Mother Nurture Breastfeeding Support Services

02/15/2026

An ounce of breast milk can look so small in a bottle, but to your baby, it can mean everything. 💛

That single ounce represents minutes or hours spent pumping when you were exhausted. It represents late nights, early mornings, sore breasts, tears, determination, and love. It represents showing up again and again even when progress feels slow or invisible.

For premature or medically fragile babies, that ounce can help protect against infection, support gut healing, and help their tiny bodies grow stronger day by day. For babies learning to feed, it can be the difference between hunger and comfort. For mothers separated from their babies, it becomes a way to still nurture and provide even when you cannot always be at the bedside.

Sometimes mothers worry because the bottles are not full yet. They compare ounces, sessions, or freezer stashes. But what truly matters is that you are providing something uniquely made for your baby. Every drop carries antibodies, nutrition, and comfort that no one else can make.

And every ounce also tells a story. A story of persistence on the days you wanted to quit. A story of choosing to try again after a hard pumping session. A story of loving your baby enough to keep going even when it feels like no one sees how hard you are working.

So if today you only pumped an ounce, know this. That ounce matters. It nourishes. It protects. It helps your baby grow. And it proves how much heart you are pouring into this journey.

Small amounts add up. One ounce becomes many. One day becomes weeks. And before you know it, all those small efforts build something powerful for your baby.

Be proud of every drop. Because every ounce is made with love, and love always matters. ✨

02/15/2026

02/15/2026

That first number on the scale right after birth often isn’t a baby’s true baseline weight, and understanding why can save so many mothers unnecessary stress in those first days.

Babies are born covered in amniotic fluid, blood, and vernix, and many have not yet had time to p*e or adjust their fluid balance outside the womb. On top of that, many mothers receive IV fluids for hydration, medications, epidurals, or induction. Research shows that some of this extra fluid crosses the placenta and temporarily increases a newborn’s fluid volume at birth. In other words, babies can be born carrying extra fluid that isn’t actually part of their long term body mass….

Then, over the first 24 to 72 hours of life, babies naturally begin to p*e out that extra fluid as their kidneys start working independently. This process is called “postnatal diuresis.” As a result, the number on the scale drops, and families are often told their baby has “lost weight.” BUT in many cases, this isn’t true weight loss from poor feeding or inadequate milk. It is simply the baby returning to their real fluid balance after birth.

Several studies have shown that larger volumes of maternal IV fluids during labor are associated with GREATER early newborn weight loss, suggesting that part of this early drop reflects fluid shifts rather than nutritional problems. Babies whose mothers receive higher amounts of IV fluids tend to show more early weight loss, even when feeding is going well.

This matters because early weight checks are often used to judge breastfeeding success. When fluid related weight shifts are mistaken for feeding problems, families may feel pressured, discouraged, or pushed toward supplementation before it is truly needed.

Of course, weight monitoring remains *important*, and TRUE excessive weight loss or signs of dehydration should always be taken seriously. But numbers should always be interpreted alongside feeding effectiveness, diaper output, and the baby’s overall clinical condition.

Sometimes the scale is showing us fluid adjustment, not feeding failure.

So if you see the number drop in those first days, remember that birth is a huge transition. Babies are moving from a fluid filled environment to regulating their own bodies for the very first time. Give them, and yourself, grace as that adjustment happens.

Watch the baby, not just the scale.

02/15/2026

In the middle of the exhaustion, the long nights, and the constant giving, there are these tiny, unforgettable moments. Your baby pauses, looks up at you, and smiles while still nursing, completely content and safe in your arms. In that second, nothing else matters. It’s a reminder that comfort, nourishment, and love are all wrapped into one simple act, and that these fleeting moments are building a bond that lasts far beyond the nursing years. 🤱🏼💞

01/26/2026

Every small thing you do matters more than you know. It’s OK to feel tired overwhelmed or unsure. You don’t have to enjoy every moment to be a great mom. You’re doing better than you think. Your baby feels your love in every moment.
Part of my role and passion is supporting you in your mothering journey. Reach out for a lactation consult today.

