Breastfeeding Unplugged

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Latest Episodes:

Prenatal Breastfeeding Prep Apr 29, 2021

Pregnancy is both exciting and confusing, especially if you’re a first-time mom-to-be. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the labor and delivery part of the action and many moms spend so much time focusing on bringing baby into the world that they forget about the rest. But once the delivery is done and you have a new little love in your hands, absolutely everything changes.

For many moms, one of the most time-consuming and all-encompassing postpartum tasks is breastfeeding. A newborn baby feeds every two to three hours, eight to 12 times a day, around the clock. For the ill-prepared, this new schedule can come as a bit of a shock to the system. So what can moms do to get ready for the demands of breastfeeding? That’s what we are going to talk about today.

Our guest for this episode is Albany, New York-based IBCLC Patty Lane. Patty has been an IBCLC for over 25 years and has a special place in her heart helping parents on their breastfeeding journey.

The Magic of Breastmilk Apr 22, 2021

We all know that breastmilk is produced naturally by mommas, starting as early as pregnancy. But most of us don’t know that it actually has superpowers. From being able to help baby fight off viruses and bacteria to actually raising their IQ, giving your little one their daily doses of magic milk is a lot more beneficial than you might think.

The advantages don’t stop at baby either. Studies have shown that breastfeeding mommas lose weight faster, have less bleeding and an easier recovery postpartum, and some research even links breastfeeding to lower rates of breast and ovarian cancer later in life. So does breastfeeding really live up to the hype? Let’s find out.

With us today is Madison, Wisconsin-based IBCLC, Lori Theisen who is part of the team at Nest Collaborative. Get ready to be surprised and inspired by all the amazing things your milk can do for you and your little one!

Diversity in Lactation Support Apr 15, 2021

On today’s show, we are talking about an issue that’s been in the spotlight quite a bit lately. You might have heard about the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, a collection of 12 bills introduced by several members of Congress and the Black Maternal Health Caucus to comprehensively address every dimension of the black maternal health crisis in America.

Here’s a scary fact. We live in the richest country on the globe, yet the U.S. has the highest rate of maternal deaths in the world. Black moms are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts. And for black women, access to resources, education, and maternal healthcare isn’t even close to where it should be. Now, of course, this is a breastfeeding podcast, which occupies just one tiny aspect of maternal healthcare. But we wanted to make sure we addressed the issues from our perspective, because even from our little corner of the world, we know that black women are not represented or supported the way that they should be. So let’s find out why.

Our guest today is Harlem-based IBCLC LaShanda Dandrich who knows a thing or two about supporting black families on their breastfeeding journeys. In addition to her work with Nest Collaborative, LaShanda also owns the Uptown Village Cooperative, a maternal health group that provides education and support around gentle birthing practices in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, the Chocolate Milk Cafe, a lactation support group for African American families, and Lactation Learning Collective, a collective of lactation professionals mentoring aspiring IBCLC’s.

Breastfeeding Two Babies Apr 08, 2021

Breastfeeding is tough enough, but what happens when there are two mouths to feed? Whether it’s twins or two babies at different ages, juggling the supply and demand of double duty is a whole new world. So how exactly do you do it? What is the ideal set-up for feeding? How can you be sure that both babes are getting enough of your good stuff? Let’s find out.

With us for today's show is Indianapolis-based International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Aimbriel Lasley. In addition to her role as an IBCLC with Nest Collaborative, Aimbriel holds a Master’s degree in Health and Wellness Counseling and is a passionate advocate for ensuring that all families have access to healthy food, breastfeeding assistance, and education. Aimbriel is also the owner of Holistic Lactation Care, a private lactation practice in Indianapolis, and Black Mama Vegan, a vegan education and wellness platform that aims to show black families and vegan-curious families that being plant-based is attainable.

