The Breastfeeding Dietitian

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The Breastfeeding Dietitian I'm Robyn, a Registered Dietitian and mother of two. My passion is all things babies - prenatal, breastfeeding and pediatric nutrition.
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I am here to meet you where you are and support your unique journey in feeding your family.

“OMG I wish I would have found you sooner...”I recently had my DMs flooded with heartbreak from so many mamas after I sh...
28/03/2022

“OMG I wish I would have found you sooner...”
I recently had my DMs flooded with heartbreak from so many mamas after I shared my story about breastfeeding through a tongue tie.
Where no matter how much I wanted to help my baby… I (along with the people I sought help from) didn’t know how.
So much so that even after 5 years… my baby boy that made me a mama is still struggling with a tongue tie.
But we’re FINALLY getting help. Because I know more. Because the people on our team know more. We are helping my baby (he will forever be my baby 🥰).
Now I could toss all the sayings at you about this...
“Hindsight is always 20/20.”
“When we KNOW better, we can DO better.”
The hurt is still there though. The guilt. The regret. I get it. I am living it too.
I find what most often helps take the sting away is this:
“We do the best we can with the information we have at the time.”
And we are STILL doing our best, but now we have more information, so our best now is better than our best then.”
Knowing new things now (that are different than what you did before) does not change the fact that you WERE and STILL ARE an AMAZING MOM. We’re all just learning as we go!
That’s why I am all about keeping you educated and informed on your breastfeeding journey. So you can learn keep learning. Keep growing. Keep getting better.
If you want to read more about my story, check out my highlight called 👅Function!
Off the top of your head - what’s one thing you learned from this space? Let other mamas know it too in the comments!

Solving the mystery behind the pot of (liquid) gold at the end of the rainbow🌈⤵️Because   is coming up!🍀Thank you to the...
15/03/2022

Solving the mystery behind the pot of (liquid) gold at the end of the rainbow🌈⤵️
Because is coming up!🍀
Thank you to the mamas in my stories for all the amazing photos of the REAL colours of your pumped milk!🤱
So why does your milk change colour? Well colours are just specific wavelengths of light that are reflecting off things.
This means EVERYTHING in your milk contributes to the colour you see, not just one thing...
🌈Phytonutrients (things that give colour and flavour to foods, and other super things)
🌈Fats
🌈Proteins
🌈Carbs
🌈Immune factors
🌈Vitamins
🌈Even things that aren’t usually there, like blood (pink for fresh, brown for old)
🌈And so. Much. More!
It’s the specific COMBINATION of what is reflecting off ALL things in your milk that makes the colour you see. Your milk is changing within a feed, from feed to feed, from day to day, and even as your milk sits in storage. So you can expect the colour to change too!
So yeah, foods that you eat (or if your baby is sick!) can change the colour of your milk (and therefore their 💩), but sometimes it won’t. This does NOT mean the “things” did not make it into your milk.
They are there, but with the specific combination of everything in your milk that is tailored just for YOUR baby, you just see white. White light is actually just a combination of all colours reflecting (Pink Floyd logo anyone?👩‍🎤)
So whatever colour your breastmilk, it all still leads to the pot of (liquid) gold perfectly made for your baby! 🙌🏻
On that note - the colours not pictured that are a red flag to see your healthcare provider are “pepto bismol hot pink” and black. In addition, if you notice blood in your milk consistently, it is worth getting in touch with your healthcare provider🙂
Have you ever changed the colour of your breastmilk by eating certain foods? Share in the comments!

08/03/2022

3 reasons why your baby coughs and sputters from your milk flow…
Because the symptoms you see… coughing/choking, sputtering, pulling/tugging on breast, clicking sound, and alllll the gassy discomfort (and maybe green frothy p**p?)… don’t ALWAYS mean overactive letdown (and/or oversupply). Let me hash it out for you!
Your milk making sacs hold your milk, and around them is a muscle that squeezes that milk out. So then why would your baby have a tough time with it?
Reason 1️⃣ (+ most known via Dr. Google): Oversupply. The milk making sacs are so full that milk shoots out very fast even with the smallest squeeze of those muscles around the sacs.
Reason 2️⃣: Overactive letdown. Your milk making sacs are just normal full (not over full) and the muscles are squeezing SUPER HARD causing milk to flow SUPER FAST.
Reason 3️⃣: Ineffective latch. Your milk making sacs are normal full and your muscles are normal squeezing, but it’s actually your baby not able to drink well due to improper positioning, oral ties, or something else.
Too often I see the struggle isn’t with you at all. It’s with your baby. That’s why the first line of defence is to HELP YOUR BABY handle the flow with a good latch and with positioning that slows the flow.
So you can prevent giving yourself low supply if you never had oversupply to begin with 🖐🎤
But for reals, drop a 🙋‍♀️ in the comments if you’ve soaked your little one’s face mid-letdown! 😅

