Beyond the Bump

01/27/2023

This is such great news for in-home lactation support! Sydney is amazing and I think every new family should schedule with her. I had a lactation consultant come to my house within hours of discharge and it saved our breastfeeding journey.

I am partnering with The Lactation Network (TLN) to allow direct billing of services for some insurance plans. To learn more or to verify insurance coverage, mothers can visit this link: thecaregiversmeltingpot.com/coverage
Click on the link on my webpage to request insurance verification. The form takes less than 2 minutes to fill out. Pre-approved visits covered by insurance through TLN are at no cost to you (guaranteed). For those who are not approved or who are uninsured, I still accept self-pay cleints and I will continue to provide you with a superbill.

Essentially any preventative or problem-based visit is covered as long as the mother is currently lactating, pregnant with the intention to breastfeed, or inducing lactation/ re-lactating.
Many families find tremendous value in establishing care prior to delivery and receiving care throughout the entire breastfeeding relationship. TLN's guarantees that no mother who is pre-approved will receive a bill (even if your insurance doesn't reimburse them).
What does this mean for YOU?
You can seek preventative lactation consultations throughout your entire breastfeeding experience (IN YOUR OWN HOME) without worrying about a bill.

Here are some reasons you may benefit from seeing a lactation consultant:
🌟You are pregnant and would like to prepare for breastfeeding early
🌟You want to learn how to hand express colostrum in the final weeks of your pregnancy
🌟You just delivered your baby or returned home from the hospital and would like education or support
🌟You are preparing to go back to work (ideally the first back-to-work visit occurs at least 4 weeks prior to return date)
🌟Flange fitting
🌟You want a lactation consultant to teach you how to use your pump properly and maximize milk output
🌟Your latch is painful
🌟You latch has caused ni**le damage
🌟Your baby is refusing to breastfeed
🌟Your baby is not gaining weight or gaining weight very slowly
🌟You suspect your baby has a tongue or lip tie
🌟Your baby has elevated bilirubin levels or jaundice
🌟You are concerned about your milk supply
🌟You are preparing to wean
🌟You want to re-lactate or induce lactation

Contact me to learn more!

01/09/2023

Spread the word. The rock n play has been recalled because it’s unsafe.

Consumers should stop using the Rock ‘n Play immediately and contact Fisher-Price for a refund or voucher. It is illegal to sell or distribute the recalled sleepers.

11/18/2022

Things have been shifting and changing around here in my home. With these shifts I'm prioritizing where to put my energy. The website is closing but I still am offering babywearing consultations and carrier rentals by email. Just email [email protected] to arrange your consultation. Thanks for your understanding. Happy wearing!

07/28/2022

Join me for the next babywearing class happening August 2nd, 11-1pm at .

We will be talking about babies stages as well as how that looks through your babywearing journey together. As well as, how to get a proper fit that is beneficial and comfortable for both baby and the wearer. I will have time to troubleshoot any issues you may be having with your own carrier.
Bring your own carrier(s) or you can borrow one from my library. Carriers are also available to rent, so you can try before you buy.

Cost is $20

I hope to see you there! Link in bio to register for the class or at https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=24757416&appointmentType=31264983

07/19/2022

It's hot and time to head to the pool or beach! 🏖 Make time in the water with your baby easier with a carrier you can wear in the water.

We have a few carriers that are designed to go in the water you can rent for 2 weeks or up to 4 weeks.

We also have many other carriers some that are better for the warm weather you can also rent out in several different styles. This is a great way to try something before you buy.

To arrange a carrier rental DM to set up a 30 minute Fit Check to ensure proper use for $30. The rental fee is $20 for 2 weeks and a deposit for the cost of the carrier is required but refunded upon the return of the carrier.

***Please note that water carriers are not intended to be used for swimming, and do not go under water with baby or wear on a water vessel.***

If interested in renting a carrier you may comment below or DM to set up an appointment.

07/02/2022

New guidelines for safe sleep.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released updated safe sleep guidelines - the first update in five years. While the updated policy continues to emphasize key points from the previous version (e.g. back sleep, avoiding bedsharing), the policy has also added new guidance around weighted blankets, weighted swaddles and wearable monitors.

Get more info about the updated guidelines: https://www.babycenter.com/aap-safe-sleep-policy-weighted-swaddles-sids?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=babysleep

06/21/2022

Some great information about the new AAP guidelines for safe sleep.

Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics released the 2022 safe sleep guidelines! There have been many updates to the previous guidelines. I urge you to read through the first few tables. Table 1 lists definitions of terms, table 2 is a summary of recommendations with different levels of strength of these recommendations, and table 3 lists the safe sleep guidelines that have been substantially revised since 2016. Here are a few notable changes in the guidelines:

-It is recommended that weighted blankets, weighted sleepers, weighted swaddles, or other weighted objects not be placed on or near the sleeping infant.

