Snohomish Valley Breastfeeding - Shannon Demiter IBCLC

01/12/2026

01/12/2026

Breast milk is NOT made directly from your stomach contents but within the breast itself from your blood. The foods you eat are broken down in your digestive system. Proteins, carbs, vitamins, white blood cells, enzymes, pre- and probiotics, water, fat, and chemicals (alcohol, caffeine, medications) are pulled from your intestines into the blood stream. Blood delivers these nutrients to the milk making glands in the breast. Every nutrient you consume gets used or stored and each type gets cleared from your blood in a certain amount of time. Cow protein, for example, is completely cleared from your blood steam within 8-12 HOURS of consumption. So it is completely eliminated in no more than 24 hours from your milk. Not weeks like some people are told when doing elimination diets. Caffeine clears your blood in 4-7 hours and alcohol within 2. Medications have longer or shorter half lives, which is how long they stay in your body, and larger or smaller molecules. Some can pass into breast milk and some can’t.

⚔️MYTH: Digestive discomfort and reflux is always from eating dairy
💡FACT: Cow milk protein allergy is only in 2-7% of the people. Digestive discomfort/reflux are more commonly caused by unidentified tongue ties

⚔️MYTH: Spicy food makes spicy breastmilk which will upset baby’s tummy
💡FACT: While the foods you eat can change the flavor of your milk, there is no evidence that capsaicin (the compound that makes foods spicy) is ever present in breast milk

⚔️MYTH: Beans, cabbage, broccoli, etc give baby gas
💡FACT: The insolvable fiber found in vegetables mixes with your gut bacteria and makes you gassy. Insoluble fiber does not leave the GI tract and cannot reach your milk

⚔️MYTH: Baby will refuse your milk if you eat garlic or other potent flavors
💡FACT: Research studies have found babies actually prefer the flavor of garlic in breastmilk and will spent more time at the breast and drink more milk. (Mennella, 1993)

⚔️MYTH: Soda and other carbonated beverages will make baby gassy
💡FACT: Carbonated drinks don’t carbonate the blood. The bubbles don’t get into your milk

What’s your favorite food and breastfeeding myth?

11/29/2025

11/27/2025

The American Academy of Pediatrics now advises against sleep training before 12 months. Research shows that forcing babies to sleep alone too early can disrupt attachment and the development of their nervous system. During the first year, babies need proximity to caregivers to feel safe and secure.

Sleeping in the parents’ room is more than convenience. It provides constant reassurance, allowing the infant’s nervous system to learn safety and stability. This closeness supports emotional regulation, stress management, and secure bonding, all of which are foundational for long-term mental and emotional health.

Babies who are left alone too soon may experience heightened stress responses, making it harder for them to self-soothe and regulate emotions later. Proximity during sleep wires the brain to understand that the world is predictable and safe.

Parents can implement safe room-sharing by keeping the crib or bassinet next to the bed, maintaining a firm sleep surface, and avoiding loose bedding. This setup allows babies to sleep safely while staying close enough to benefit from the calming presence of their caregivers.

Remember, proximity is not spoiling. It is a biological necessity that helps babies thrive. Safe closeness today builds confident, resilient children tomorrow.