Milky and Sunshine

01/04/2024

With the start of the new year and the addition of several new followers, I feel it's time to introduce myself again. My name is Rebecca and I'm a professional breastfeeding support provider in the Midland, Saginaw, and Bay City areas.

I'm a mother of two lively kids - a busy 4-year-old and a spicy 2-year-old. I'm also a Pediatric Physical Therapist and the founder of Milky and Sunshine!

I homeschool my eldest child, and my youngest joins in on the fun too. I absolutely adore watching them learn and am grateful to be a part of their journey.

Our family loves to go on adventures, both locally and out of state. We have a trip planned to Texas this year to watch the solar eclipse!

I am continually amazed by the paths life takes us down. When I was younger, I never really gravitated towards children. That was my sister's calling; she loved babysitting and even talked about owning a daycare. I, on the other hand, was an animal lover and was determined to become a horse trainer. However, as I pursued that dream, I discovered my passion for helping children with disabilities. I decided to switch gears and become a pediatric physical therapist.

During my graduate school years and early in my career as a Physical Therapist, I used to say that I disliked teaching. The truth is, I was afraid of it. I didn't feel that I possessed enough knowledge, and I thought I wouldn't be good at it. However, I discovered a passion for teaching parents. I enjoy teaching them about their child's disability, but most importantly, their abilities, strengths, and how to support them as they continue to grow and overcome challenges.

Now, I teach parents and soon-to-be parents about breastfeeding, the process of labor and birth, and their rights within the medical system. My aim is to empower them to ask questions and trust their instincts when faced with medical decisions. What I teach is about much more than just transferring milk from a mother's body to their child's body. I find it extremely fulfilling to see birth and breastfeeding be taken back by the parents instead of being controlled by the medical system.

What are some unexpected paths life has taken you down? Let me know in the comments!

12/31/2023

Are you expecting a baby within the first half of 2024? Are you feeling fully prepared for your birth and breastfeeding journey?

Access to knowledge and a trusted support system is crucial to reducing the fear and anxiety around labor, birth, and breastfeeding. Being fully informed and prepared can greatly reduce the chance of experiencing common birth and breastfeeding complications.

That's where I come in. I am a Thompson Method Breastfeeding Educator, helping women learn how to breastfeed and empowering them to trust themselves and their maternal instincts BEFORE their baby even arrives.

My Beautiful Breastfeeding Program is a prenatal breastfeeding course teaching women everything about breastfeeding AND supporting them in achieving their breastfeeding goals every step of the way from pregnancy through weening.

To kick off the new year, I am giving 25% off to the first 3 women to sign up for my January class with Inspire Pelvic Physical Therapy.

**Spaces go Quick**

DM Me to Book NOW!

12/18/2023

✨5 Key Elements to Include in Your Birth and Breastfeeding Plan✨

#1: Induction of Labor and your birth plan options
If a healthcare provider recommends induction of labor, it's important to ask them why. You have the right to be fully informed of the benefits, risks, and alternatives of this recommendation before making a decision. When asking for information about the risks, it's important to ask for the true risk, not just the relative risk. For example, you could ask "What is the rate of stillbirth at 41 weeks, and what is the rate at 42 weeks?" (0.06% at 41 weeks and 0.1% at 42 weeks) instead of accepting a statement like "The risk of stillbirth doubles from 41 to 42 weeks." This will help you make a more informed decision about your care.

#2: Routine Vaginal Examinations
It is important for women to know that they have the right to decline routine vaginal examinations. As with any procedure, there are benefits, risks, and alternatives to vaginal examination. Unfortunately, many women are not aware of their right to say “No” if they feel uncomfortable with routine or unnecessary vaginal examinations. To address this issue, we recommend that women include their preferences regarding vaginal examinations in their unique birth and breastfeeding plan.

#3: Routine Procedure
When planning to give birth in a hospital, it's important to know that hospitals prioritize efficiency in processing patients quickly. As a result, many routine procedures are performed immediately following birth, during the crucial time when newborns should be initiating breastfeeding using their amazing mammalian instincts. Dr. Robyn's research has shown that this disruption to the natural process can lead to statistically significant increases in early breastfeeding complications.

#4: Colostrum and the First Breastfeed
The time when a newborn starts breastfeeding after birth is unique to every baby, but it generally begins within the first hour and lasts for 2-3 hours (the 3 Golden Hours). It is important to think about your preferences for the first breastfeed and mention them in your birth plan so that your baby can have the best possible chance of getting your colostrum.

#5: Unexpected or Emergency Situations
We encourage women to avoid unnecessary medical interventions as much as possible, as they can disrupt the natural birthing process and increase the risk of further interventions. However, it's essential to understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and a discussion may be necessary. In such cases, the woman, her partner, or advocate should have the opportunity to make an informed decision after considering the benefits, risks, and alternatives. It's crucial to include your preferences for such discussions in your birth and breastfeeding plan.

12/11/2023

✨Do I need to have a birth and breastfeeding plan?✨

Preparing for birth and breastfeeding is crucial to ensure a positive and successful experience for both the mother and baby. As a breastfeeding educator and advocate, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being well-informed and prepared. The events that occur during labor and immediately following birth can significantly affect the outcome of initial breastfeeding. Attending a quality prenatal class can help you feel more confident and empowered as you embark on this new journey. Finding time to learn how to breastfeed after the birth of your baby can be very challenging, particularly when faced with common early breastfeeding complications. Once you have all the information, creating a birth and breastfeeding plan can help the day run more smoothly and allow you to make informed decisions if things don't go completely as planned.

Did you know that studies show vaginal births are more likely for those that utilize a birth plan? Other positive outcomes also include shorter labor, higher labor and birth satisfaction, and earlier breastfeeding!

