appropriate) place to pump (see here for a slideshow of workplace pumping "rooms") I pumped for years in the employee bathroom at my job. And faced passive pressure when it came to how long my pumping sessions lasted. "Wow, that took a really long time," a coworker would comment. Or, from my boss, "It's already time for you to pump AGAIN?" Aside from these concerns, mothers going back to work face other environmental elements that can impact their breastfeeding relationship--insecurity about milk supply, feelings associated with being separated from their baby for the first time or for long periods of time, and the day-to-day pressure of balancing work expectations with being a new mom. So what can a new mom do to help their transition from new mommyhood to new working mommyhood? 1. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Fortunately, things are changing, and employers are being held responsible for supporting breastfeeding employees. Reuter's just released an article on these new expectations set forth by the Affordable Care Act. 2. HAVE AN HONEST DISCUSSION WITH YOUR EMPLOYER Communicate what you need and want to support your breastfeeding relationship BEFORE you go back to work. Do you need a place to pump? Better to have it set up before you are sitting at your desk and catch a glimpse of your baby's photo and have to scramble for your pump because your milk came in and started spraying everywhere. Let your employer know that it will be unpredictable as to how often and how long your pumping sessions will be. 3. GET SUPPORT Go to La Leche League meetings. Hire me (one of my offerings is a Back to Work Breastfeeding Course). Hook up with other working-while-breastfeeding mommas. Working mommas need a very different type of support than stay-at-home mothers in my experience. 4. GET AN AWESOME PUMP None of this "I can just use the manual pump I got from the hospital." Nope. Not gonna work for most mommas. In order to sustainably maintain your supply and be pumping 3-4 times per day several days a week, a dual electric pump made by a REPUTABLE brand (check customer reviews) is necessary. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the last thing a new momma needs. It is an investment well worth it ($300 for a good new pump that will last years pales in comparison to the $20-$40 per week that formula costs). And you may not need to foot the bill for a great pump in the end--many insurance companies as well as WIC and Medicaid now have programs to cover the cost of a pump. Call your insurance provider to find out. In addition, breastfeeding and pump-related items are now tax-deductible, so save your receipts for all those breast pads, storage bags and containers, and accessories! Learn to use your pump and all it's parts BEFORE you go back to work--preferably within a few weeks of your baby's birth. Take it apart and put it back together and figure out how you will clean it and transport it on a daily basis. Figure out ahead of time which settings are right for you so you aren't trying to learn the difference between the "let down" and "suction" buttons during your first pumping attempt at work. 5,UNDERSTAND THAT THE PHYSIOLOGY OF BREASTFEEDING IS DIFFERENT WHEN PUMPING REGULARLY A mother who does not pump will not have the same breastfeeding experience or challenges as a momma who pumps. Your pump is plastic. It is not soft and warm and full of oxytocin and prolactin-releasing pheromones like your baby. It does not form to your breast the way your baby's cute little wet mouth does. It doesn't coo. It sounds like a yellow submarine. It's like comparing hugging a puppy vs. a robot. It just isn't the same. You may have to work a little harder to build and maintain your supply as your body figures out how to respond to the pump. 6. UNDERSTAND YOUR LIMITS Motherhood is stressful enough. When we add in the obstacles of being a new mom, the emotions that come with the postpartum period, breastfeeding for the first time, and then returning to work within 3 months of birth, life can seem overwhelming. Breastfeeding can take MONTHS to get well-established--and just because you've breastfed before doesn't mean anything. Every baby presents new challenges. Don't feel like a bad mom if you need to reassess what is and isn't working for your family. For some, this may mean taking it one day at a time. For others, it will mean breastfeeding as long as possible but then supplementing or transitioning to formula. For some, it will mean rethinking the structure of the home and if working is absolutely necessary, or if maternity leave can be lengthened or if a part-time transition back to work might be possible. For every momma, it will mean that each day of breastmilk baby gets is a total win. 7. CELEBRATE You're doing great Momma--don't second guess yourself or compare yourself to others. Your body is amazing. It just grew a person, then went through the incredible transition of giving birth to that person, then it started FEEDING that person. If men could do that, they would be all over the bragging rights. |
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