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ergobaby Archives - Lactation Link

Jan 25
6
is it okay for my baby to use a pacifier? via lactation link

Is it okay to give my baby a pacifier?

By | Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding support, Lactation Link team

Hi! I’m Kristin Gourley, an IBCLC here at Lactation Link and a mom of 5. I’m here today to answer some questions about pacifier use. Enjoy!

Pacifiers are so common in our culture and many moms, grandmas, and others find them to be helpful for soothing babies.  So why “Is it bad if I give my baby a pacifier?” a common question asked in our community of moms and at consults?

Is it really bad to give your baby a pacifier? A lactation consultant's answer is...

I certainly don’t think they should be avoided at all costs, but there are some things that moms should consider before using one. 

should i give my breastfed baby a pacifier? get the answer from an IBCLC at lactationlink.comWait to start pacifier-use

In general, it’s best to wait until breastfeeding is well-established before introducing a pacifier.  This means baby is nursing well, waking to feed on his own, and gaining weight consistently, while mom is not in pain or experiencing nipple damage.  

The American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends considering giving a pacifier at nap time and bedtime after breastfeeeding is firmly established (1) as one way to help prevent SIDS. The evidence is unclear why a pacifier is protective, but it is something to consider.

is it okay for my baby to use a pacifier? via lactation link

Use pacifier in-between feedings, not to replace them

Another important factor to consider is ensuring that the pacifier doesn’t soothe baby too well.  Most babies need to wake at least once at night for many months as well as nurse every couple of hours during the day. Babies release sleepy hormones just from sucking, whether or not their bellies get full, so pushing off a feeding by using a pacifier can cause baby to not eat often enough or get enough milk.

is it okay for my baby to use a pacifier? via lactation link

Breastfeeding came first

On the flip side, many moms find that their baby is not interested in a pacifier!  Breastfeeding is a womb-like environment close to mom and offers warm milk and the promise of a full belly, so some babies will not take any substitute.  It can be hard for mom to feel like she is being used like a pacifier, but try to remember that the breast came first. A pacifier is a replacement for the breast when baby wants to suck continuously.

If you have any concerns about your baby’s pacifier use or any concern about breastfeeding, our video classes are a great resource, especially all troubleshooting included in Breastfeeding Basics 102. You can also reach out to us for an in-person  or e-consult for personalized help!

We’d also love for you to be a part of our Confident Breastfeeding Course. Click the image below for more information.

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Thanks for stopping by,

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Kristin Gourley, BS, IBCLC

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Sources

(1) The American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment. (Pediatrics. Vol. 138 no. 5) Retrieved from: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2016/10/20/peds.2016-2938

Nov 16
6

5 ways family and friends can support a new mom

By | Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding support, breastfeeding tips, community breastfeeding support

The village really seems to mobilize after a baby is born! After birth, mom needs to focus on healing and bonding with baby. In my video classes, moms write down their breastfeeding goals. They also write down two people they know they can turn to for breastfeeding support when they need it.  Family and friends can help reduce stress and provide support in many ways.

  1. Learn how family and friends can give a new mom the support she needs after giving birth so she can focus on bonding and breastfeeding.Bringing meals. Coordinate with family and friends to create a meal train for the family for several days or weeks. Another option is a sending them a meal delivery service to cut down on time spent planning and purchasing food.
  2. Housekeeping. The last thing Mom should be worrying about is housework when she’s bringing home a newborn (whether its her first or fifth!).  Mom’s attention should be kept on trying to rest, breastfeed, and bond with baby. Family and friends can be so helpful by helping out with a few chores around the house.   If you aren’t close by, you can send a gift certificate for a cleaning or laundry service.
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  3. Healthy snacks. If you aren’t close by, sending mom a box of Milkful lactation bars can be super helpful! They are delicious and a healthy, fast snack for mom. Use code LLINK for 15% off!
  4. Make her a breastfeeding basket. While breastfeeding, it’s nice to everything you need within arms reach. A bottle of water, snacks, an extra phone charger, nipple cream and good nursing pads like Bamboobies are some ideas of what to include. (Use code LLINK20 for 20% off Bamboobies!)
  5. Help with older children. If the mom has older kids, this is a great time for playdates so mom can rest with baby. Bringing over kid-friendly snacks and meals is also helpful.
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 What did your family and friends do that helped support you breastfeed and recover after birth? Share in the comments.