-When an infant exhibits signs of attempting to roll (which usually occurs at 3–4 mo but may occur earlier), swaddling is no longer appropriate because it could increase the risk of suffocation if the swaddled infant rolls to the prone position. (To clarify after Dr. Moon's previous 8 week recommendation which is not in line AAP guidance)

-Given the questionable benefit of hat use for the prevention of hypothermia and the risk of overheating, it is advised not to place hats on infants when indoors except in the first hours of life or in the NICU.

-Sleep surfaces with inclines of >10 degrees are unsafe for infant sleep.

-It is recommended that infants sleep in the parents’ room, close to the parents’ bed, but on a separate surface designed for infants, ideally for at least the first 6 mo. (Removing the previous recommendation of “ideally for the first year of life”)

-The AAP understands and respects that many parents choose to routinely bed share for a variety of reasons, including facilitation of breastfeeding, cultural preferences, and belief that it is better and safer for their infant. However, based on the evidence, we are unable to recommend bed sharing under any circumstances. (This one goes on further)

-Direct-to-consumer heart rate and pulse oximetry monitoring devices, including wearable monitors, are sold as consumer wellness devices. A consumer wellness device is defined by the FDA as one intended “for maintaining or encouraging a healthy lifestyle and is unrelated to the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, prevention, or treatment of a disease or condition.” Thus, these devices are not required to meet the same regulatory requirements as medical devices and, by the nature of their FDA designation, are not to be used to prevent sleep-related deaths. Although use of these monitors may give parents peace of mind, and there is no contraindication to using these monitors, data are lacking that would support their use to reduce the risk of these deaths. There is also concern that use of these monitors will lead to parent complacency and decreased adherence to safe sleep guidelines. A family’s decision to use monitors at home should not be considered a substitute for following AAP safe sleep guidelines.

Read through the full AAP publication release here:
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2022-057990/188304/Sleep-Related-Infant-Deaths-Updated-2022?fs=e?autologincheck=redirected

06/19/2022

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads out there!

I always love helping dads find their comfort wearing their children, and they always look so proud.

Are you babywearing today while you celebrate?

06/19/2022

"They don’t tell you about missing the newborn phase. You hear about the rough late nights and early mornings but you don’t hear about how much you’ll crave that intoxicating newborn scent after it’s gone.

How is it possible to miss someone so much even when they’re in your arms?

With every sized up diaper and onesie too small, with that hospital bracelet sitting on the shelf, and seeing them hit their milestones, your heart breaks a little...but it also doesn’t.

Parenting is funny. You want them to grow and you want them out of certain phases and when they do, you are simultaneously left with excitement and joy and a heart ripped to pieces.

You’re told 'it goes by fast' and you can’t help but nod or roll your eyes but when you finally live it you quickly realize ⏤ it goes by fast. Faster than anything you can imagine.

So as you’re kissing your newborn’s cheek for the 300th time tonight, be sure to breathe in that scent a little more and when you’re on the 23rd round of top chef in your toddler’s kitchen, ask them for one more delicious plastic cupcake.

Because time is a thief and it goes by fast."

Credit:

06/15/2022

✨ In most cases, right after your baby is born, they will be placed immediately on your chest and covered with warm blankets. This gives you the opportunity to cuddle up with babe, see their sweet face for the first time, and begin 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 for the next hour or two.⁠
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✨ Skin-to-skin contact releases oxytocin for both mom and baby to help you both 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺. Babies who are placed in skin-to-skin contact within the first few minutes following birth 𝗰𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 during the first hour or two of life. ⁠
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✨ Skin-to-skin contact helps baby 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Studies have shown that it is superior for preventing hypothermia in newborns, even when compared to the babies being cared for in a warmer or dressed and placed in a crib. As baby rests skin-to-skin on your chest, hearing your heartbeat again quickly comforts them and makes the transition to the outside world gentler. This also helps to regulates baby’s heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and blood sugar. ⁠
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✨ Skin-to-skin helps promote baby’s 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Research has shown that, given the chance, many babies only minutes old will crawl up to the breast from the parent’s abdomen, latch on, and start breastfeeding all by themselves. The amniotic fluid that coats baby and your skin smells and tastes familiar to them, and this will attract your baby to the breast and encourage their first feeding attempts.⁠
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✨ Skin-to-skin contact encourages your baby to eat often, which helps to establish and maintain your 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗸 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 if breastfeeding.⁠
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✨ If for some reason you are unable to hold your baby, then your 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻. Skin-to-skin is a great way for baby to bond. Babies love to hear and feel comforted by the voices they’re used to.⁠
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✨ 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 babies and babies born via 𝗖-𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 can receive all of the benefits from skin-to-skin as well!⁠