Part 2 of constipation in your breastfed babe: top 3 tips for daily💩Let me be clear on two things for this post:👉this is...
21/02/2022

Part 2 of constipation in your breastfed babe: top 3 tips for daily💩

Let me be clear on two things for this post:
👉this is for babies who have NOT started solids
👉this is NOT medical advice or implying any diagnosis - it’s just info.

So first off - do NOT go for these quick fixes:
❌Laxatives
❌Prune juice (or pear/apple/ANY juice)
❌Corn syrup
❌Probiotics

These can more often than not create more problems without fixing anything (but probiotics CAN be helpful, just certain ones in certain amounts in certain situations and not the first choice)

Here’s what to do instead:

1️⃣Optimize intake

When not enough comes in, not enough comes out; BUT don’t jump to conclusions that your baby isn’t getting enough (this is why I said OPTIMIZE intake, not increase). Check that they are feeding well and assess all the signs of getting enough. Also, improper mixing of formula can also lead to constipation. So again, it’s not always about increasing - it’s optimizing. Not sure? Get help from an LC!

2️⃣Check for tension

Body tension can affect gut motility (the nerves that turn on the gut become “slow”) and a common reason I see for tension is TOTs. It’s important to note there can be other reasons, so consider the whole picture and other possible causes for tension. You can check off box 1+2 by getting a tie-savvy LC on your team!

3️⃣Modify baby’s diet to match gut function

If 1+2 check out, then maybe the lack of💩 is on the gut function side, where many factors (illness, meds/supplements, gut bacteria shifts, allergies/sensitivities) can play a role. You can tailor their diet to their gut function. No, the answer is NOT just switching to formula (but if you use formula, changing the type can help). You can modify your baby’s breastmilk diet by changing YOUR diet.

Don't be afraid to ask questions with your healthcare provider. See what you can tweak to get your babe regular💩

✨Psst. Join the FREE event starting this week so you can learn the must knows of new mom life just like this from 26 diff professionals. Check out my story highlight for deets!

Part 2 of diaper counts: 💩 DIAPERS. But there’s so much more to it than numbers!⤵️Counts are a helpful piece of the puzz...
26/01/2022

Part 2 of diaper counts: 💩 DIAPERS. But there’s so much more to it than numbers!⤵️
Counts are a helpful piece of the puzzle to knowing your baby is “getting enough”, but there is SO MUCH beyond it that baby💩 can tell you.
It is a direct reflection of what’s coming in (nutrition) and what’s happening in between (gut function).
For me, it’s one of the most important things I look at. Of course, the whole picture matters, but this one tells me A LOT!
So when looking at 💩frequency (i.e. counts) specifically, you also need to factor in HOW OLD your baby is.
1 day old = 💩+
2 days old = 💩💩+
3 days old= 💩💩💩+
But in these first few days of life, arguably what’s more important about baby p**p is COLOUR. You’ll notice when these counts are met, your baby’s p**p colours will change:
⚫️ first p**ps will be black meconium,
🟢 then green transitional p**ps happen,
🟡 then mustard yellow p**ps are here to stay by at least day 5 of life (it can happen earlier though).
If that’s not happening… Red. Flag.
Beyond day 3, your baby will continue having at least 3💩 per day. Still yellow.
If that’s not happening… RED. FLAG.
Even beyond 6 weeks, your baby’s p**p pattern may (or may not!) decrease to just 1 big💩 per day (nothing close to “loonie-size”), but still expect it every day or every other day. And probably still yellow until solids.
If that’s not happening… STILL. A. RED. FLAG.
Remember, baby p**p tells us about what’s coming in (nutrition) AND what’s happening in between (gut function). So p**ping *regularly* can tell you:
✅ Your baby is getting enough milk amount
✅ Your baby is eliminating waste effectively
Need more details? Watch my story highlight called 💩💩💩
Tag a friend who needs to see this 🥰
**p **p