Related articles from Lactation Link:

5 Ways Grandparents can support breastfeeding

5 Ways partners can support breastfeeding

How to create a community of support for breastfeeding

 

I’ve created a free e-mail course to help you get breastfeeding started on the right foot! Click the image below for more info.

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Thanks for stopping by,

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Lindsey Shipley, RN, IBCLC

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Nov 12
9

5 ways partners can support breastfeeding

By | Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding support, breastfeeding tips, community breastfeeding support, Lactation Link team, motherhood

 

Read the top 5 way partners can support a breastfeeding mother from a mom of 3 and lactation educator. Start with a breastfeeding class…

5 ways partners can support breastfeeding

  1. Take a breastfeeding class together. The more you know, the more you can help! You can watch our video classes anytime.  Partners love our classes because they are so convenient and can be watched in the comfort of your own home.  dsc_1535
  2. Take on extra responsibilities.  Mom and baby will be spending lots of time breastfeeding.  Now plan for it. What gives her the most stress? Dishes? Cooking? Laundry? Plan to do more to help out and get creative with additional sources of help.  Consider a bi-monthly housekeeper for a few months.  Consider a meal delivery service.  Think about a diaper delivery service. 
  3. Be a cheerleader. When she is second-guessing herself and her abilities, encourage her. Help her find more resources if needed. We can help with online and in-person consultations.
  4. Baby care. Diapers/burping/babywearing/swaddling are all great things for partners to do! When baby is done feeding, you can help baby burp by holding him/her chest to chest and applying some firm upward pressure with your fingers. You can also be a diaper changing superhero! Babies thrive when being held. When baby doesn’t want to be put down and mom needs a shower, you can wear the baby in a carrier. When my baby was ready for sleep, my husband became the champion swaddler.dsc_1870dsc_1815
    {Ergobaby adapt carrier}

    {Ergobaby Adapt Carrier}

  5. Be there, whenever you can. Many Moms find it supportive when their partner will bring the baby from the bassinet to the mom each time baby wakes to feed during the night. Others really enjoy when their partner can give them a break as needed by babywearing or rocking baby.

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We couldn’t do what we do as moms if it weren’t for great support from our partners! I like to remind partners that the more they are a part of preparation and plans prior to birth, the easier it will be to help after! How did your partner support you? If you are a single mom, how did you find the help and support you needed? Share in the comments.

I’ve created a free e-mail course to help you get breastfeeding started on the right foot! Click the image below for more info.

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Thanks for stopping by,

lindsey-headshot-white-with-grey

Lindsey Shipley, RN, IBCLC

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Apr 19
5

Mama Knows Best – 3 tips to tap into your mother’s intuition

By | Breastfeeding, Classes, Recommended Products

My monthly guest blog post is live on Ergobaby today.  Talking about something that is apart of my daily teaching: Mama Knows Best.

Still, so many women ask me, “How can I feel more confident in my choices as a Mom? I am a firm believer that...

I’m giving three tips on how to feel more confident that your mother’s intuition is talking!  See the full post here.

lactation mentor with a new mom

{Nursing Pillow by Ergobaby}

Summer schedule of in-person classes are open for registration.  All classes sell out so make sure to grab your spot now.  Monthly classes in UT and a Las Vegas class on 5/21.  Want a class in your area?  Email us to request!  Video classes are available here and ready to click and watch at your convenience!

