The Mama Mantra Lactation Consulting

12/16/2022

You are not a milk factory. As you feed, your child's heart rate slows, their attachment hormones spike, their microbiome is nourished and their brain falls into a deep, restorative calm, much like adult brains do during meditation.⁠
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Suckling causes oxytocin release in both mother and child, promoting a felt sense of wellbeing, safety, love and contentment. ⁠
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Oxytocin lowers blood pressure and stress reactivity in mothers. In infants, oxytocin increases resilience to stress and drives the formation of more oxytocin receptors in the amygdala (for healthy social behaviour and a lowered risk for anxiety). ⁠
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Simultaneous oxytocin release, repeated over time, changes both mother and infant brains, in ways that underpin long term attachment and synchronicity. It literally rewires brains in favour of love and wellbeing.⁠
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You are not a milk factory.⁠ You are a retreat, a safe space, a perfect tonic.⁠
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You are laying the foundations of long term wellbeing with every feed. ⁠
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You are a hero.⁠

⁠incredible words by

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11/21/2022

Me trying to read the list of things that require parents to pump and dump…

11/10/2022

08/15/2022

It is estimated that 30% of the baby's blood is left in the placenta after immediate cord clamping. We've all had blood drawn... these tubes represent the amount of blood left in the placenta after immediate cord clamping. ​​​​​​​​
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It's something that most of us probably don't think about. Unless there is immediate medical need, it is beneficial to the infant to practice delayed cord clamping so the baby can absorb the blood and nutrients from the placenta after birth. ​​​​​​​​
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Of course, speak with you doctor, midwife, or doula in order to make the best, most informed decision for your birth and your baby. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Image from https://www.facebook.com/janet.titmusdeletteramidwife​​​​​​​​
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More info at link https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2020/12/delayed-umbilical-cord-clamping-after-birth #:~:text=on%20developmental%20outcomes.-,Delayed%20umbilical%20cord%20clamping%20is%20associated%20with%20significant%20neonatal%20benefits,necrotizing%20enterocolitis%20and%20intraventricular%20hemorrhage.​​​​​​​​
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08/11/2022

Baby bouncers, walkers, bumbos, and other infant orthotic devices (IODs) alter a child's natural motor pattern development by restricting proper age-appropriate movements and by offering artificial stability to developing infants before they are ready to reach those milestones naturally.​​​​​​​​
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The companies who create these products claim that they "help" children learn to walk, stand, sit, or crawl but research has shown the use of IODs actually delay, alter, and potentially cause long-term motor pattern disruption.​​​​​​​​
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Research has shown that the use of baby walkers can delay the acquisition of independent walking and disturb the normal gait pattern in developing children. They can also cause damage to ankles, knees, hips, back, and neck by forcing a child into a vertical position who's body is not yet ready to support such position.​​​​​​​​
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Similar is to be said about bumbo type seats or boppy type support pillows. These devices place children in seated or upright positions before their bodies are ready to support them. A child who can not sit without assistance should not be placed in a seated position. ​​​​​​​​
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Children should be allowed an age appropriate viewpoint of the world by being given the ability to lay flat on their backs, crawl, crouch, sit and stand when they're ready, and interact with their environments as their individual developmental skills allow.​​​​​​​​
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These devices designed to "help" our kids are actually limiting them. The less technology and devices we use to "help" our children move, the better and stronger they will grow - and the better and stronger their bodies will be in adolescence and adulthood! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Some info from this post was sourced from https://capitalchirodsm.com/fromthegroundup/ where more in-depth info and further references are available. ​​​​​​​​
🔗 IG link in bio.

07/19/2022

Breastmilk is a live bacterial messenger system designed to shape the newborn immune system.

During the first weeks to months of a child’s life a mother is delivering precious microbial messages that can have a life long affect on a child's health.

Today we are learning how incredibly powerful nature is in developing strong, immune, resilient children.

The role of breastfeeding to develop the jaw and straight teeth is one aspect of how important it is. Primarily teaches a child nasal breathing. Kids who struggle to breathe through their nose often have small, underdeveloped jaws. They present with long faces, crooked teeth, and poor breathing.

Secondly if proper tongue posture and feeding habits are established, the tongue creates a seal to push the ni**le to the roof of the child’s mouth. This helps to develop the child’s palate, and is designed by nature to set correct the growth trajectory of the jaws and upper airways.

(As an aside I do see many kids who breastfeed today without proper connection between the tongue and the palate)

However, for the immune system the breastmilk microbiome is transferred via specialized immune cells from the mothers gut.

Evidence now shows that human breastmilk can have a life long impact on a child’s health.

Oral flora delivered during breastfeeding may protect a child from allergies and asthma.

They also strengthen their immune system. Breastfeeding may protect against respiratory infections autoimmunity, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Later in life, it may also protect against heart disease, obesity, and type-II diabetes. These conditions are now understood to be largely influenced by gut microbiota.