19/01/2022

PSA: it doesn’t matter what your baby’s tongue looks like. Here’s why⤵️
Let’s say you run. After a certain time, you find yourself limping around in pain and can’t even run anymore.
So you ask for help.. “I’m in pain when I walk and can’t run - HALP”
Then imagine being met with a “oh your leg looks fine, and you’re able to walk.” 👋
You give it time, your leg heals from literally barely using it. But then you go to run again and BOOM. Pain. Can’t run. Sure you can get by walking, but how’s life going? Not so great.
The moral of the story? It never mattered what the leg looked like. Even though it looked okay, you couldn’t run and you were in pain. Because the leg was not able to FUNCTION. But that wasn’t assessed.
You can really draw parallels with this story to a tongue tie…
🚩 Symptoms show up: like the pain with walking or not able to run (maybe it’s misshapen ni***es and a baby with reflux)
🚩People don’t know how to assess: like saying it looks fine and you can walk (maybe it’s “there is no tie” after only looking under their tongue and “baby is gaining fine”)
🚩Compensations and bandaid fixes don’t solve the underlying problem: like not using your leg to heal it, but then hurting it again once you want to use it (maybe having to nurse baby 24/7 just to keep them growing or maybe it’s a baby falling off their curve because their ineffective demand can’t keep up supply)
🚩Function > Appearance: what the leg looked like didn’t matter, it was about what the leg could do (what the tongue looks like doesn’t matter, but rather what it’s able to do)
The symptoms you see are a reflection of how the tongue functions, not what the tongue looks like.
So if you have symptoms of a tongue tie hitting you in the face:
👅reflux
👅colic
👅gassiness
👅clicking sound
👅”lazy” feeding
👅lipstick shaped ni***es

👅+ many others
Get a second opinion by someone who can assess the tongue’s FUNCTION.
This is a KEY step I discuss in my FREE class to solving gas, reflux, colic and 💩 problems, because too often moms are avoiding food after food without getting their baby relief. Learn more at the link in my bio!

ON HOLIDAYS 🥰🎄 See you all in 2022! Thanks for being part of my little corner of the internet!
23/12/2021

ON HOLIDAYS 🥰🎄 See you all in 2022! Thanks for being part of my little corner of the internet!

Has your baby’s green p**ps stuck around for weeks?⤵️Honestly, there are a few specific times where breastfed green p**p...
22/12/2021

Has your baby’s green p**ps stuck around for weeks?⤵️
Honestly, there are a few specific times where breastfed green p**p may actually be normal. I cover that in another post.
But more often than not, the green p**p that mamas are seeing constantly for weeks is NOT normal.
What’s further frustrating is that your intuition is on point with this, but you’re dismissed with a “it’s normal” when you express concerns that you can’t remember the last time you saw a yellow p**p.
Well. If you’ve made it this far, let me point you in the direction of some help.
First off… the TYPE matters.
Frothy 💩 type = feeding issue = seek help from a lactation consultant to get your breast draining more effectively.
Mucousy 💩 type = food issue = seek help from a provider with the experience to walk you through the right* diet changes (if it IS diet related).
If you want more details on how to solve these “food issues”… head to the link in my bio and watch my FREE class (instantly!) Root Cause Remedy for Baby Gas, Reflux + P**p Problems
Put an emoji in the comments that describes your reaction to baby p**p pics!🤣 (Mine is tooootally 🧐or🤩)
**p (but actually not) (but it’s NOT)

MILK SHARING CHALLENGE. ‘Tis the season of giving - but it’s more than that. There is no giving without receiving! 🎁I lo...
13/12/2021

MILK SHARING CHALLENGE. ‘Tis the season of giving - but it’s more than that. There is no giving without receiving! 🎁
I love this statement by LLL: “Milk-sharing is a special relationship that can require much thought and effort. The aim is to support the health of the baby, enhance the relationships between all the participants and share the love inherent in the act of breastfeeding and chestfeeding.”
Did you GIVE milk? Did you RECEIVE milk? Share in the comments! ❤️❤️
Better yet? Join in the challenge - now until Dec 20, post this part of your journey with the hashtag ! 🥰
There is more info and some swipe up links for how to donate or how to use donated milk in my story highlight called “Milk Sharing” at .dietitian

Because green can be normal… or not 💩Whenever it comes to green in the diaper, texture matters. Typically all the normal...
23/11/2021

