Latch IBCLC Private Practice Des Moines

11/29/2025

✨ I didn’t post for Thanksgiving ✨

God has been telling me to unplug, slow down, and be present with my husband and kids. And let me tell you… God is SO good. 💛

This season reminded me that the greatest blessings are right in front of us — messy kitchens, noisy kiddos, full tables, and hearts overflowing.

📖 “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

I’d LOVE to see your turkeys! 🦃

If you don’t want to share their faces, post a meme, a hand turkey, or whatever makes you smile.
Here are my turkeys at grandmas playing with the couch fort— Jack and Elizabeth 💛🧡

11/24/2025

🌿 What God Says About Motherhood 🌿
All throughout Scripture, God reminds us that raising, nurturing, and guiding our children is holy work.

✨ God equips mothers with strength.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity…” — Proverbs 31:25
Even on the hardest days, He provides the patience, wisdom, and endurance you need.
✨ God sees every sacrifice.
The late nights, the feedings, the tears, the prayers — none of it goes unnoticed.
“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31

✨ Motherhood is ministry.

Every feeding, every snuggle, every calming touch is discipleship in its purest form. You are shaping a heart that will shape the world.

🤍 And if you are trying to conceive... God sees you.
He hears every prayer whispered in waiting. He knows the desires of your heart.
🤍 If you have experienced loss... God holds you close.
Your grief is not invisible to Him. Your baby’s life matters, and so does your healing.

💛 Wherever you are on your journey — mothering in your arms or in your heart — God loves you.

11/24/2025

🌟 RARE OPENING — THIS TUESDAY! 🌟

I almost never have same-week openings… but one just popped up for Tuesday!
If you’ve been needing help with breastfeeding, pumping, bottle feeding, tongue ties, low supply, or a fussy/gassy baby — this is your chance.

💛 Most major insurances accepted:
Aetna • United Healthcare • UMR • Cigna • Health Partners (some blue cross)
(+ superbills available for others)
✨ Office • Home • or Virtual visits available
✨ RN + IBCLC expert care
✨ Root-cause focused, faith-centered support
📲 Go online ASAP to claim it — this spot will go FAST.

11/23/2025

🌿 Birth Control While Breastfeeding — What You Need to Know 🌿
Yes, you can use birth control while breastfeeding — but not all methods support your milk supply the same way.
✨ What to Consider:
• Hormone balance matters. Certain hormonal methods (especially those containing estrogen) can decrease milk supply for some moms.
• Progestin-only methods (like the mini-pill, some IUDs, and injections) are often considered more breastfeeding-friendly.

• Non-hormonal options like the copper IUD (not great for bleeding), condoms, Natural Family Planning, or diaphragms won’t impact supply at all.

• Every body responds differently — and the postpartum period is a sensitive hormonal window.

💛 You deserve birth control that supports YOU — your health, your hormones, your milk supply, and your goals.

If you're unsure which option is safest for your feeding journey, talk to your doctor or naturopath to guide you through the choices so you can feel confident and supported.

📬 Questions? Book a prenatal or postpartum visit with Latch anytime to discuss hormones and lactation

11/23/2025

🌿 **Gut Health, Baby-Led Feeding & Gagging vs. Choking** 🌿

Your baby’s gut and oral development work together — and when the gut is healthy, babies usually handle solids with more confidence, less reflux, retain more nutrients, and better chewing skills.

🍽️ **Baby-led feeding** helps babies explore textures and learn to chew naturally. But gagging often worries parents.

✨ **Gagging = normal + protective**
• Loud gag sound
• Red face
• Coughing
• Still breathing

✨ **Choking = emergency**
• Silent
• No air movement
• Blue or dusky
• Panicked look

Gagging means your baby is learning.

Choking means immediate action is needed.

When babies have gut inflammation or protein sensitivities, they often gag more, reject textures, or struggle with solids — which can improve dramatically once the gut is supported.

💛 **Want guidance with gut health or starting solids? I’m here to help.**

11/22/2025

🌿 Postpartum Depression, Hormone Imbalance & Milk Supply 🌿
Mama, if you haven’t felt like yourself lately… if the tears come out of nowhere… if you feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or exhausted beyond what seems normal — you are not failing.
Postpartum depression and hormonal imbalance are far more common than anyone talks about.
Your hormones shift dramatically after birth, and when they become imbalanced, it can affect:
• Mood + emotional regulation
• Energy levels
• Anxiety or irritability
• Sleep
• Milk supply
• Letdown reflex
• Your body’s ability to handle stress
• Bonding + motivation
• Even appetite
✨ And it’s not “just hormones” — it’s real biology.
Thyroid levels, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and even nutrients like iron, Vitamin D, B12, choline, and omega-3s all play a huge role in both your mental health and your milk production.
Low milk supply is often connected to underlying issues like:
• Low thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Anemia
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Chronic stress
• Sleep deprivation
• Unaddressed anxiety or depression

💛 The good news?

