The Baby Lady

https://www.facebook.com/100064429762020/posts/725535479604104/?mibextid=Nif5oz

📣📣📣 Thank you to Dr. Stu @birthinginstincts for always championing midwives as the experts in normal, physiological birth! When labor and birth proceed undisturbed, unmeddled-with, and without the onslaught of those unnecessary interventions that masquerade under the benign title of “routine,” birth emergencies are rare, particularly in the out-of-hospital setting. Midwives are skilled in the understanding of what constitutes normal pregnancy, birth and their variations, and are therefore uniquely positioned through their provision of care to reduce neonatal, maternal, and infant mortality and morbidity. The tired line “Thank God you were in the hospital because you/your baby would have died at home” is an excuse designed to hide the fact that the very care touted as life-saving was the process that led to the emergency. It’s time to take back birth and make midwifery mainstream again. Reposted • @realalexclark NEW EPISODE OF THE SPILLOVER PODCAST: “The Ultimate Home Birth Episode: Breech, VBAC, Twins & More!” - with @birthinginstincts out NOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Real Alex Clark YouTube!☕️✨ An OBGYN sounds the alarm on what he believes to be a corrupt medicalized system in America when it comes to labor and delivery. Dr. Stu Fischbein left the traditional hospital setting to assist midwives in the home in order to put the power back in the hands of mothers. Dr. Stu answers listener submitted questions on everything from VBACS, breech, hemorrhaging, to twin birth, and more. It’s the ULTIMATE home birth episode. #midwife #midwifery #midwifelife #midwiferycare #midwiferymodelofcare #homebirth #communitybasedbirth #outofhospitalbirth #midwives #midwivesmakeadifference #midwivessavelives #midwiferyskills #midwiferywisdom #midwiferywisdomcollective

https://theconversation.com/we-wont-get-real-equality-until-we-price-breastmilk-and-treat-breastfeeding-as-work-216623

We won’t get real equality until we price breastmilk, and treat breastfeeding as work The report of the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce mentions birth only twice, and breastfeeding not at all. Yet, properly valued, breastmilk contributes $154 per litre to the Australian economy.

Are we hooked on tracking everything and is it beneficial for our baby and for parents? Please let me know your thoughts on this.

I constantly read questions from new or expecting parents about which is the best baby tracking apps. I can understand the want for a recommendation based on the vast number that are available. When I read through the bio’s of the more popular ones, the sell is; peace of mind, creating a routine, early detection of potential problems and all this in a neat graph for a glance at your baby’s life.

What I see during a lactation consultation, is a parent that is often more concerned about starting the breastfeeding timer on the correct breast than looking at what the baby is telling them what they need.

Behavioural and social psychologists say we need more research on the psychology of tracking. Majority of tracking evidence is also based on fitness industries. One of the biggest appeals to tracking they say is comparison with others. This does not necessarily mean that you are sharing your breastfeeding tracking with others, but you are benchmarking it to the “norms” that the app recommends, and it is a sense of control. A baby throws our lives into chaos and control is our goal.

Tracking isn’t a new concept; it has been done since the beginning of time. I am definitely not suggesting that all tracking is stopped, but maybe a different way of tracking. During my lactation consult I discuss a few ways to get to know your baby without a tracking app. The addiction is real and it can be really tough in the beginning but definitely see results.
This approach is gaining more traction when we look at guidelines changing that include responsive feeding, the connected parent and a few things like this. Some of the things we chat about:

o Delete the App
o Take off your watch, remove the clocks from your walls, take off the clock from your phone home page. If you are on maternity leave and don’t need to be at work or school at a specific time, take some time off the clock watching.
o Look at your baby before you start the feed, what is their body language saying? Are they relaxed, are they pulling their legs up, are they making a poopy face?
o During the feed what does the latch feel like, close your eyes, tell me what you are feeling.
o Is baby nutritively or non-nutritively sucking?
o What is the baby telling us when they are moving like that?
o Let’s look at ways we know baby has had enough.
o What tracking is important?

