Cooper County WIC

02/15/2026

Have you ever noticed a little 💗 shape at the tip of your baby’s tongue when they cry?

That heart shape can be a strong sign of a tongue tie.

Here’s why it happens:
The tissue under the tongue (the frenulum) is anchored a little tighter or shorter than it should be. When baby lifts or cries and the tongue tries to move forward, that tight tissue creates tension, pulling the center of the tongue back and leaving the sides more free. The result? A little heart-shaped dip at the tip.

But here’s the important part:
We don’t diagnose tongue ties by looks alone. We diagnose by function.

If that heart shape is paired with feeding challenges, it’s worth a closer look.

Other signs that may show up alongside it:

• Difficulty latching or staying latched
• Clicking sounds while feeding
• Leaking milk from the sides of the mouth
• Gumming or chewing at the breast
• Prolonged feeds but still seeming hungry
• Falling asleep quickly at the breast from fatigue
• Slow weight gain
• Maternal ni**le pain, damage, blanching, or lipstick-shaped ni**les after feeds
• Recurrent clogged ducts or mastitis from ineffective milk removal

You might also notice baby has limited tongue lift, can’t stick their tongue past their gums, or the tongue seems to move in a choppy or piston-like motion instead of a smooth wave.

Not every heart-shaped tongue needs a procedure. Some babies compensate beautifully. Some need bodywork or feeding support. Some benefit from a release. It’s nuanced.

If you’re seeing the heart shape and feeding feels harder than it should, trust that instinct. A skilled IBCLC and a provider trained in oral function can assess the whole picture, not just the appearance.

Because feeding shouldn’t hurt.
And you deserve answers, not dismissal. 💕

02/12/2026

02/11/2026

Breastfeeding with an ADHD brain means your body and brain are doing a lot at the same time. Postpartum recovery and milk production both require extra calories, hydration, and key nutrients. When you add executive functioning differences, sensory preferences, hyperfocus, and emotional intensity into the mix, meeting those needs can take more support than people realize.

ADHD is connected to dopamine and norepinephrine pathways, and certain nutrients help support those systems. Iron plays a role in dopamine production and low levels can show up as fatigue or brain fog. Magnesium supports nervous system regulation and sleep. Omega 3s, especially DHA, support brain health and are transferred into breast milk, which means parents benefit from replenishing them. Zinc, vitamin D, choline, and B vitamins like B6, folate, and B12 also support mood, focus, and energy.

Many ADHD parents forget to eat, miss hunger cues while hyperfocused, rely on caffeine, or rotate through the same safe foods. Sensory overload can make cooking feel like too much. When blood sugar drops, focus and mood can feel harder to regulate, which can make nourishment even more challenging. That is not a character flaw. It is a systems issue.

Neuro affirming support works with your brain. Visible snack stations where you feed. Simple repeat meals. Pairing carbs with protein for steady energy. Visual reminders to drink water by having water bottles in multiple places. Supplements kept in sight if you use them. Using strategies that feel doable and attainable. Your brain is not the problem. It just deserves care that fits how it functions. 💛 Feeding yourself is equally as important as feeding the baby

What strategies have you found helpful for nourishing yourself while breastfeeding?

02/11/2026

02/10/2026

02/10/2026

Breastfeeding and infant sleep aren’t one-size-fits-all because families aren’t one-size-fits-all. What supports one parent or one baby may not make sense for another, and that’s okay. There’s no shortage of stories, strategies, and “this worked for us” advice floating around, and some of it can be helpful… until it isn’t. At some point, many parents realize they don’t need to follow someone else’s map. They need to notice their own baby, their own body, their own capacity, and make choices from there. Feeding and sleep are a series of decisions, not declarations, and you’re allowed to choose what fits your family right now, knowing that those choices can change as your baby grows.

What is one piece of breastfeeding or infant sleep advice that you started to follow and realized it wasn’t working for you?

02/07/2026

I cannot stress enough how important it is to be sized correctly for your fl**ges! This will make ALL the difference in the world.

Did you know that we can measure and size you in our office? Just one of the many lactation services we can assist with. 🫶🏽

For decades, 24 and 27mm fl**ges have been treated as the standard sizes for breast pumps. These sizes were arbitrarily picked and not actually based on any research or science. Old advice used to recommend sizing up for comfort. Once multiple sizes because available, common recommendations included measuring the base of the ni**les and adding 2-3mm. As more moms started pumping and pumps became more widely available for use, we also saw an increase in plugged ducts, mastitis, ni**le damage and dropping milk supply. Why?! We now know that these sizes are far too big for most women. In fact, ACTUAL research on pump fl**ge fit recommends going SMALLER. New guidelines recommend measuring the base AND the tip of the ni**le and starting with the smaller size and gradually increasing until maximal comfort and milk output are observed. The most common sizes I see in my practice are 13-17mm. I rarely have anything above and 18. Yes. Anatomy is unique. Occasionally someone may need larger for their anatomy. But it’s extremely rare to use what comes in the box.