Thanks for coming by,

Lindsey Shipley, RN, IBCLC

Lindsey Headshot white with grey

 

Dec 11
5

Friday Favs – Loyal Hana

By | Breastfeeding, Classes, Recommended Products

Recently some of my clients introduced me to the brand Loyal Hana.  Today they are offering 25% off to my readers with the PROMO CODE ‘LLINK’.  It’s a collection of stylish, comfortable and functional clothes for the expectant or nursing mother.  Stylish clothes while breastfeeding?  Yep, it’s true.  Shelley, the owner and designer behind the Loyal Hana line has a vision that you don’t have to sacrifice style while pregnant or breastfeeding.  Kudos to her for providing breastfeeding mamas lots of options – from tees to sweaters to dresses and jumpsuits.  My favorite part?  All her items come equipped with built-in zippers on each side of the chest for easy access to breastfeeding.  You can go from play time to breastfeeding easily and comfortably, without completely disrobing!  Let me show you what I mean.

two moms and their children

Here are a few of my clients wearing Loyal Hana tops at a recent play date with their little ones.

mom reading a book to her child

Notice the discreet built-in zipper on the ‘Alex’ sweater in grey (Upper left shoulder).

baby breastfeeding with a breastfeeding sweater

Jenica is using the side-lying position to breastfeed her sweet baby girl, and the ‘Alex’ sweater maintains a lot of coverage throughout.  No untucking/re-tucking undershirts or stretching out your top by pulling it up or down for breastfeeding access.

baby reading a book with its mom

Jessica and Lily easily go from playtime to feeding session with the Audrey top.

baby breastfeeding with breastfeeding sweater

Jessica is using the cross-cradle position here (nursing pillow is Ergobaby).

lactation consultant with two moms

 

Hope you enjoyed this post and take a minute to checkout Loyal Hana’s line and don’t forget to use promo code ‘LLINK’ for 25% off your total purchase.  Learn about more breastfeeding positions in my video breastfeeding classes and in-person breastfeeding classes.  Come say hi on instagram today. Photography in this post by Janae Kristen photography.

Thanks for coming by today,

Lindsey Shipley, RN, IBCLC

Lindsey Shipley with black jacket

Dec 08
6
mom learning how to breastfeed correctly

Tuesday Tools – Both Hands Make a “C”

By | Breastfeeding, Classes, Features, Recommended Products

In my Breastfeeding Basics class (offered in-person and online) I spend about ten minutes going over latch.  I focus so much teaching here because I find that the majority of my personal consultations are spent improving or correcting a poor latch.  Difficulty with latch is also one of the top 3 reasons mothers wean their infants.

Today for my Tuesday Tools I’m sharing “Both Hands Make a C” when learning the cross-cradle breastfeeding position (one of my favorites to teach).

women in a class

Here I am in a recent Breastfeeding Basics class teaching the attendees about making a C with their hands when latching their infants.  (Nursing Pillow is from Ergobaby).

baby being breastfed

Here you can see one hand is ‘making a C’ supporting the breast.  Keep in mind not to get too close to the nipple or areola.  You don’t want to get in baby’s way!  You can see the other hand is ‘making a C’ by supporting baby’s neck and her fingers are placed loosely below the infant’s ears.  The palm is resting in-between the shoulder blades.

Hope this helps!  More great tips like this in my breastfeeding video classes – Breastfeeding Basics, Intermediate Breastfeeding, and Pumping and Storing Breastmilk.  Once you purchase the classes they can viewed over and over and they never expire!  In-person class dates coming up are 12/10, 1/16, 2/20, 3/12, and 4/9.  If you’d like me to come to your area, I would love to travel for a class size of 5-10. Email me to arrange.

Thanks for coming by,

Lindsey Shipley, RN, IBCLC

Lindsey head shot

Nov 25
5

What to do if breastfeeding hurts – Positioning, Latch, and the Baby’s Suck

By | Breastfeeding, Classes, Recommended Products

One of the top 3 reasons mothers wean is nipple pain/soreness (1).  When breastfeeding is hurting, we need to revisit and master the basics!  There are 3 things I want to share today to help make breastfeeding more comfortable – Positioning, Latch, and the Baby’s Suck.  I go over all these things in detail in my in-person and video breastfeeding classes.

