Cooper County WIC

09/17/2026

09/11/2026

09/11/2026

We talk about weaning like it’s a logistical problem How do I drop feeds? How do I manage my milk supply? What will my child eat instead? How do I help them emotionally?

While those things matter, there is another person going through a major transition who often gets left out of the conversation: The mother

Weaning isn’t just the end of breastfeeding. Clinically, it is a hormonal and neurophysiological transition. During lactation, prolactin and oxytocin are part of a complex system supporting milk production, milk ejection, bonding, stress regulation and maternal behavior

As breastfeeding decreases, that system changes. Ovarian hormones are changing too, particularly as ovulation and menstrual cycling return or become more established. Estrogen and progesterone fluctuate again, and for some women, those hormonal shifts can have a very noticeable effect on mood and the nervous system

For some this can amplify or trigger symptoms of:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability or emotional volatility
• Intrusive thoughts
• OCD symptoms
• PMDD or significant premenstrual symptoms
• Sleep disruption and nervous-system dysregulation

We shouldn’t treat weaning like flipping a switch and assume the mother’s brain and body will simply carry on as pre pregnancy. This is a recalibration

We can reduce vulnerability during that transition by:
🌱 Gradually reducing breastfeeding when possible rather than abruptly stopping
😴 Protecting sleep as much as possible. Sleep deprivation and hormonal changes together can be brutal
🍳 Paying attention to nutrition, including adequate calories, protein, iron, B vitamins, omega-3 fats
☀️ Sunshine
🏃‍♀️ Exercise
📅 Tracking menstrual cycles to recognize patterns in mood and symptoms
💊 Reviewing medications with your HCP. Hormonal changes can affect symptoms and medication needs, and some medications may require additional consideration during or after weaning
🧠 Knowing what to watch for: persistent sadness, escalating anxiety, intrusive thoughts that feel frightening or difficult to control, significant irritability, hopelessness, obsessive symptoms or a feeling that you don’t feel like yourself

09/11/2026

Cluster feeding is a normal part of infant growth and development. They will go through days and even weeks where they want to be in the breast for literally hours. There is nothing wrong with your milk supply. There is nothing wrong with your baby. They are growing and developing at an exponentially speedy rate. When possible, settle in. Grab your remote or phone charger. Have snacks and a water bottle handy. It’s a great excuse to leave the dishes and the laundry for another time or person. You’ve got this. Just keep going.

My first was born the end of July in 2016. We got the full Olympic tv package and watched every event at random times while up with the baby. I always tell my families with babies under 3 months that they are on Vegas rules: you eat when you’re hungry and sleep when you’re tired and social conventions go out the window. You want to eat breakfast at 10pm? Great. You want to take a nap at 11am? Great. You will live your life temporarily in 2-3 hour windows. But this, too, shall pass. It’s a temporary stage.
breastfedbabies breastfedbaby breastfeedingmom lactationsupport

09/02/2026

Pumping numbers and images can mess with your confidence if no one explains the context. When you pump in place of a full breastfeeding session, the average total volume for most is 2–4 oz combined per session. Some bodies make more, some less, and both can be completely normal depending on baby’s age, how often milk is removed, and storage capacity.

When you pump after breastfeeding, the expectation shifts. This is “dessert milk,” not a full feed. Your baby ate dinner and you’re pumping dessert. Many parents see ½–2 oz total, sometimes even just drops, especially in the early months. That doesn’t mean baby didn’t get enough. It means baby already did their job.

Time of day matters more than most people realize 🌅
• Morning pumps often yield the most milk due to higher prolactin levels in the MOTN. The higher water content also helps them p**p during the day
• Afternoon and evening pumps are commonly smaller. This is normal physiology, not a supply problem. There’s less water content in the milk to help baby sleep longer and not p**p over night
• Milk supply works on a 24-hour cycle, not a single pump session. One “low” pump does not define your supply

Baby’s age, weight, and feeding patterns matter too 👶
• Newborns typically take 1–3 oz per feeding, but they feed often, so pump volumes may look smaller and more frequent.
• Older babies can take 2–5 oz per feeding depending on how they prefer to feed and your breast storage capacity. Their total 24 hour volume is what matters, not necessarily each feeding
• Babies who “snack” all day often leave less milk for the pump than babies who take fewer, bigger feeds. Both patterns are normal.
• A larger baby does not automatically mean you should be pumping huge volumes. Intake is about stomach capacity, feeding frequency, and efficiency, not just weight.

There is no single “normal” pump volume. Normal is individualized. The goal is not to chase a number, but to make sure milk removal matches your baby’s needs over the course of the day

09/02/2026

This is one of the most important things I want parents to understand before considering a tongue tie release. When a restrictive frenulum is released, the procedure can remove a physical restriction and give the tongue more freedom to move

But more movement does not automatically mean:

• better tongue strength
• better suck coordination
• better endurance
• better suck-swallow-breathe coordination
• better oral motor patterns
• better ability to maintain a seal
• more efficient milk transfer

If I’ve been moving with a cast on my arm for months and someone removes the cast, my arm may suddenly have more range of motion. That doesn’t mean I immediately have the strength, coordination, or motor control to use that new range well

The same concept applies to the tongue. Baby has had limited tongue movement for a long time. Since 8 weeks in utero!!! Their nervous system has learned how to feed with the movement they have available

After a release, the tongue may have more potential. Now the baby has to learn how to use it. Making sure baby is READY for release by strengthening the system and helping teach coordination can help improve the outcome once a release gives more range of motion.

08/26/2026

One of the best pieces of advice we can give is Feed the baby, not the freezer 🫶🏾

No further caption needed.