If your lactation consultant at the hospital told you the 24mm was good by just looking at your ni**le, or they measured the base of the ni**le and added to that number, they are working off of old recommendations that were not based on research because it didn’t exist until 2024. But that could absolutely impact your pumping journey. Hospital based IBCLCs are AMAZING!!! They often don’t have as many resources, have too many patients to see, and are doing the best they can. They may not have time to tell you all of these things or even know it is a thing yet. It is a thing and size does matter.

02/06/2026

02/02/2026

Breast size has nothing to do with pump fl**ge size.

None. Zero. Not even a little.

Somehow some still think that cup size determines fl**ge size, and it’s caused so much unnecessary pain, low output, and self-doubt. Your breasts can be large, small, uneven, full, soft. None of that tells us what fl**ge you need.

What Actually Determines Fl**ge Size

Pump fl**ge fit is about the ni**le, not the breast.
Specifically:
•The diameter of the base of the ni**le
•The diameter of the ni**le tip
•How the ni**le moves dynamically during pumping

This is the foundation of the FITS protocol developed by Jeanette Frem: a more accurate, more humane way of fitting pumping parents.

Instead of guessing based on breast size or handing out one or two standard fl**ges, FITS looks at how your ni**le behaves under suction, not just how it looks at rest.
The goal of a fl**ge is not just “milk comes out.”
It matters:
•How the pump feels on your body
•Whether pumping causes pain, blanching, or swelling
•How efficiently milk is being moved
•Whether pumping feels sustainable long-term

A good fit supports milk flow without trauma.
What Proper Fl**ge Fit Looks Like
•Only the ni**le should be moving in the tunnel
•Minimal to no ar**la should be pulled in
•The ni**le should move freely, not rub, swell excessively, or turn white
•Pumping should feel effective and tolerable

When too much ar**la is being pulled into the tunnel, it can:
•Restrict milk flow
•Cause swelling that makes output worse over time
•Increase pain and inflammation
•Lead parents to believe they have “low supply” when the issue is mechanical

Fl**ge sizing is not about how big your breasts are.
It’s about how your ni**le interacts with the pump.

Comfort matters. Efficiency matters. Long-term tissue health matters.

And if pumping feels awful or unproductive, that’s not a personal failure. iIt’s a signal that something may need adjusting.

You deserve pumping equipment that works with your body, not against it 💛

02/01/2026

You’ve were probably told
👉 “Feed your newborn every 3 hours.”

The reality is every 3 hours is the MINIMUM, Not the maximum. Not a rule that says you should make your baby wait. You should NOT be making baby wait 3 hours if they’re waking up hungry at hour 2 or every after and hour and a half.

👶 Newborns eat often. Very often.
They cluster feed. They snack. They binge. They change their minds. They are growing at lightning speed and figuring out how this whole feeding thing works.

🧠 Neurologically… they’re brand new.
Your baby is still immature and learning hunger and fullness cues. Sometimes they honestly act like they’re still attached to the umbilical cord and haven’t fully realized they’ve been born yet.

🤍 Early on, we often need to help babies learn how to eat and how their own body works
That can mean:
•Offering feeds before they cry
•Gently waking them if they’re very sleepy
•Not waiting for “perfect” hunger cues
•Monitoring their diaper output and their weight
•Ensuring they have a pain free latch

Once feeding is well established, baby has:
•Regained birth weight
•Is feeding effectively
•Is waking more reliably on their own
THEN we can start letting them lead more and wake when hungry. This can happen within a week or two or may take 6-8 weeks or longer if they were premature. Until then, frequent feeding isn’t spoiling or overfeeding. Your newborn isn’t doing anything wrong if they want to eat every hour or two. It’s biology. It’s learning. It’s newborn life. If your baby is wanting to feed ALL the time with no breaks, is not gaining weight or peeing/pooping as expected or the latch is painful, seek lactation help immediately.

01/29/2026

I absolutely love sharing this client’s story. It’s one I come back to again and again when I’m talking with other moms, because it’s such a powerful reminder that you are not alone in this journey.

As your WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, and with the support of our on-staff IBCLC, our goal is simple: to help you reach whatever feeding goal you set for yourself. Big or small, exclusive pumping, breastfeeding, combo feeding… it all matters, and you matter.

We truly are your support team. So when we say, “Please reach out when you’re struggling,” we mean it…day or night. Sometimes all it takes is one conversation, one person reminding you that you can do this.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or ready to quit, please don’t do it alone. We’re here for you, cheering you on every step of the way. 💕