Monroe County Lactation

10/01/2026

Did you know?

A national study of more than 1,700 U.S. hospitals found that exclusive breastfeeding rates during the hospital stay averaged 62% at Baby-Friendly designated hospitals, compared with 48% at hospitals without designation.

That difference comes from teams who follow the Ten Steps for every family, even on the busiest days.

Earning and keeping Baby-Friendly designation takes commitment and dedication. To every designated facility and every team working toward it: carry on. What you're doing matters. 💙

🔗Explore the research: https://vist.ly/5kfsm

🔗 Visit BFUSA online: https://vist.ly/5kfsq

08/28/2026

The Koala Hold 🐨 (laid back or biological nursing)

If your baby gets overwhelmed at the breast, struggles with a deep latch, has a strong gag reflex, or simply seems to do better when they can control the pace of feeding, try the koala hold

In the koala hold, baby is positioned upright against your chest with their legs straddling your thigh. Instead of laying baby across your body, you allow gravity and their own body position to help them organize around the breast. You would be slightly reclined in a chair or bed. It’s quite a cozy position for both you and baby.

This position can be especially helpful for:

• Mothers who have a strong or fast milk ejection reflex
• Baby needs more control over the flow of milk
• Baby is struggling with reflux symptoms or disliking being placed on their side (possible from birth trauma or torticolis
• There is difficulty maintaining a deep latch in traditional positions
• Baby has oral-motor or postural challenges
• Baby gets frustrated when milk comes too quickly

And there’s another really important piece: baby gets to participate

An upright position can give baby more freedom to move their head, neck and jaw while finding their way onto the breast. Rather than positioning baby perfectly and expecting them to simply open and latch, you can give them the opportunity to use their own sensory and motor skills

You can support baby’s body securely while keeping their head and neck free to move. Bring baby toward the breast rather than pushing the breast into baby’s mouth

And remember, there isn’t one magical breastfeeding position. The best position is the one that allows you to be comfortable, baby to be well-supported, and milk to move efficiently

Sometimes changing the position changes the whole feeding

🐨 Give the koala hold a try and see what your baby tells you. The term "koala hold" for breastfeeding was formally introduced in professional lactation literature by Australian lactation consultant Shannon C. Thomson in her 2013 article published in the Journal of Human Lactation.

08/25/2026

Everyone talks about engorgement when milk “comes in”… rock hard b***s. Night sweats…but far fewer people talk about the hormonal shift that arrives with it

For many mothers, this starts somewhere between 24–72 hours postpartum

You can go from an emotional high (relief, adrenaline, even euphoria after birth) into a sudden drop that feels surprisingly intense. This is the same window when your body is rapidly transitioning from colostrum to larger volumes of milk
But it’s not just about your breasts, it’s a full hormonal recalibration

After the placenta is delivered, estrogen and progesterone fall quickly
Prolactin rises to build milk supply
Oxytocin pulses to release milk

That rapid shift can land in your body as:

* Weepiness that seems to come out of nowhere
* A sudden mood drop after feeling “up”
* Waves of anxiety or uneasiness, often around feeds
* Feeling emotionally raw, overwhelmed, or shaky
* Night sweats or chills

Some mothers describe it as a wave. Something that builds, peaks, and then passes. Others notice they’re crying without a clear reason, especially in those early days when everything is new and intense

This experience is often called the “baby blues,” and it lines up closely with the timing of milk transition and engorgement. It’s not postpartum depression, it’s a temporary wave of emotions

It’s a reflection of how quickly your hormones are shifting while your body initiates milk production

For most, these feelings are temporary and begin to ease as milk supply regulates and hormone levels stabilize

If emotions feel constant instead of wave-like, are getting heavier instead of lighter, or come with intrusive thoughts or persistent dread, that’s a sign to bring in more support

This early postpartum window is not just about feeding your baby, it’s also a major physiological and emotional transition for you

Were you wanted about this or did you experience it?

08/23/2026

I’ll keep speaking as well… feed on!

I’m 44 years old, I have three adult children, and tomorrow my baby girl turns 6 months old. I breastfed all four of my children, and at this stage in my life, I’m realizing more and more how important it is for us breastfeeding mothers to know our rights and be willing to advocate for ourselves.

Recently, I had a situation with someone I care about deeply. She told me that her son was wondering if I planned on bringing a cover or blanket to feed my baby in their establishment.

My response was simple:

“Would you eat under a blanket?”

Then she told me, “I know a lady who breastfeeds in the bathroom.”

So I asked:

“Would she eat lunch in the bathroom?”

From there, I started hearing every possible reason why I should consider covering up. Maybe other patrons would be uncomfortable. Maybe my husband, who is currently serving in the Army, would be uncomfortable.

But the truth is, my baby eating should not be treated like something shameful, inappropriate, or something that needs to be hidden away.

I explained that breastfeeding is legally protected and that a mother has the right to breastfeed her child anywhere she is otherwise legally allowed to be. Feeding my baby is not indecent exposure, and I should not have to sit in a bathroom or place a blanket over my child just to make someone else more comfortable.

That conversation actually made something click for me.

I want to become more of an advocate for breastfeeding mothers.