The reason is that a newborn immune system is naïve to the outside world and depends on maternal ‘gifting’ of immune agents and probiotic bacteria.

One huge factor I think we’re missing today is the maternal stores of vitamin D and preexisting conditions.

Prenatal maternal health needs to be nourished with a proper pregnancy diet with targeted functional medicine testing for any underlying issues.
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How was your experience with breastfeeding?

07/12/2022

As excited as we often are not to our periods for 10 months while we're pregnant, a question I frequently get asked by extended breastfeeding mamas is: "How do I get my period back?"

Breastfeeding, due to the impact of prolactin on ovarian function, can naturally suppress menstruation. Anthropologists have described it as natural contraception - though I’ve midwifed more than one baby conceived while a mama was breastfeeding! -(This form of birth control may have had to do more with cultural taboos around s*x while nursing).

How long it takes for ovulatory cycles to return postpartum varies widely:
🍶If you’re not BF'ing, you can expect your period to come back around 4 months postpartum.
🤱🏽If you are exclusively BF'ing, this will likely be delayed from 6 to 24 months. But if you get yours back sooner it doesn’t mean you weren’t breastfeeding enough! I was a full-time “attachment mom” and got my moon back at 8 weeks with my first 3 babies - then 18 months with my 4th!

While there’s no risk in not getting your period back even for 18 months if you're BF'ing, mamas starting to think about having another baby sooner often want their cycles to resume and ask me how to get it going again.

My answer is the herb Vitex (Chaste berry). One of its many uses is to stimulate and support ovulation - and it’s the go-to herb in my practice (has been for 30+ years!) for mamas wanting to return their cycle.

How to use it?
🌿 Take 5 ml of the tincture daily (either one dose, or 2 doses of 2.5 mL) OR
💊Take 1-2, 220 mg capsules daily

It typically takes 2-3 months of using it for your period to resume - but I’ve seen it work in as short as 1 cycle.

At this dose, Vitex shouldn't affect milk production, but higher doses may suppress lactation - so I don’t recommend it if your baby is 1 year or less and depends on your milk as their main nourishment.

🚨Remember - we ovulate before we menstruate - so if you’re not ready to get pregnant just yet - use condoms or another form of birth control.

How long did you breastfeed? And how long did it take to get your cycle back?

Want more postpartum tips? Check out Natural Health After Birth - my classic book on all the things new mama and baby - at the link in bio.

Photo Credit: Jade Beall Photography

07/10/2022

🛑DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?!🛑

(Not the news about my graphic having a typo 😂😂 *AAP)

Let me just leave this quoted information here.⬇️

"The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately 6 months after birth. Furthermore, the AAP supports continued breastfeeding, along with appropriate complementary foods introduced at about 6 months, as long as mutually desired by mother and child for 2 years or beyond. These recommendations are consistent with those of the World Health Organization (WHO)."

Now parents, before you freak out... NO. This does NOT mean you HAVE TO breastfeed until your child is two.
➡️"...as long as mutually desired by mother and child..."⬅️

A little more insight on the AAP's updated recommendation.

So why do you now recommend past two years old AAP? 🤔
"Studies and meta-analyses have also confirmed the impact of breastfeeding longer than 12 months on maternal health in decreasing maternal type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer rates."

Well... what's the big issue with mothers breastfeeding past 12 months, AAP? 🤔

"Mothers who decide to breastfeed beyond the first year need support. They often report feeling ridiculed or alienated in their choice and conceal their breastfeeding behavior to minimize unsolicited judgment and comments. There is evidence that only one-half of mothers who breastfeed past 1 year discuss their decision with their pediatric primary care provider and that 38% of women who reported that their provider was unsupportive of breastfeeding past the first year elected to change their pediatric primary care provider."

HUH! Ya don't say! 😲

So, is there anyone or way that we could fix this issue? 🧐

"The AAP is cognizant that for women to be successful in achieving the recommended breastfeeding goals, significant societal changes are required. Pediatricians can play an important role in leading and advocating for the societal changes that permit continued exclusive and direct breastfeeding, such as guaranteed paid maternity leave, flexible work schedules, including working from home, and on-site child care."

Ah, okay! Thanks for joining us AAP! 😉
Joan Younger Meek, Lawrence Noble, Section on Breastfeeding; Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics July 2022; 150 (1): e2022057988. 10.1542/peds.2022-057988

06/29/2022

Y’all. I’m hot.

I’m bothered.

My blood pressure is boiling.

Anyone can write a book. Anyone can spew “parenting advice”. Did you know this? Look at Ezzo and Pearl. I mean, really. Ok. Don’t look there, actually. Just trust me. They shouldn’t have any advice to give about parenting or infant feeding. And yet. There they sit. Best selling authors.