Happy feeding, You got this

Such a great morning chatting starting solids with so many parents. You Got This!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158500427752350&id=255406322349&mibextid=Nif5oz

😉Why FIL doesn't need a cookie!

I am often asked what can I take or eat to increase my supply. I see this asked on numerous platforms on social media. Let’s take a look at a few things.
The first question you should always ask is why do you think that your supply is low? If you are worried about your supply or if you don’t think that your baby is getting enough you should contact your lactation consultant for an appointment. If you truly do have low supply, it is best to find out the cause of the low supply and treat the cause, trying increase supply without treating the cause is like putting a band aid on a bullet wound.
Are you wanting to increase supply to help with pumping milk for back to work?
Are you an adoptive parent looking to induce lactation?

It is important to understand how milk supply works in order to increase your supply. Meet FIL (Feedback inhibitor of Lactation)🐱‍💻 a small whey protein in the milk. The role of FIL appears to be to slow milk synthesis when the breast is full and more FIL is present and speed up milk synthesis when there is less FIL and the breast is empty. Prolactin presence is also important. Prolactin receptors on the walls of the lactocytes allow prolactin in the blood stream in to stimulate the synthesis of milk. When the alveolus is full of milk the walls stretch and change the shape of the receptor not allowing the prolactin in so the milk synthesis slows. When the milk is emptied from the breast the receptors return to normal shape again allowing prolactin in. It is the removal of the milk that helps create more milk. Supply and demand.
Then storage capacity plays a role, which is different in every parent.

Lets look at 4 popular galactagogues (food / drug promotes flow breast milk).
✨ Fenugreek – This is popular in many cookies, teas and bars. The research shows a large placebo effect when taking fenugreek. The mind is a powerful weapon. Why I don’t promote fenugreek containing products is the side effect profile. It can cause GI effects like flatulence, the most common complaint from parents, as well as diarrhea and vomiting. It can worsen asthma, caution must be taken if you are on Warfarin. It is contra indicated in people with diabetes and thyroid conditions. There is a cross reaction with those allergic to chickpeas, peanuts and legumes. Just because it is herbal doesn’t mean that it is safe to take. Please be cautious.
✨ Moringa – This has some trials showing benefit over and above the placebo effect which is positive. Many call Moringa a super food. Encouragingly no adverse side effects have been shown in any of these trials. It is still important to chat to your health care provider before adding anything to your diet if you are taking medications.
✨ Oatmeal – A yummy option, no research has been done that I know of on oatmeal. Majority of information is just passed down from parent to parent. Oatmeal is a source of iron which is helpful as many parents are anemic. Oatmeal is a comfort food for many, so I suspect the placebo effect plays a big role in this one. I don’t know of any side effects from oatmeal in the morning.
✨ Jungle Juice – I often walk into parents forcing down the mixture, some love it, some less so. There is no evidence for jungle juice at this stage. I am not a big fan due to the high sugar content of the mixture. I have seen thrush flair up in susceptible clients due to this. It is also an expensive choice.
The important thing is to eat when you are hungry and drink when you are thirsty 👌. If you enjoy the cookies, bars and teas and they are within your price range, then many are a healthy option, some are just increasing your calorie intake for the day. The message is please don’t buy them to solve a problem. Happy feeding!

I love this post from Ashley Shapiro Lactation IBCLC. I want to add a bit about “storage capacity”, which is the amount of milk that a woman’s breasts can store between feedings. This can vary widely from mother to mother and also between breasts for the same mom.

Storage capacity is not determined by breast size. Moms with large or small storage capacities can produce plenty of milk for baby. The difference is: a mother with a larger milk storage capacity may be able to go longer between feedings without impacting milk supply and baby’s growth. A mother with a smaller storage capacity, however, will need to nurse baby more often to satisfy baby’s appetite and maintain milk supply since her breasts will become full (slowing production) more quickly.

This is why it is important to feed baby on cue and stay away from strict feeding schedules.

