New Mom Collective

12/30/2022

One mama perfectly described the highs and lows, hills and valleysof motherhood in an essay that's going viral on Instagram. Category : Parenting, Health & Wellness, Life, Mental Health

12/29/2022

Pay attention to compensations

I think a lot of people misunderstand how tongue tie causes problems when it comes to breastfeeding. Can tongue tie directly cause issues like air ingestion that leads to reflux? Definitely (there are 7 papers that show this).

But many other symptoms aren’t caused by tongue tie directly. Instead, the symptoms are a downstream problem caused by the baby’s compensation to the tongue tie. So if mom is experiencing significant ni**le pain, it’s not technically the tongue tie causing the pain. Because the baby uses the jaw/gums/lips to hold on instead of the tongue (when they’re tied), the latch is invariably shallow. That’s the source of the pain.

If mom needs a ni**le shield to help baby latch on or to avoid severe pain, that’s totally cool. Is it a solution? No. It’s a compensation and should be used temporarily until the reason that shield use is needed is determined.

If you’re supplementing with a bottle or SNS because nursing isn’t going well, that’s awesome. But that’s a compensation you’re making on the baby’s behalf if your goal is to breastfeed exclusively.

If you’re a lactation consultant evaluating the symptoms, don’t just explain them away. Don’t give the baby credit for “deciding” on doing things that are just instinctive on their part. Try to figure out the source of the compensation that’s causing the problems. Poor hold, poor latch, muscle tension, tongue tie, lip tie etc - these can all cause different compensations. The secret to improving the dyad’s symptoms is sleuthing your way through the problems.

12/29/2022

Wildflower Breastfeeding

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if baby is “getting anything”. If only we could see the milk moving out of our breast and going to the baby. Good news is, there are lots of signs that baby is getting enough breastmilk, without having to see the actual transfer.

If you are concerned because you are not seeing these “vital signs”, see a lactation specialist.

12/17/2022

Whether you deliver vaginally or by C-section, you will have period-like bleeding after birth. Healthcare professionals refer to bleeding after birth as ‘flow’ or ‘lochia’. Learn what's normal and what's not in this post.

https://www.newmomcollective.com/blog-post/bleeding-after-birth-whats-normal-and-whats-not

12/15/2022

A ‘deep latch’ can help to prevent sore ni**les. If your baby is latched ‘shallowly’ he will be mostly sucking on the ni**le, compressing it with every suck. This can lead to sore cracked ni**les. Ouch! When your baby is well latched, your ni**le will be far back in his mouth, preventing compression.
A ‘deeply latched’ baby can draw more milk from the breast. Getting more milk will not only help your baby to gain weight but it will also help to ensure you have a plentiful milk supply as your baby grows.

https://www.newmomcollective.com/blog-post/how-to-breastfeed-getting-a-deep-latch

12/13/2022

Hand expression is a valuable skill for breastfeeding moms. It takes a little practice but once learned, you may prefer it over using a pump. It is simple, no equipment is required!

https://www.newmomcollective.com/blog-post/how-to-do-hand-expression-of-breast-milk

12/11/2022

Your breasts are never empty! (Until you wean).

.Baby.Dietician

12/09/2022

“Wake your baby every 2 to 3 hours to feed”.

“Never wake a sleeping baby!”

New parents get tons of conflicting advice. Who is right? Do you really need to wake your baby to feed? The research-based answer is yes AND no!

https://www.newmomcollective.com/blog-post/how-to-wake-a-sleepy-baby-to-feed

12/06/2022

1. Babies typically lose weight for the first 3 or 4 days after they are born. After that initial loss, they should begin to gain at least of 20- 30 grams (almost 1 oz) a day.

Babies should be back to their birth weight by the time they are 10 – 14 days old. If your baby is not back to birth weight at 14 days, take your baby to your healthcare provider for help in determining if he is getting enough milk.

https://www.newmomcollective.com/blog-post/how-to-know-your-baby-is-getting-enough-milk

12/03/2022

A newborn’s skull is made up of several bones that have not yet joined together. This is what allowed baby’s head to change shape for easier passage through the birth canal. The openings between these bones, on top of the head, are called “soft spots” or “fontanelles”. Babies have two soft spots, a larger one in front and a smaller one in the back.

You do not need to be afraid of gently touching the soft spots as they are covered by a thick membrane. Over the next 18 months, the bones will grow together and the soft spot will disappear.

Learn more about newborns in Prenatal Power Prep
https://www.newmomcollective.com/courses/prenatal-power-prep

11/30/2022

After birth, your newborn baby’s umbilical cord will be clamped and cut, leaving a small stump at the base. As this piece of the cord dries, it begins to shrivel and darken.

As the cord starts to separate from the skin, you may notice a tiny stain of blood on baby’s sleeper or diaper. (The amount of blood should be similar to what is present when a scab falls off.) A little bleeding from the base of the cord is an indication that the cord is beginning to fall off. Learn more about caring for your baby’s cord in this post. https://www.newmomcollective.com/blog-post/caring-for-your-newborns-umbilical-cord

When to consult your healthcare provider:

– If the bleeding reappears as soon as you wipe it.

– If there is thick greenish foul smelling ‘pus’.

– If the skin near the umbilicus is reddened and warm-to-touch.

– If baby seems ill.

11/28/2022

The best way to be ready for breastfeeding is to build a network of support prenatally, and in the early postpartum period. Seek out whatever breastfeeding education you can find, from reputable sources. Find those friends who successfully breastfed; they can be your cheerleaders 📣!

You can also do a prenatal breastfeeding consultation with me.




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