There is another crew of folks advocating parenting “techniques” and making bank off people who trust their credentials and techniques/advice.

It’s bad, y’all. It’s just bad.

I looked at some of their “feeding schedule plans” and I’m fairly well ready to faint. 🤦🏻‍♀️

CAN YOU REALLY SAY FEEDING AN 8 WEEK OLD 5 TIMES PER 24 HOURS IS SOLID INFO?

Imma just say NO!

It’s not.

An 8 week old should still have unlimited access to tell a parent they need food, drink, comfort, sleep, etc from their feeding cues.

I’ll say it again. It’s. Not. Just. About. The. Milk. Transfer.

Babies breastfeed. They are biologically HARDWIRED to seek comfort and nutrition from the breast.

5 times per day? Hell. I eat more often than that!!!!!

These “schedulers” suggest 12 HOURS OVERNIGHT with no feedings.

For an 8 week old human baby. 😰😰😰

12. Hours. With. No. Milk. Removal. Or. Breast. Feedings.

You think a new/fluctuating supply can withstand this? You think a brand new baby (who may or may not still be having feeding issues) can go 12 hours with no food/comfort?

No. Not likely. Rarely? Maybe? Some magical unicorn kids may be able to transfer enough milk from 7am-7pm but not likely in 5 feedings.

Let’s do the math.

If a baby is getting 5 feeds in 24 hours:

If a baby can transfer 2-3 oz per feeding.... that’s only 10-15 oz per day. IF they could transfer 4-5 oz per feeding (not all that common) that’s still only 20-25oz per day.

Babies at 8 weeks need an average of about 30 oz per day.

Under feeding your baby can cause all sorts of health and development issues.

The math alone suggests 5 feedings per day isn’t enough. 🚨

Babies learn at the breast. They learn trust, comfort, love, fullness, security, safety, satiation, the beauty of sleep...

How one could limit a tiny nugget baby to every 4 hours is beyond me. They NEED to suck. They NEED to eat very frequently. The breast NEEDS stimulation to MAKE MILK.

Can y’all please put down these books and programs?

Please?!

Trust your gut.

Trust your baby.

Trust biology.

I’ll add. You can still be a pumping/working parent/family/mom and do this. Babies who are receiving bottles can be fed in breast-like manners when separated from their breastfeeding parent and can be fully breastfed when together. It happens all the time. Babies are adaptable. But they NEED food. Lots of it.

I was still feeding my 8 week olds on demand. For sure. Sometimes 12+ times a day/night. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Please feed your babies. As often as they “ask”. For an 8 week old that’s likely to be 8-12+ times per day.

Not. Five.

Reach out if you need help. If you feel like you’re stuck to a schedule that isn’t working. If you feel like you’re “doing it wrong” because your baby won’t bend to a feeding plan. If you’re worried about milk supply or baby’s gain (they should be gaining an ounce a day for a long while!).

We are here for you and your families. No judgment. Just help and love and support. Board certified lactation consultants know a thing or 1000 about breastfeeding, breastmilk, and biological norms. We can help.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

06/16/2022

👅 If your pediatrician tells you they're not a big deal, it's time to get a new one! ​​​​​​​​
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Not all tongue-ties may cause issues, but they could sometimes lead to bigger health problems and definitely need to be addressed.​​​​​​​​
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Causes of concern:​​​​​​​​
▪️ Abnormal Palate Formation, Airway Obstruction, Sinus Obstruction​​​​​​​​
▪️ Brain Development, Behavior, Attention, Intelligence, & Psychological Well-Being​​​​​​​​
▪️ GI Upset​​​​​​​​
▪️ Speech​​​​​​​​
▪️ MTHFR Gene Mutation​​​​​​​​
Unfortunately, it is not an exhaustive list. Many moms and babies suffer with nursing: difficulty latching, difficulties maintaining latch, and not getting enough milk due to decreased tongue movement.​​​​​​​​
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👩‍⚕️ Find a provider who is knowledgeable. If your child or someone you care about is having issues with sleep apnea, mouth breathing, chronic sinus infections, concentration and attention, poor endurance, unexplained behavioral concerns, breath-related anxiety, and honestly the list just goes on and on - don’t accept “genetics” as the answer. This is old, outdated information. Genetics are not the end all be all. You are predisposed from your genes but not doomed by them. ​​​​​​​​
🧠 Knowledge is power. Everything has a root cause.🌱​​​​​​​​
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Check out this link to the original post for more in-depth information. ​​​​​​​​
https://www.facebook.com/LaurenPLyman/posts/10159038179407989​​​​​​​​
🔗 IG LINK IN BIO​​​​​​​​
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☎️ Give us a call if you have concerns you would like to discuss! 815-322-9300 ​​​​​​​​
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