Remember, each birth and breastfeeding experience is unique, but with the proper guidance and knowledge, you can overcome any obstacle that may arise. So, let's prepare together and embrace this beautiful and transformative experience!

Please leave your comments below on anything you feel is important to include in your birth and breastfeeding plan!

12/08/2023

No woman should ever feel alone or helpless in their breastfeeding journey!

I’ve been there - with my firstborn, I struggled alone in my breastfeeding journey for months.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Access to knowledge and a trusted support system is crucial to reducing the fear and anxiety around labor, birth, and breastfeeding.

That's why I am a Thompson Method Breastfeeding Educator, helping women learn how to breastfeed and empowering them to trust themselves and their maternal instincts.

My Beautiful Breastfeeding Program is a prenatal breastfeeding course teaching women everything about breastfeeding AND supporting them in achieving their breastfeeding goals every step of the way.

I have limited spots available for my January program at Inspire Pelvic Physical Therapy.

**Spaces go Quick**
DM Me to Book NOW!

12/08/2023

If you are looking for a fun date night while benefitting a great organization, check this out!

Have you bought your tickets for Sunset Sips tomorrow night? Purchase tickets today for a $5

11/29/2023

I sometimes get asked, "Are the 3 Golden Hours still important if I'm not planning to exclusively breastfeed?"

YES!

The immediate hours after birth, also known as the "3 golden hours," are incredibly vital to your baby's wellbeing. During this time, your newborn is transitioning from being inside your body to living outside in the world. Being close to you, smelling your scent, and hearing your voice make this transition easier on their little bodies. Holding your baby skin-to-skin against your chest has been shown to improve their temperature regulation, breathing rate, heart rate, and blood pressure. It also increases their glucose levels, reduces stress hormones, and helps them reach a state of quiet alertness.

The aim of the 3 Golden Hours is to keep healthy babies with healthy mothers together to support this transition to extrauterine life. While it also helps to support breastfeeding success, if you are not planning to breastfeed it is still important to keep your baby with you and delay routine procedures and unnecessary handling of your baby to reduce the chance of your baby struggling during this monumental transition.

If you plan to feed your baby with a bottle from the beginning, it's essential to understand the natural processes that occur during this time. It will help you support your baby's immature digestive system and ensure your baby's health. Colostrum is a highly nutritious substance but is low in volume. During the first 72-96 hours after birth, babies tend to feed frequently but in small quantities. When bottle-feeding, it's vital to mimic the process of gradually drawing down colostrum in small volumes to reduce the demand on the digestive system. This helps the lining of the digestive system to seal and mature with each feed. To prevent overwhelming your baby with a high volume of milk, it is suggested to avoid gravity feeding.

Every family will have a unique feeding journey and we are here to support all of them!

How did you feed your baby to help them thrive? Let us know below as we celebrate ALL feeding journeys!

❤️Exclusively Breastfed
🧡Doner Milk
💛Formula
💚Combination
💙Exclusively Pumped
💜Tube Fed

11/29/2023

Is your body feeling to stress of pregnancy? Chiropractic services may help!

Dr. Faithe is so proud to offer prenatal specific care to expecting mothers. She wants every woman to have a great pregnancy, a positive birth and labor experience, and a smooth postpartum recovery; especially those that have a history of birth trauma.

Webster technique is a safe, effective, and gentle chiropractic approach to address pelvic imbalances and subluxations in an expecting mother. Focusing on pelvic alignment, removing ligament tension, and releasing muscle strain, Webster technique works to physically prepare an expecting mother for the labor and delivery process.

Webster Technique has been proven to reduce the effects of pelvic imbalances which can affect the mother's comfort and baby's imbalance. Pelvic imbalance can lead to stalled labor and unnecessary intervention during the labor process, can cause uterine nerve interference, and may hinder a baby's ability to find ideal positioning in utero. When a mother's pelvis is balanced going into labor and delivery it contributes to a safer and easier birth.

Call us at (989)667-9700 with any questions or to schedule your next spinal check up.

11/24/2023

Long days and nights alone feeding a newborn is tough. I know with my firstborn, between sleep deprivation and insecurity, all the doubts crept in: "Was my baby getting enough milk? Am I doing this right? Why is my baby so fussy at my breast?"

Through all this, one thought kept coming to mind... "There has to be a better way!"

And there is!

That's why I am a Thompson Method Breastfeeding Educator, helping women learn how to breastfeed and empowering them to trust themselves and their maternal instincts.

My Beautiful Breastfeeding Program is a prenatal breastfeeding course teaching women everything about breastfeeding as well as providing support to them from pregnancy through weaning.

Don't miss this opportunity! If you subscribe to my monthly newsletter during Small Business Saturday, you will receive a 25% off coupon code good for any of my group or individualized classes AND it can be utilized anytime over the next year! Whether you are currently pregnant and want to breastfeed OR thinking you may become pregnant in the coming months, you won't want to miss this offer!

Go to www.milkyandsunshine.com and sign up at the bottom of my page!

11/24/2023

As Thanksgiving is coming to a close, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for your support of my small business, Milky and Sunshine. Your encouragement has helped me to continue my mission of promoting breastfeeding education and support for new mothers.

As a breastfeeding mother myself, I understand firsthand the challenges that can arise during this time. That's why I founded Milky and Sunshine, to provide a safe and supportive space for mothers to learn and grow together.

Your support has allowed me to expand my reach and offer more resources to mothers in need, and for that, I am truly grateful. Thank you for believing in me and my business, and for helping to create a brighter future for breastfeeding mothers everywhere.

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.