Valley Woods Lactation

04/10/2026

Mamas circle in Littleton on April 13th!

Think about it Thursday: One of the hardest parts of early motherhood can be feeling alone in it.
Support groups remind mothers: you are not the only one, and you do not have to carry this by yourself. Join us Monday April 13th for Mamas Circle in Littleton. Please RSVP :
https://www.wombinitiative.org/event-details/mamas-circle-pregnancy-postpartum-support-group-2026-04-13-10-00/form

04/08/2026

NOTE-Other options outside of conway currently due to renovations.

Diaper Depot updated flyer!

04/07/2026

Love this idea!

Introducing our “Family Enrichment Baskets” for Strength to Succeed families! 💙

Each basket has a mix of fun and everyday essentials. Families will find a game, popcorn for a movie night, and items to help with planning like calendars, budget books, highlighters, and pens. We also included basic household necessities like toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, dish soap, and laundry detergent. The basket itself is a laundry basket (functional). It’s about supporting families in simple, practical ways—while creating opportunities to spend quality time together. Because every family deserves a little extra support and a lot of joy.

03/27/2026

LOVE this!
You don’t need to be fluent, but helping your baby learn 5–10 signs to aid in early communication long before they can speak can be so helpful!!
(And adorable!☺️)
Do you sign with your baby?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTtXjY3kjR1/?igsh=MTl4a3RscnQ3OXJ1aw==

03/26/2026

Doulas!
You need one… even if you don’t know it! ❤️

03/26/2026

TRUTH!
Sucking reflex goes away (because it is developmentally appropriate & it’s supposed to!)
Working with ‘older’ babies is a whole different ball game!

03/26/2026

Twins?!
Get specialized support!!

03/26/2026

A great explanation for why swaddling isn’t always the answer for quality sleep.
Neuro-development is taking place at an EPIC level the first few months of a baby’s life outside the womb.

The sleep industry is targeting your vulnerability. As a developmental speech therapist I have an unpopular opinion: your baby needs to be unswaddled for sleep starting by 2–3 weeks, not 2-3 months

Swaddling can feel like magic in the early days.
It quiets the chaos. It helps babies settle. It gives exhausted parents a moment to breathe.

But here’s the part we don’t talk about enough…

Babies are supposed to move in their sleep.

That startle reflex everyone is trying to “fix”?
It’s not a flaw. It’s part of how their undeveloped nervous system organizes and matures.

When we tightly swaddle day after day, night after night, we dampen that process. We override the very movements that help babies learn where their bodies are in space. Research has also shown that dampening the startle also increases the risk of SIDS

Stretching. Startling. Bringing hands to face. Kicking. Turning the head.

That’s not disruption.
That’s development.

When movement is restricted for long stretches:
– Reflexes can take longer to integrate
– Muscles don’t get the same opportunity to strengthen
– Head position stays more fixed, increasing risk of flat spots (which can lead to needing a helmet later on) or increase the risk of tortícolis
– Babies have fewer chances to practice natural repositioning

And over time, that “good sleeper” can become a baby who struggles more with movement, strength, and coordination. Or who struggles for longer to sleep without aids

Swaddling has a place, especially in the earliest days.
But it was never meant to be a long-term sleep solution.

By 2–3 weeks, babies benefit from more freedom than we often give them.

Because sleep isn’t just about rest. It’s also an active time of growth, wiring, and learning. So by the time they are developmentally able to roll they’ve already practiced all the skills they need to get there

Your baby doesn’t need to be stilled to sleep well.
They need the space to move, to startle, to stretch
To become strong in their own body.

How long did you swaddle for?

03/25/2026

Yes!
Don’t believe all the marketing. Mother’s milk tea isn’t the best!

Mother’s Milk tea is pretty commonly used while breastfeeding and I know a lot of you are probably drinking it. Tea is the weakest form of an herb (besides just eating the plant raw), so if you’re going to drink a tea with boosting supply in mind, it’s recommended to drink 3-5 cups a day for maximum potency. Taking an herb in pill form is more potent than drinking a tea.

Fenugreek, one of the herbs in Mother’s Milk Tea, is also my LEAST favorite herb to recommend. While it has been reported to be an excellent galactagogue for some, and has been used as such for centuries, the few studies that have been done have had mixed results [Swafford 2000, Reeder 2011, Turkyılmaz 2011]. It is similar to clover and has a taste like maple syrup. If you take it, milk supply should increase 24-72 hours after starting the herb, but it can take two weeks for others to see a change. It is commonly found in Mediterranean foods and is considered safe to take while breastfeeding.

Other facts about fenugreek:
⬇️It boosts supply for many, but can drop supply for others. I’ve heard some horror stories of milk supply that plummeted from taking fenugreek
🚽I often hear people report it makes them or baby gassy. Raise your hand if you tried fenugreek and it gave you digestive upsets and nasty smelling gas?!? It also has the side effect of making your body odor smell like maple syrup. My husband thought I wasn’t using deodorant when I was taking it in larger quantities with my second.
💊 If you are taking medication for hypothyroidism or struggle with hypoglycemia, you should not take fenugreek. Fenugreek interacts with the absorption of thyroid medications, so it’s a no-no for those as well as those taking Heparin, Warfarin and other anticoagulants, Ticlopidine and other platelet inhibitors.
🧁Fenugreek seems to slow sugar absorption in the stomach and stimulate insulin. Both of these effects lower blood sugar in people with diabetes.
🥜Fenugreek is in the same family with peanuts and chickpeas, and may cause an allergic reaction in those who are allergic to these things.

Did you take fenugreek for your milk supply?