Positioning

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Get in a comfortable position so your back and arms will be supported.  My favorite nursing pillow is curved so it naturally puts baby in a tummy-to-tummy position.  So many moms make the mistake of placing baby in a tummy-to-ceiling position.  This makes it so baby has to turn their head to breastfeed.  Try turning your head and swallowing – its not as comfortable!  This pillow does a lot of the work for you – my clients love it in my office appts.  Also pull baby in close so there is no space in between you and baby.

Latch

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I talk about both hands making a “C” when it comes to latch.  One hand supporting the breast, and one hand supporting baby’s head and neck.  Make sure not to crowd the nipple/areola, this will prevent the infant from getting enough breast tissue in their mouth to feed efficiently and pain-free.  Make sure to be patient for baby to open wide.  A lot of times Moms are anxious to “get it right” and have difficulty waiting for baby to get a very open mouth.  Opening wide will solve a lot of problems and decrease pain.  Once baby is on, check to see if the chin in touching your breast and if the bottom and top lip are flared out.  These are signs of a good latch.

The Baby’s Suck

After baby is latched, check to see if the baby’s tongue is thrusting out underneath.  You also want to see the jaw going up and down.  After let-down occurs, listen for some audible swallowing.  A good feed typically lasts for 10-20 min.  Many infants take both breasts at a feed.

 

I hope this is helpful!  There is a great promo going on this week for 30% off all of our classes!  It’s the biggest sale of the year – the classes are well-priced to begin with so we don’t run promos very often!  Just sign up for our newsletter to get the promo code straight to your inbox (We’ll be sending one out this evening).  Come say hi on instagram today!  As always I’m here for home/hospital visits (UT-based), as well as e-consults via secure video chat.

Thanks for coming by,

Lindsey, RN, IBCLC

Lindsey head shot

References

1. Hoover, K., & Wilson-Clay, B. (2013). The breastfeeding atlas (5th ed.). Manchaca, TX: LactNews Press

2. Mohrbacher, N. & Stock, J. (2003). The breastfeeding answer book. Schaumburg, IL: La Leche League International.

Oct 12
5
Baby breastfeeding with pillow

Ergobaby + Lactation Link

By | Breastfeeding, Classes, Recommended Products

I’m excited to be featured as a guest contributor over on Ergobaby’s blog today.  The post is titled, “Happy Mommy, Happy Baby. Top 2 ‘Must-dos’ with Ergobaby”.  Wanted to share a sneak peek with you.

Skin-to-skin & Positioning

In the post today, I’m discussing skin-to-skin contact and positioning.  These are such important parts of building a successful breastfeeding relationship.  The great thing about breastfeeding is it cuts down on the amount of “things” we require to feed or care for our baby.  So when I recommend something, it is typical something I’ve used myself as a Mom and something I know to be very useful for many other breastfeeding Moms.  I used the Ergobaby carrier with my kids and now I use the Ergobaby nursing pillow in my office appts.  My clients love it because it has a unique curve design that acts as a wedge and helps keep baby facing Mom in the tummy-to-tummy position.

Lactation consultant helping mom breastfeed baby

Baby breastfeeding with pillow

Mom with baby

Office essentials for my clients

Here is a little look at a few essentials I keep stocked in my cabinet for office consultations.  The Ergo Baby nursing pillow, Undercover Mama nursing tanks, and the ‘Supermom’ nursing bra from Simple Wishes to name a few!  I have discount codes on these items in my Favorites section.

Baby cabinet

I hope you guys enjoy the full post over on Ergobaby.  Let me know what you think today on instagram and enter to win a baby carrier and nursing pillow from Ergobaby!  My video breastfeeding classes are available at your convenience.  I have in-person classes coming up in UT on 10/24, 11/5, and 11/14.  I’ve also been invited to teach 2 classes in the Denver area next week — Breastfeeding Basics on 10/21 and Intermediate Breastfeeding on 10/22.  Space is limited, must be registered to secure your spot!  I’d love to meet you in class.

I’ve created this great e-mail course to help you get breastfeeding started on the right foot! Click the image below for more info.

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Thanks for coming by today,

xo ~ Lindsey, RN, IBCLC

Lindsey Shipley - Lactation Consultant