I was reading comments on a post of what to write in an article on tips to survive the holidays while breastfeeding. One comment was so accurate.
" Don't let someone that has just eaten 4 mince pies, 8 chocolates, a cookie, a piece of Christmas cake, eggnog and 4 glasses of champagne 🍾 tell you that you are feeding your baby too often!"
Happy feeding everyone.

New WHO feeding guidelines and AAP say that follow up or toddler formula offer no additional benefits to human or animal milk. I have posted previously on nutritional information on these formula vs a banana smoothie.
These are expensive, so before buying them, chat to your paediatric dietician or a paediatrician with interest in nutrition. Happy feeding!

Report shows toddler formulas offer no nutritional advantage Toddler formula might claim to provide more benefits than human or cow milk, but a new report suggests those claims might be misleading.

Last night I was randomly scrolling through Netflix trailers. Can't give you a movie reference but I remember this.
" 10000 hours at home for the 15 min that count". When you think that you are doing the grind with kids and never winning, you are. You Got This!

Hey new parents! It is market season. Pop into Ollie & Jamie open day. Grab a goodie bag, some pressies for moms to be. Enjoy the morning. Register for the workshops and enjoy a coffee ☕. Happy feeding!

New guidelines are out. Got some reading to do today. Happy feeding everyone.

*Starting Solids Talk - Friday, 10 November*
📍Moms and Babes Randburg

Are you a new parent feeling overwhelmed about starting your baby on solid foods? Join our Starting Solids Talk with Sr. Sam, a knowledgeable lactation consultant who can provide you with valuable information and guidance.

During this talk, Sr. Sam will discuss various topics related to starting solids, such as when to introduce solid foods, what foods to start with, how to prepare and store baby food, and how to ensure your baby gets proper nutrition. She will also address common concerns and answer any questions you may have.

Attending this talk will give you confidence and knowledge about starting solids, making the transition smoother for you and your baby. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from an experienced professional. Join our Starting Solids Talk with Sr. Sam today!

To book 👉🏻 https://linktr.ee/Rookiemomsclub - Talks & Workshops

An amazing article!

https://raisedgood.com/sleep-through-night-self-soothing-good-babies-stop-setting-mothers-to-fail/?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com&fbclid=IwAR0x0FxbMaGuN-SNJ_MlhLpXG988TW7RMh30VWSjQt74krRYVz8Tub-T_NQ

Sleeping Through the Night, Self Soothing and 'Good' Babies: Why We Need to Stop Setting Mothers up to Fail - Raised Good "Is he sleeping through the night?" "Is she a 'good' baby?" These are the loud lies of infant (& toddler) sleep. Read more to help the quiet truths rumble.

https://youtu.be/XCZzzqFkyiU?si=qh5eXgCd2vL0oUBV

Co-Sleeping With Infants: Science, Public Policy, and Parents Civil Rights, with James McKenna, PhD Dr. James J. McKenna, PhD, director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame shares:- the science and history of co-sle...

Joinus October for a pop up Baby Support Group! Let Michelle know if you keen to join us.

I am becoming a bit soap boxy about food labels and you know I am strong advocate for R991 marketing restrictions because of this. You can choose whatever you want if you have good information. The best way is to keep yourself educated on label reading and know what you are feeding your baby, kids and yourselves because just fed isn't best! Here is a lekker article on Whey, Casein, Soy etc for formula and breastmilk.

Best Baby Formula – Protein Source - Baby Formula Expert Baby formula protein source – Cow’s Milk? Soy? Casein? Whey? This article explains the difference and helps you choose the best baby formula for your baby.

https://youtu.be/g6V0L-rmL6Q?si=Rqk2CWmdK5s-iNNu

The Benefits of Tummy Time You're always told babies need time on their tummy...Dr Mike Marinus (Chiro) explains whyWebsite: marinuschiropractic.co.zaPodcast: https://marinuschiropract...

Such a lovely pop up Baby Support Group this morning. Thanks all the mom's and babies that joined us.
Keep an eye out for details on the next one.

Love spending a 🌧️ morning doing private antenatal course for a couple. So exciting being a small part of the journey.

