Robin Berger - Breastfeeding & Parenting Support

01/09/2024

🤔 BREASTFEEDING MYTH 🤔
A large percentage of our population just can’t make enough milk to fully nourish their babies.

We are mammals. Our bodies were made to breastfeed. Our species has survived for hundreds of thousands of years this way. It is actually UNCOMMON for a mom to carry a pregnancy, deliver a baby, and then just not be able to feed it. It does not make sense.

While there are some moms who may have real issues with milk supply, much of the time it is due to inaccurate advice to supplement with formula because of a “perceived” low supply issue instead of a real supply issue.

This can then cause a real issue that could have been avoided given proper support and information.

📸 Photo courtesy of one of our mamas, Cristen 💕

01/09/2024

Mother’s milk is SO much more than a ‘milk delivery system’. 💙

Of course, breastfeeding works when your baby is hungry or thirsty.

But nursing also helps when your baby is sleepy, frightened, anxious, or sick.

Nursing helps when they’re cold, or tired, or upset, or in pain.

And there’s no better way to sooth a toddler meltdown than a nursing session.

So in a nutshell: 💦(.)(.)💦

01/06/2024

There are many more instances where you should potentially meet with an IBCLC but here are a few things I’ve encountered this week and wanted to share.

01/06/2024

“Breastfeeding reminds us of the universal truth of abundance; the more we give out, the more we are filled up, and that divine nourishment – the source from which all draw is, like a mother’s breast, ever full and ever flowing.” —Sarah Buckley

May your 2024 be a year of abundance!
Happy New Year from

01/06/2024

Full-term typically developing newborns are born with buccal fat pads (commonly called sucking pads).

These develop toward the end of pregnancy when other fat is developing on a baby’s body, so premature babies do not develop them and near-term babies may have thin ones.

Sucking pads are balls of fat in a baby’s cheeks that help keep the cheeks against the gums, so the baby can attain appropriate intraoral pressure during feeding.

They supply lateral stability in the mouth until the baby’s cheek muscles (particularly the buccinators) gain control of the process between 4 and 6 months.

•How else is a baby’s mouth designed for feeding? •

Well, an infant’s tongue is large compared to the rest of the mouth, which increases contact with breast milk — the baby’s ultimate goal.

A baby’s tongue is cushioned on either side by the fat reserves in the cheeks.

In addition to the physicality of the mouth, babies’ upper airways are equipped to enhance breastfeeding. The epiglottis is a small flap of cartilage that covers the baby’s windpipe and prevents milk from going into the airway; instead, the milk is directed to the esophagus.

•What about those lips? •

Flanging of the upper lip is good, but not critical…

You’ve heard this as lip-flanging, lip-flaring, fish lips, and probably a few other descriptors. Those descriptors are saying that the upper lip flips outward around the nipple/areola.

A lack of lip flanging isn’t necessarily worrisome— a neutral position of the upper lip is fine. If baby has a deep latch and good suction, good milk transfer will occur. If the upper lip is sucked inward, or the upper lip flanged too far back, comfortable attachment and good milk transfer is unlikely.

•What are signs to look for and listen for that may indicate a problem? •

•Dimpled cheeks while feeding
•Milk spillage
•Clicking noises
•No audible or visible swallows
•Lip blisters or a “two tone” appearance to lips
•Popping on and off the breast
•Painful breastfeeding

Dm for 📸 credit!

01/01/2024

True story 🎉🥳🍾

12/29/2023

True story 🤷‍♀️

12/29/2023

12/28/2023

A lil’ Christmas Eve check in.

⬇️ drop an emoji that represents how you’re doing!

Mine is 🤱🏾📝☕️👶🏽 because breastfeeding things don’t take holiday breaks!

12/27/2023

12/26/2023

T'was the night before christmas
And all throught the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The baby all cosy asleep in their bed
Started stirring and rooting and bobbing their head.
The Mum, she awoke to see what was the matter.
Her heart melted to hear her baby chatter.
She lifted the baby up to her breast,
Rewarded with milk, snuggled as if in a nest.
The baby drifted off
For a long winter sleep.
A treasured moment for the Mum to keep.

Merry Christmas.

Poem by Elanor Jemison

Art by Kat Blockley from A Common Treasury .common.treasury
Kat.blockley.com

If you have an issue with feeding and you want to talk it through with someone, call the feeding helpline 0300 330 0700 8am-midnight everyday. Including Christmas Day, Boxing Day New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.