Phases Lactation & Wellness

08/31/2026

08/29/2026

08/22/2026

Lactation Peer Counselors are an essential source of support for many breastfeeding families, offering compassionate care, encouragement, and guidance.

Thank you to the many Lactation Peer Counselors who help families reach their breastfeeding goals and feel supported along the way. 💛 Happy !

08/21/2026

National Breastfeeding Month- Fun Fact!! 💫

“If breastmilk contains ALL my baby needs, do I really need to supplement with Vitamin D?”

Have you had this question yourself or ever heard of a breastfeeding mom being told by their pediatrician to supplement with vitamin D drops since breastmilk is “deficient”? If yes, keep reading! It’s a common question lots of moms have for IBCLCS!

Did you know that the breastmilk itself isn’t “deficient” in vitamin D? ☀️ The truth is that vitamin D is fat soluble, so levels in breastmilk are created from mom’s lifestyle and intake. Breastmilk contains a baseline level, but if a breastfeeding parent doesn’t get enough vitamin D from sunlight or diet on her own, her milk naturally won’t carry as much of it.

This means it’s not the breastmilk that is lacking—it’s that many modern lifestyles don’t provide enough vitamin D overall. Between spending more time indoors, sunscreen use, and limited dietary sources, most families simply aren’t meeting their needs.

That’s why pediatricians recommend vitamin D supplementation for breastfed babies, and why it’s important for parents to consider their own vitamin D intake, too! (Most maternal levels are lower than advised too) 💊☀️

✨ Breastmilk is incredible, and it provides everything your baby needs to thrive.

08/21/2026

We already know skin-to-skin contact helps newborns regulate their heart rate, temperature, and breathing.

A new systematic review and meta-analysis, published in Pediatric Research in June 2026, adds another benefit: skin-to-skin care is linked to fewer postpartum depression symptoms in mothers.

Researchers pooled data from more than a dozen studies, and found consistently lower depression scores among mothers who practiced structured skin-to-skin care, compared to those who didn't.

One possible explanation: skin-to-skin contact is known to trigger a release of oxytocin, the hormone tied to bonding and calm. That release helps quiet the body's stress response and support emotional resilience during a vulnerable time.

Skin-to-skin is a cornerstone of Baby-Friendly care, and this is one more reason it belongs in every family's first hours.

🔗Read the study: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-026-05157-3

🌐 Learn more about Baby-Friendly care: https://www.babyfriendlyusa.org

08/12/2026

08/09/2026

🌎🤱 Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

Breastfeeding is more than nutrition. It is an investment in healthier families, stronger communities, and a healthier world. Supporting breastfeeding helps improve infant and maternal health, reduces healthcare costs, and gives babies the healthiest possible start in life.

At the InfantRisk Center, we're proud to support that mission every day. Every phone call we answer, every medication we evaluate, every resource we create, and every healthcare professional we educate helps parents make informed, evidence based decisions. When families have access to accurate information, they are empowered to continue breastfeeding safely and confidently when it is right for them.

This week, we're celebrating the healthcare professionals who make that possible!

🎉 GIVEAWAY! 🎉

To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, we're giving away a 3 month subscription to the InfantRisk HCP App, your trusted resource for evidence based medication safety information during pregnancy and lactation.

Just download the app from your app store and you should be good to go. Let us know if you have any issues, and we'll be happy to help.

Together, we can ensure that every family has access to the knowledge and support they need to make informed decisions about breastfeeding.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week! 💙

08/08/2026

What's the tea on self weaning?☕👀 Children who are allowed to self wean typically do so between the ages of 2 and 7 years old. Nursing to natural term is NORMAL and BENEFICIAL! There is no age at which your milk magically loses its benefits! In addition to being chock full of antibodies and other specialized components that help protect your child against illness and disease your milk may also provide as much as:

29% of energy requirements
43% of protein requirements
36% of calcium requirements
75% of vitamin A requirements
76% of folate requirements
94% of vitamin B12 requirements
60% of vitamin C requirements

after the first year. Plus there are benefits for you as well! Reducing YOUR risk of certain types of cancers, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

There is no harm in continuing to nurse until you or your child are ready to wean - so long as it continues to work for BOTH of you.💖

So why don't we see more people nursing older children?🤔 Usually it's because they tend to nurse less often than younger children - sometimes as little as once or twice a day - and typically (though not always) during times when families are usually at home - such as before bed or after they wake up.😊

Wish you had a little more support in your corner? Visit the link in our bio to learn more about our free in-person and virtual support options, or to connect.

📌Please note: It's extremely uncommon for children to self wean before the age of one. If your baby is under 12 months and refusing to nurse you're likely dealing with a nursing strike rather than a baby who’s ready to wean. Hand express or pump to keep your baby fed and your milk flowing, then connect with your healthcare provider or skilled lactation professional to rule out illness, determine the cause of the nursing strike and make a plan to help you and your baby reach your breastfeeding or chestfeeding goals.

08/08/2026

Give your baby the healthiest start. 🤱🏾

Breastfeed within the first hour after birth, exclusively for the first six months, and continue with complementary foods until at least two years of age.