Because green can be normal… or not 💩
Whenever it comes to green in the diaper, texture matters. Typically all the normal reasons for green have your baby’s p**p looking pretty par-for-the-course and then it’s just green!
What are those “normal” reasons?
✅”Transitional” p**p between meconium and the typical yellow
✅Abundance of green food or artificial blue colour in mom’s diet (or directly to babe in solids)
✅Iron supplements and certain medications
When it comes to the red flag type of green, the texture is also a red flag. In addition, it typically sticks around alllll the time and is not just one offs.
The “not normal” types of green p**p could possibly mean:
❎ Feeding problems, where your baby (or your pump) isn’t draining your breast all that great (resulting in green frothy types of p**p that would improve upon fixing whatever is causing your baby to have a hard time draining your breast)
❎ Illness/Infections like a cold or stomach bug (resulting in green mucousy types of p**p that would improve when your baby’s no longer sick!)
❎ Sensitivities, like CMPA, MSPI, FPE, FPIES and many other non-IgE allergies we don’t fully understand (resulting in green mucousy types of p**p that would only improve if the correct food item(s) was removed from your baby’s diet and/or your diet)
Any of those not normal ones? Then it’s time to reach out to a healthcare provider who can help you! Depending which type, can let you know whether you need to see your doctor and/or dietitian and/or lactation consultant!
SIDE NOTE: teething can increase in mucous in your baby’s p**p, but doesn’t make it green. If you notice green mucousy when your baby is teething, ask yourself if the green is coming from a “normal” reason or a “not normal” reason.
Lots of times green p**p concerns can get blown off. Trust your mom gut, and find the person who will hear you out 💚
Tune into day 3 of Baby P**p Basics story series today, and make you sure share with a mama who needs to know what her babe’s green p**p is saying!
**p **pproblems

And when we know “normal”, we know “not normal” ⤵️There are so many variations of what normal baby p**p is for YOUR baby...
22/11/2021

And when we know “normal”, we know “not normal” ⤵️
There are so many variations of what normal baby p**p is for YOUR baby. Baby p**p is a directly reflection of two things:
☝️Diet
✌️Gut function
So when there are changes in one or both of those things, then you can expect some changes in the diaper 💩
But what are some red flags to look out for to know if they shift into the “not normal” territory?
🚩FREQUENCY: not p**ping enough, or p**ping waaaaay too much (the key to knowing if this is “too much” depends on the texture - see below) .. more details on this in a previous post
🚩SIZE: this is typically reflective of what’s happening in the frequency department. Concerns would arise if your baby was consistently on either end of the extremes (always skid marks or always blow outs)
🚩COLOUR: the big ones that call for investigation are white (!!!), black (!!!), and red (!!! depending on the severity). Green can happen from you eating allll the green (or artificial blue) things, from iron supplements or from teething. But green can also be problematic, where it could be a sign for feeding issues, infection, illness, sensitivity, allergy, etc
Okay disclaimer - now we’re about to get descriptive 😅
🚩TEXTURE: concerns arise on either end of the spectrum from excessive mucous (think stringy, glob-like, booger-like, or jelly looking) or watery (think “peeing out of their butt”) to formed, solid toothepaste (or anything pebble like)
🚩SMELL: sour, foul, “eggy” or just plain ol’ like something died. Although not a concern by itself, when looking at this in conjunction with the whoooole picture is what says if it’s not normal
Tune into Day 2 of my Baby P**p Basics story share for more details on TEXTURE, one of the most asked questions I get.
What factor surprised you the most? SHARE with a mama whose wondering what the heck in happening in her babe’s diaper 🤓
**pproblems

And then want to know about beyond 6 weeks? ⤵️At least a 💩. Every. Day. Why would that be?REGULAR POOPING IS A HEALTH MA...
19/11/2021

And then want to know about beyond 6 weeks? ⤵️
At least a 💩. Every. Day. Why would that be?
REGULAR POOPING IS A HEALTH MARKER. And I’m re-sharing this helpful graphic from to hammer the message home that I’m not the only one out there looking to change the way we measure health in babies 🦸‍♀️
Seriously if I had a dollar for the amount of times I see a mom’s concerns get dismissed with a “iT cAn Be NoRmAl FoR a BrEaStFeD bAbY tO tAkE uP tO 10 DaYs To PoOp”… 🤨
Because at the end of the day, 💩 is a way to eliminate things our body doesn’t want or need. It’s a basic physiological process of BEING HUMAN. Just because your baby is breastfed does not change this fact. **Being regular is key for your baby’s gut health.**
So then why does it happen?
💩issues with intake (amount of breastmilk/formula)
💩issues with gut motility (things slow moving)
💩issues with gut function (things not operating normally)
Tune into Day 1 of my Baby P**p Basics story share for more details on each of those things! 🤓
SHARE with a mama whose babe isn’t p**ping! Got questions? Pop ‘em in the comments!
**pproblems

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