These imbalances can be identified and supported — and healing is absolutely possible.
With the right care, your mood can lift, your energy can return, and your milk supply can improve.
✨ God is close to you in this season.
He sees your heart, your effort, your desire to care for your baby even when you feel empty.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

You are not alone. You are not weak. You are not failing.

You are a mother who deserves support, nourishment, and gentle guidance.
🌿 If you're struggling with mood changes or milk supply concerns, let’s look at the whole picture — hormones, thyroid, nutrients, and feeding.
Help is here, and healing is possible.

Latch

11/22/2025

🌿 Painful Ni***es Are a Sign — Not Your New Normal 🌿
If every latch makes you wince… if you’re dreading the next feed… if your ni***es are cracked, bleeding, or burning — this is not normal, and you do not have to push through it.

Pain is your body saying something needs attention:
• Shallow latch
• Tension in baby’s jaw or neck
• Tongue tie or oral function concerns
• Incorrect ni**le size
• Thrush or infection
• Pumping issues
• Fast letdown or poor transfer

✨ With the right help, breastfeeding can be comfortable — and often improves quickly once the root cause is found.

💛 You are not alone in this.

God sees you in every 2 a.m. feeding, every tear, every “I can’t do this anymore.”

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” – Isaiah 40:29
Your strength isn’t measured by how much pain you can tolerate — but by your willingness to seek support and care for both you and your baby.
🌿 You deserve comfort. Your baby deserves an effective latch.
Let’s walk this journey together with gentle guidance, faith, and real answers.
📲 Book a visit today — relief is closer than you think.

11/21/2025

We’re thrilled to share our newest update — the sign is up at our future birth center in Adel, Iowa! 💜

Heaven Sent Homebirth: Community Birth Center will soon open its doors, offering families a peaceful, home-like space for holistic, midwife-led care. 🌸

We are now accepting birth center clients for 2026 and cannot wait to welcome families into this beautiful space!

11/21/2025

Yes!!!🙌

My heart is so full today. 🖤 Thank you to every single person who came out to celebrate the opening of The Stillroom Collective yesterday. Seeing so many familiar faces, and meeting so many new ones, made the evening feel incredibly special.

I’m so honored to be a small part of this beautiful space alongside such talented makers. Your support means more than you know.

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by my table, asked questions, shared stories, and picked something up for your home or wellness routine. You all showed up in such a big way. We completely sold out of our Magnesium Spray and our Dryer Ball Spray!!

And if you were hoping for more Dryer Ball Spray, don’t worry. We’re working on something exciting with it for The Stillroom Collective. Stay tuned, because you won’t want to miss it. 👀

Thank you for supporting me and other small businesses. I’m so grateful. 🙌🏻

11/21/2025

Did you know that I started Latch Lactation and CC photography the same year? Yes! I am still a newborn photographer -just very rarely get to do it! Latch is taking up a lot of my time which is great! Love all the babies. 

11/21/2025

🌿 C-Section Babies & Colic: What Most Parents Aren’t Told 🌿
Did you know that babies born via C-section are statistically more likely to experience:
• Colic
• Reflux
• Gas and tummy pain
• Food intolerances
• Skin rashes
• Trouble with milk transfer
• Increased fussiness or poor sleep
✨ Why?
A C-section birth changes the way a baby’s gut and nervous system start off life. Through the skin vs through the birth canal which is set up with healthy bacteria.

💛 Gut Microbiome Differences
C-section babies miss out on the beneficial bacteria they normally get during a vaginal birth, which can lead to:
• Immature gut lining
• Increased inflammation
• Higher sensitivity to dairy, soy, eggs, and gluten proteins
• More gassiness and discomfort

💛 Tension + Oral Function
Many C-section babies also have:
• More body tension
• Neck/jaw tightness
• Difficulty coordinating sucking and swallowing
• Higher risk for tongue and oral function issues

All of this can make feeding more stressful and increase symptoms of colic and food intolerances.

✨ The good news:
With the right feeding support, gut-health guidance, CST education, and a thorough oral function assessment…
these babies can thrive — and often outgrow their sensitivities much earlier than expected.
You don’t have to guess. You don’t have to eliminate foods forever.
Your baby simply needs the right start and the right plan.
📲 Book a visit and let’s bring calm back to feeding.

11/21/2025

👀 Last minute office opening tomorrow (Friday) at 1pm

See my website in my bio or email me!

👏 video of a fun part of our private practice IBCLC retreat last weekend. There was a larger group this year, including western Wisconsin/Quad cities this time!

🎸 This is Swieter singing and playing her banjo from applaud_breastfeeding (who is the 🐐 original! first private practice IBCLC in Iowa)