Kansas Doula + Lactation Support : The Midwest Momma Collective

08/17/2022

Did you really think growing, birthing, and raising a HUMAN-BEING was going to fit into your perfectly planned pre-baby life?

If you are a recovering “girl boss”, it can feel like a huge slap in the face when you can’t keep up with the never ending list of to-dos you once had for yourself before baby arrived.

Momma, give yourself some grace and freeze a few of those expectations that you set for yourself (or from others around you).

You are doing a disservice to yourself and all the women that come after us by pretending a baby doesn’t change things.

This is a season and I promise it will come to an end. Things will begin to feel more manageable and you can pull from that freezer full of expectations and start thawing a few for a rainy day.

If you need permission to SLOW DOWN, I’m giving it to you right here, right now!!!! 😘

08/28/2021

Truth 💣 from

08/28/2021

sharing from
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🤎It’s Black Breastfeeding Week🤎 I don’t know why, but I have always been attracted to powerful black women. It’s pure ✨magic✨when black women, who have historically experienced generations of oppression, embrace their God-given superpower to birth and breastfeed like a boss.💪🏽

This week, and every week, I salute you, birthing Queens!👸🏽

Why , you may ask? 🤱🏽❓

"Black Breastfeeding Week was created because for over 40 years there has been a gaping racial disparity in breastfeeding rates. The most recent CDC data show that 75% of white women have ever breastfed versus 58.9% of black women. The fact that racial disparity in initiation and even bigger one for duration has lingered for so long is reason enough to take 7 days to focus on the issue.”
- website

Here are a few more reasons to consider:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
📌 The high black infant mortality rate (nearly twice the rate of white babies!) 😢
📌 The high black maternal mortality rate: 3-4X higher than white mothers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
📌 The history of black slave women who were forced to wet nurse their white master’s babies, creating a generational and cultural negative stigma surrounding BF.
📌 Lack of BF support in the black community, and maternal care at large.
📌 Black moms are 9X more likely to be offered formula by hospitals than white women.
📌 Lack of access to education and lactation support.
📌 Lack of diversity in lactation support.

THAT 👆🏽 is why.⠀⠀

Black Mamas,
👏🏽 YOU deserve equal and quality lactation support
👏🏽 YOU are capable of nourishing your baby
👏🏽 YOU are breaking the stigma and empowering a generation of strong black mothers. 💪🏽

I support you in your birth and breastfeeding goals and I will use this platform to magnify your successes until ALL women are supported and empowered in their motherhood journey. 📣

Tag a mama to let her know, “I support you!” 🖤

📸

08/17/2021

Repost from Bao Bei Body] at the beginning of
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“Let’s normalize breastfeeding while pregnant.” Motherhood & Lifestyle]

I’m 33 weeks pregnant in my second pregnancy, and still breastfeeding. It’s safe, it’s normal and it’s still natural.



📸 Motherhood & Lifestyle] wearing the Bao Bei Body] Adore Bralette in Latte

08/06/2021

08/03/2021

the numbers shared here just scratch the service

V v V v V

https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm

and they vary drastically based on the level of short AND long-term support in your city/state/region.

if you happen to follow me from the UK, percentages are even lower at the 6 month mark and my guess is we will never report breastfeeding rates beyond 12 months.

it is pure synchronicity that our neighbor breastfed her daughter into toddlerhood, and I never once felt like I had to interrupt their play time by taking her to feed in private or refuse a feeding in their company.

I’m tearing up just typing this, because I’ve heard stories from MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS who for 4-5 years due to the stigma I plan to fight until the day I die.

We ALL deserve to share our stories (and struggles) and this is just one reason why exists!

08/02/2021

❤️sharing from
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Today marks the first day of World Breastfeeding Week. The goal of this week is to raise awareness of the health and wellbeing outcomes of breastfeeding. This goal is not only to help improve the health of babies but to also promote, protect, and support the rights of women to breastfeed anywhere and at any time. AND I WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR HYPE GIRL!!

But first, I just wanted to give a little reminder that ALL breastfeeding journeys should be celebrated. No matter how long it lasts. No matter what it looks like. Even if it’s not what you envisioned when you were pregnant.

Breastfeeding is a very personal journey that you take with your baby(ies). Sometimes that journey is harder than you expected, or shorter than you wanted. Breastfeeding is not only defined only as directly latching and the value is certainly not defined by how long you breastfed, or if you exclusively pumped, used a supplemental nursing system, etc.