01/26/2026

When things feel hard at the breast, our instinct is often to fix, troubleshoot, change something.

But sometimes the most powerful intervention is also the simplest.

Skin to skin.

If baby is going through a nursing strike
If baby is unsettled or crying
If sleep feels impossible
If latch feels off
If milk supply feels low…

Skin to skin helps regulate a baby’s heart rate, breathing, temperature, and stress hormones. It increases oxytocin in both parent and baby, which supports milk ejection and bonding. It can improve feeding behaviors and cue babies back to the breast gently and naturally.

This is not a trick or a hack. It is biology.

Babies are wired to feed, settle, and thrive on their parent’s body. Your chest is a place of safety, regulation, and communication long before it is a place of nutrition.

When in doubt, come back to skin to skin.
No pressure. No force. Just closeness.

01/26/2026

• Feeding to sleep is biological.
Babies are wired to fall asleep at the breast or bottle. Sucking releases hormones that regulate stress, body temperature, and sleep. This isn’t a “bad habit”. It’s a built-in survival and regulation tool.

• Contact naps are normal.
Human infants are meant to be close to their caregivers. Being held supports nervous system regulation, breathing, and temperature control. Wanting to sleep on you doesn’t mean you’re creating dependence, it means your baby feels safe.

• Cluster feeding is expected.
Frequent feeding, especially in the evenings or during growth spurts, is how babies increase milk supply and meet developmental needs. It can feel intense, but it’s temporary and purposeful, not a sign of low milk or something going wrong.

• Waking at night is more common than you’re led to believe.
Most babies (and many toddlers) wake overnight well into the first years of life. Night waking supports feeding, development, and protects milk supply. “Sleeping through the night” (meaning 10+ hours) is not the norm. It’s the exception. Sleeping through the night is considered 6 hours of consecutive sleep without feeding.

Sometimes the hardest part of early parenting isn’t the baby, it’s the expectations we’re given. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re responding to a very human and very normal baby.

01/26/2026

Your newborn’s stomach size is perfect for the amounts of colostrum/first milk you produce.
Day 1- birth about the size of a cherry (2-7 ml)
Day 3- about the size of a walnut (22-30 ml)
1 week- about the size of an apricot (40-60ml)
1 month- about the size of a large egg(80-150ml)

12/30/2025

Assistance from an IBCLC can make a huge difference on your breastfeeding journey. Please reach out with any questions and I’m happy to support you along this path.

12/19/2025

Leukemia is the most common cancer in children…and breastfeeding saves lives!!

Large population studies consistently show that children who are breastfed have a significantly lower risk of developing childhood leukemia, especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia 📊

Breast milk does more than nourish
It actively trains the immune system 🧠
It shapes healthy gut microbiota 🦠
It delivers antibodies, immune cells, cytokines, and anti inflammatory factors that help regulate abnormal cell growth and immune responses

Researchers believe this immune modulation during early life is key to reducing leukemia risk later on 🔬

The protection is dose dependent
Longer duration of breastfeeding equals greater risk reduction.

Important clarification:
This does NOT mean breastfeeding prevents cancer or guarantees a child will never develop leukemia
Cancer is complex and influenced by many genetic and environmental factors.

What the evidence shows is *risk reduction*, not absolute prevention. Breastfeeding is one powerful protective factor among many

This is why breastfeeding is recognized as a public health intervention, not just a personal choice
It is disease prevention
It is immune protection
It is life saving biology

Supporting breastfeeding
is supporting better population health
and reducing childhood cancer risk where possible.

Breastfeeding saves lives
💕

12/19/2025

Your milk is truly remarkable! It is rich in proteins, nutrients, live cells, and enzymes that support your preterm baby’s growth and development in a way nothing else can.

12/19/2025

So amazing!