Take this long weekend to spend time with baby at the breast! Relax and enjoy your baby. Find out what your ancestors did and why on this heritage day. Could be first 40 day sit in to establish milk supply or whatever and think about the principles and how can adapt it.

During my introduction to solids talk I speak about introception, the 8th and sometimes overlooked sense. During my lactation consults I allude to this sense but not as much emphasis as I should.

Part of the lactation consult and introducing solids is about creating positive life long eating habits. Learning about introception helps understand why responsive feeding is important to help our babies learn to listen to their bodies not a clock.

Happy feeding!

Your 8 Senses You Have Eight Sensory Systems (Please note: figures below are from Wikipedia) DESCRIPTION OF THE EIGHT SENSORY SYSTEMS The five basic sensory systems: 1. Visual 2. Auditory 3. Olfactory (smell) System 4. Gustatory (taste) System 5. Tactile System

The reason why a home visit costs more!

A great introduction to solids workshop this morning. Happy feeding everyone.

Don't wait for your second child to become empowered!

https://theconversation.com/more-than-6-000-women-told-us-what-they-wanted-for-their-next-pregnancy-and-birth-heres-what-they-said-211435?fbclid=IwAR2wtYaQSUEWVcq2tMpROc_EogRzWF-qR5p1URHb1WBFOeVOAOaZDYw0npQ

More than 6,000 women told us what they wanted for their next pregnancy and birth. Here's what they said Many women want to see the same one or two midwives throughout, and want to chose where they give birth. And when the time comes, they want a vaginal birth, with less intervention.

Spring 🌼 is a great time of year! I would love you to join me for my antenatal courses. I offer private courses so we can taylor it to your needs. Contact me 082 494 2903 for more info on the various options.

Happy Spring 🌼💐🌹 Parents! Spring has always been about babies.
Happy feeding, if it is not happy, get support.
Take your time, calm the chaos, be in the moment!

Hey Parents! You are always asking me for referrals for Nanny Training. Please go check out this comprehensive course offered in English and Zulu. Such a good special running at the moment. Contact Sr Marlette Visagie ABC Baby Care Training . Happy Feeding!

https://midwifethinking.com/2013/11/13/early-labour-and-mixed-messages/?fbclid=IwAR2CUv13iV6mgPpl2DYlqRCN2CArUW_zgmI7oPLR_H0Lx1KZRqQEhUhB8wE

Early Labour and Mixed Messages Updated: July 2023 Artwork by Amanda Greavette: www.amandagreavette.com This post is about early labour and the mixed messages women are given about this important part of the birthing process. Def…

*Starting Solids Talk - Friday, 08 September*
📍Moms and Babes Randburg

Are you a new parent feeling overwhelmed about starting your baby on solid foods? Join our Starting Solids Talk with Sr. Sam, a knowledgeable lactation consultant who can provide you with valuable information and guidance.

During this talk, Sr. Sam will discuss various topics related to starting solids, such as when to introduce solid foods, what foods to start with, how to prepare and store baby food, and how to ensure your baby gets proper nutrition. She will also address common concerns and answer any questions you may have.

Attending this talk will give you confidence and knowledge about starting solids, making the transition smoother for you and your baby. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from an experienced professional. Join our Starting Solids Talk with Sr. Sam today!

To book 👉🏻 https://linktr.ee/Rookiemomsclub - Talks & Workshops

Slow down Parents!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=854001526730536&id=100063620886506&mibextid=Nif5oz

Today I watched two different perspectives in the Target parking lot. A mom with three littles ones rushing to put the babies in their seats and then the groceries in the back. You could see she was visibly flustered and in a hurry to get out of there. Then I saw a grandma, with her 3 young grand kids. She puts them in the back, unloads some juice boxes from her bags and sits there laughing with them while they drank their juices. No rush at all.

In the moment, as a mom with young kids, we are in such survival mode, it feels like it’s always a rush, rush, go, go kind of world! Then we blink and they are grown. Then one day we will become grandmas and remember how fast those moments went, and we will sit and live in them a little longer…💛

Words by - Kori Abshire

Join us Tuesday 12th at The Play Studio Fourways. RSVP Michelle.