All breastfeeding journeys are valuable and should be celebrated. And that’s what this week is all about. I see all of you mamas! Black and white image: Berkshire Breastfeeds

07/17/2021

(.)(.)

🤱🏻World Breastfeeding Week is around the corner and I am so excited to finally announce KC’s very first✨Latch & Lounge✨is open for registration.

This indoor/outdoor event is FREE for families and will be held in Lee Summit on August 1st from 4-6pm ❤️

💁🏼‍♀️We can’t wait to spoil you with gift bags, professional nursing photos, and a community of postpartum professionals ready to serve you in this journey.

We will not stop advocating, until every parent feels supported in their feeding journey, AT ALL TIMES, no questions asked❗️

🎟 The Eventbrite registration is linked in my bio.

PLEASE share with anyone nursing, pumping, donating or supplementing human milk in any capacity. All feedings journeys welcome and respected 🌈

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kc-latch-lounge-registration-163086657583

06/27/2021

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻from
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Just a reminder: not every problem needs a solution. Sometimes it just needs a listening ear.

I was working with a momma this week that was struggling juggling combo feeding and needed a good vent. But everyone she had tried to speak to, partner included, told her if she was so frustrated to just quit.

But she didn’t want to quit. She just needed someone to validate what she was going through.

When moms want to talk about their feeding journey and the struggles they are having, the last thing they need is to be told to stop or cut their journey short.

Instead we should ask HOW can we help support them in their journey to help them achieve their goals. What are their goals? Do they even want to stop? Or do they just need a reminder that yes, this is HARD but they are doing a fantastic job!

Sometimes with our best intentions we may think telling a momma it’s okay to quit is what she needs to hear, but the truth is, she just needs us to listen and support her. And if we’re not sure how, just ask.

🤍

06/14/2021

sharing from
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We spend SO much time & money on gender reveals, baby showers, birth prep & delivery....but what about creating a Postpartum Plan?

I did a poll the other day on if you purchased + created a postpartum plan .... only 4% of people said they did.

Real truth moment: for the first birth of my son, I didn’t either. I didn’t know to. No one told me to. I was unaware of what was to come. Over the years, I’ve become more educated through experience, creating relationships with doulas, mama coaches, and birth + postpartum educators, and other PFPT’s. One you know all your options, you can’t unknown and I plan to share this information with all of you.

Tell me — did you create a postpartum plan? If you came across someone who told you about it, would you have then?

🤍 Jess , follow along for all things postpartum, pelvic floor education, & rehab from birth.

06/12/2021

This image is perfection!

sharing from
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Ok please let’s stop saying this.

With many years experience as a midwife I will acknowledge your pain and validate your experience.
And I will reassure you that there’s nothing wrong with you.
You are not broken.
You will heal.

Your nervous system is actually working fine and has responded appropriately when you faced a real or perceived threat to your own life or the life of your baby / babies.

I’ve seen so many clients traumatised by their perinatal experience and after treatment move forward healed and restored.
Artist 👩‍🎨 unknown please tag

06/06/2021

I might have screamed my baby out, but because my throat was OPEN, she was out in 3 pushes 🙌🏼
reposting from
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In my birth classes, I ask students to practice holding their breath and pushing, just like they coach you in the hospital...

“What happens in your va**na?,” I ask.
❌“Tightness”
❌“Clenching”
❌“Closed”
❌“Tense”

Next I show them how to push using breath…. “What do you feel in your va**na now?”
✅“Openness”
✅“Expansive”
✅“Release”

Now, what do you think is more helpful to pushing a baby out? 🤔

It’s not rocket science. 🚀

It’s basic physics.

When you hold you breath, it tightens the pelvic floor and va**nal muscles around baby’s head.

What happens when you push an 8 pound baby into tense, tight muscles? FRICTION. 😬

That’s how baby’s get “stuck”

That’s why we are seeing an increase in pelvic floor damage and severe tearing. 🙅🏼‍♀️

That’s why it takes 2-4 HOURS of pushing on average in hospitals.

It’s not instinctual.

It’s not physiological.

It’s damaging women’s body’s
..And isn’t healthy for babies. 👶

You never need to hold your breath in labor. If you do push, try short, grunty pushes as baby is crowning.

The body is brilliantly designed to labor the baby down all by itself.

Want to learn how to push physiologically?

👉I show you how in the Pain Free Birth E-Course.🙌 (Link in bio)

❓How long did you push?