Tracey Carolan IBCLC

04/23/2026

I cant wait for the day when people call their IBCLC when they think they have mastitis and dont run to their Doctor.

Better yet, the day when Doctors say
"the recommendation is rest , ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Let me know if your fever doesn't respond to rest and worsens in the next 48 hours"

04/19/2026

When you are expecting a baby it can be super overwhelming not knowing what you actually need to invest in.

A wrap or baby carrier is essential. These let you get things done by being hands free. They allow you to do unlimited skin to skin while walking around the house. They keep baby close and kept away from strangers who tend to want to touch baby cheeks. They can be picked up cheaply or be a real investment that you can use into the toddler years.

A infant scale is not something thats needed. They tend to lead to anxiety that baby is or is not gaining appropriately. They are usually not as accurate as they need to be and they take up space. Attending your baby well visits when scheduled is all you need to do unless you have been informed otherwise by your Dr.

An IBCLC, absolutely needed. Your lactation information shouldn't be coming from social media. All new parents have questions even if feeding is going well. We help with bottle feeding and formula preparation as well. Make sure your LC is board certified, our evidence based information is kept up to date and we undergo continuous education/training,

A beautiful nursery is nice to look at but thats about it. It is recommended your baby sleeps in your room for the first 6-12 months. Cribs tend to be over priced laundry baskets. Most people end up redecorating in a couple years or moving their toddler out of the nursery to make room for a second baby, which is a lot of change for emotional toddlers.

Not every baby likes to be in a stroller, no need to invest in the top of the line model before your baby is even here. A simple umbrella stroller when they've grown some more is cost efficient and takes up way less space. Baby wearing for the win!

You need support! Whether that comes in the form of family, friends or a post partum doula. Recovering from child birth, running on little sleep, learning to nurse and still remembering to walk the dog is a lot. Having people who you can count on to support you and do all the things you dont need to be doing right away is absolutely needed.

What did you realize was simply a WANT and not necessarily a NEED?

04/17/2026

04/17/2026

04/04/2026

04/03/2026

Letting your baby soothe at the breast as long and as often as possible is exactly what your breasts are meant for.

Its a reminder to slow down and bathe in the oxytocin that follows.

04/01/2026

https://llli.org/news/cow-milk-formula-allergy-position/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQ6hWRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeOnrxulujjV3AIxOvk98ymtAk-oJ5zXA40fxBXIKAyZHJTCIBbWeOOXO-HYU_aem__VCmNFlTIJPy1gEqEyPfBg

Research has shown that it is best to avoid supplementation of cow’s milk formula in order to prevent cow’s milk allergy.

03/31/2026

"Use this bottle, its shaped just like the breast"

"Orthodontic pacifier, 10/10 dentists recommend"

"swaddle that moves with your infant, but keeps them sleeping longer"

Every where you look there is more clever marketing geared at exhausted new parents.

Not only do you not need 75% of what is being sold but most of it is entirely made up to sell more products.

There is no such thing as a bottle that is just like the breast or an orthodontic pacifier, in fact, when you stop and look at the product that is using that line not only are they non WHO compliant, but they look the furthest away from what they are claiming to be like.

Buy what you want to Buy, Use what you want to Use (and maybe talk to an IBCLC as well) but dont believe the marketing.

03/28/2026

I love wearable pumps for the convenience factor

Most of them work great for occasional pumping

However, if you are trying to increase supply or if you are an exclusive pumper your wearables might not be good enough

Their motors are small and therefore not as powerful as some may need. They can be uncomfortable and even cause inflammation.

If you are doing a lot of pumping I encourage you to use wearables as a secondary pump and have a good double electric as your primary.

There are soo many different pumps to choose from. DM for help in figuring it all out

03/27/2026

Let’s talk about something that stresses a lot of new parents out… baby’s weight 💛

All babies lose some weight in the first 24 hours. If you received IV fluids during labour, your baby may lose even more, not because of feeding, but because the fluids make the birth weight look higher than it really is. So sometimes what looks like a big drop is just your baby settling into their true starting point.

Canadian research found that when the 24 hour weight is used as the baseline, more babies were exclusively breastfed in those early days.

Sometimes it’s not about fixing anything, it can be understanding what’s normal.

03/26/2026

Your exhausted and forget everything your nurse just told you.

Wish you had a cheat sheet to get you through those first few days?

Comment "100" to get yours now