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This is a question that not many people ask, and the reason makes us sad... Many people don't even KNOW to ask questions like this. Most people do get some prenatal classes that touch on most parts of pregnancy, but they don't go into depth about what you really need to know. This is because they only have a short time to cover absolutely everything. So you might be pregnant and you are taking (or took) a prenatal class and you are feeling pretty confident. Maybe you are stil

Even the name of breast engorgement sounds painful... especially since it can lead to problems such as lowered milk supply or even mastitis (an inflammatory condition that may lead to infection). So what causes engorgement and how can you prevent it? Engorgement feels like the breast tissue is very hard, overfull, and may be painful to touch. Mastitis is when engorgement turns into an infection of the breast and nipple. If the breast becomes red, hot, and shiny you may have m

Breastfeeding is protective of both acute and chronic diseases for mom and baby. We could write lists and lists of the benefits of breastfeeding!--- but don't worry, that isn't this post. However, new data has determined... There is some new data to add to the ever growing list. Based off of several current studies, the European Society of Endocrinology has determined yet another benefit for breastfeeding mothers. They stated after their annual meeting that evidence shows tha

For a mother, it is very important that her baby is being fed enough--- especially if she feels that she does not have an adequate milk supply. One of the main ways to ensure your baby is set up to transfer breastmilk is by perfecting the latch. We discuss this topic further in a previous blog post found here. There are a few other ways to make sure breast milk is flowing described below... My baby seems to be latched but I’m not sure if he is actually drinking my milk? One o

The idea of breast engorgement has a negative connotation since it can lead to problems such as lowered milk supply or even mastitis (an inflammatory condition that may lead to infection). So what causes engorgement and how can you prevent it? Engorgement feels like the breast tissue is very hard, overfull, and may be painful to touch. **If the breast becomes red, hot, and shiny you may have mastitis and should go see a doctor for medical treatment. The main reason for engorg

A proper latch... Having a proper latch is important for the effective transfer of breastmilk. If your baby is not latched correctly, it could cause issues with milk transfer which also may cause pain for the Mama. Breastfeeding should not be uncomfortable or painful (other than a slight tugging on the breast), therefore if you are experiencing any trouble, you may need additional help from a lactation specialist. Possible issues... Some problems that may occur with an improp

For lactation counselors, the length of the breastfeeding session can be an indicator of a multitude of things. Most importantly, the length of the breastfeeding session can help the lactation counselor understand how successfully the baby is transferring milk/how much milk he/she is getting. How long should the breastfeeding session last? A feeding session should last ~15 minutes. This time absolutely fluctuates with each individual baby (by ~5 minutes or so is normal). If t