I’ve even been thinking about printing out little cards explaining breastfeeding rights so that if someone ever has an issue with me nursing my daughter, I can simply hand them one and hopefully turn that uncomfortable moment into an educational one.

I’ve raised three children into adulthood, and now here I am raising another beautiful baby girl many years later. I’ve breastfed every one of them, and I refuse to feel ashamed for doing something so natural.

This photo is from a photoshoot I did for National Breastfeeding Month, and I’m so thankful to my amazing photographer for capturing this season of my life.

At 44, I’m still learning, still growing, still mothering, and now I’m finding my voice as an advocate too.

And if speaking up helps even one breastfeeding mama feel a little less afraid to feed her baby in public, then I’ll keep speaking. ❤️

08/22/2026

Storing your milk safely…

08/22/2026

How your milk is made…

🩸✨ Breast milk is made from blood, not directly from what you eat until nutrients reaches your blood stream.

Your body uses nutrients from your bloodstream to make milk that's uniquely designed for your baby. Even when your diet isn't perfect, your body can often draw on nutrient stores to support milk production.

This is why, for most breastfeeding families, foods that make you gassy don't make your baby gassy. Gas is produced in your intestines it doesn't pass into your breast milk. Occasionally, you could consume foods with proteins which impact baby's digestion, but this isn't common, and when gas occurs, it is rarely a concern. Uncomfortable, yes, abnormal concern? Rarely.

There are always exceptions. Some babies have conditions such as cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) or milk soy protein intolerance (MSPI), where proteins from certain foods can trigger symptoms. In those cases, dietary changes may be recommended.

But for the average healthy breastfeeding parent and baby, specialty elimination diets aren't necessary. Most newborn gas, fussiness, and frequent feeding are normal parts of infancy, not signs that your diet is causing a problem.

Some women are sensitive to certain herbs, but in culinary levels, it's rarely a problem. But keep an eye if you have concerns.

If your baby has concerning problems you think might be associated with your diet, seek the support of an IBCLC and follow up with baby's pediatrician.

✨️ Evidence matters. So does reassurance.

08/22/2026

When you glance into your patient’s room and see a sleeping baby, you might assume mom is finally getting some rest. New research found otherwise.

A small but fascinating study measured maternal physiological stress objectively at multiple points throughout the postpartum hospital stay, using heart rate variability captured via portable ECG. The findings add real nuance to how we think about early motherhood, stress, and rest.

🔹 For most participants, stress peaked while their infant slept, as sleep windows became a race to shower, eat, or use the bathroom. (Notably: a few mothers had their lowest stress during infant sleep, specifically when a partner stepped in so they could actually rest.)
🔹Rooming-in level showed no link to maternal stress, even after accounting for fatigue and pain.
🔹 Breastfeeding was tied to the lowest stress overall. For most participants, breastfeeding coincided with their calmest moments.
🔹 There was one important caveat: for those facing significant lactation challenges (pain, cracked ni***es, worry about milk supply) breastfeeding was tied to their highest stress instead. Support during those challenges means the difference between breastfeeding easing stress and adding to it.

The takeaway: postpartum stress is deeply individual, shaped by pain, support systems, and the practical demands of new motherhood. That's exactly why care that supports each mother, not a one-size-fits-all script, matters so much in this window.

At BFUSA, we’re committed to supporting facilities in providing evidence-based, compassionate, personalized care for every family, including help with infant sleep, reliable hands-on practical support so mothers can rest and heal, and skilled breastfeeding support.

🔗Read the study: https://www.dovepress.com/differential-maternal-physiological-stress-responses-during-rooming-in-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH

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

08/18/2026

I can’t say it enough…feeding on demand is key to breastfeeding success and makes latching so much easier when you get baby at those early signs of hunger

08/18/2026

Babies are supposed to fall asleep at the breast. 🥹

The breast isn’t just where babies get milk. The function of the breast is NOT just a nutritional exchange. It is also one of the most powerful tools for regulating baby’s nervous system.

When baby is held against their mother’s body, they receive constant sensory information: warmth, smell, touch, movement, breathing, and the rhythm of her heartbeat. A mother and baby can do what we call coregulation. The maternal body provides cues that help baby’s heart rate, breathing, temperature, and arousal settle

Rhythmic, nutritive sucking activates pathways involving the vagus nerve, shifting baby toward the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state. This is one reason babies often become relaxed and sleepy while nursing

Breastfeeding also involves a beautiful hormonal and neurochemical cocktail. Oxytocin promotes relaxation and bonding, while hormones and neurotransmitters involved in sleep and satiety, including cholecystokinin, serotonin, and endogenous opioids, contribute to that wonderfully drowsy, satisfied state for both mom and baby

So when your baby nurses, slows their sucking, relaxes their hands, melts into your chest, and falls asleep… That is not a bad habit being formed. Their nervous system is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

For a young baby, the breast is food, comfort, regulation, connection, and the world’s most biologically appropriate sleep aid. ❤️

And no, you do not have to force yourself to nurse your baby to sleep if that isn’t working for your family. But you also don’t need to feel like you are doing something wrong when your baby does fall asleep at the breast.

Sometimes biology gets it right

08/15/2026

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