Aimbriel is with us today because she most certainly walks the walk. As a momma who breastfed her twin baby boys and older son all at the same time, she knows a thing or two about feeding multiples.
Thanks for joining us listeners, we hope you love today's show!

Breastfeeding from an OB's Perspective Apr 01, 2021

This week the doctor is in the house! Dr. Matthew Saidel is here to tell us all the things we should be asking about breastfeeding well before the baby comes.

Most moms forget to talk to their OB’s about breastfeeding and it’s not that surprising if you think about it. Being pregnant takes up a lot of mental space and it’s hard to get focused on anything that comes after labor and delivery. But here at Nest Collaborative, we are huge advocates of prenatal planning for breastfeeding because once the baby is born, a new momma who has already done her breastfeeding homework is much more likely to have a positive experience.

So what should you be asking your OB now during your pre-natal checks? What planning and prep can you do to get on the right track for the best possible breastfeeding journey? Let’s find out.

This episode features Dr. Matthew Saidel, Chief Medical Officer for Women’s Health USA, the country’s leading physician practice management company dedicated to women’s health. A special thanks to IBCLC's Christine Bracken and Lou-Ellen Saidel for their invaluable expertise that was utilized during this episode.

Pumping and Transitioning Back to Work Mar 25, 2021

The first few weeks with a new baby are so precious - and also SO DARN HARD. For mom, it’s a time of healing as well as a whole new beginning. Life becomes about getting to know rhythms, establishing routines, and building a relationship with someone who has lived inside of you for a whole nine months. The “fourth trimester”, as we call it, is one of extremes - complete exhaustion matched only by utter adoration for this new tiny human being that has now completely taken over your life.

But then, for so many mommas, that precious “getting to know you” time is cut suddenly short. In the U.S., while some private companies and a few - make that six - individual states do grant parents some kind of leave package, 50% of moms surveyed find themselves going back to the office far earlier than they are ready.

Couple that with 62% of mothers in the workforce with children under the age of three, and you can see that the potential influence of the workplace environment on breastfeeding initiation and duration is substantial.

So that’s what we are going to talk a little bit about today.

My guest for this week’s podcast is Debi Yadegari, Founder and CEO of Villyge, an employer-paid benefit that connects employees one-on-one with career coaches, parenting experts, and healthcare specialists. Villyge also works with employers to shape corporate culture and create parent-friendly workplaces that encourage retention, expand the talent pool and increase diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We hope you enjoy this week's show!

Let's Talk About Formula Mar 18, 2021

What's with mom guilt, anyway? As women, we are made to think that we should have this mothering stuff down to a science and that it should all come naturally.

This holds especially true with breastfeeding. There are so many things that can go wrong and yet we are expected to know what we are doing even if we’ve never done it before. Hence the guilt, right?
According to the CDC, as many as four out of five moms start out breastfeeding, but only half are breastfeeding by six months of age and just a third are still breastfeeding at the 12-month mark. According to research conducted by lactation-pod company Mamava, 42 percent of moms end up supplementing with formula at some point in their baby’s first year.

So what’s the deal? Is breastfeeding something that mommas can actually succeed at? At what point is it ok to call it quits? Is formula really that bad?

Our guest today is Florida-based IBCLC Oneida Segura. In addition to being a lactation consultant, Oneida is also a Registered Nurse and has worked with new mothers in a breastfeeding, health, and education capacity for decades. She has three girls, one beautiful grandbaby boy, and she is proud to service the Spanish-speaking community in South Florida as well as breastfeeding moms around the country.
We hope you love today's episode all about formula feeding!

The Unique Challenges of Breastfeeding in the Military Mar 11, 2021

As we all know, being a new mom is tough. There are no two ways about it. Trying to figure out how to care for a newborn or multiple babies while staying sane, semi-clean, and at least slightly human is something almost all of us have had to grapple with. But for a certain very special group of women, trying to figure out the nuances of motherhood has its own unique set of challenges.

So my question for today is: How do you balance the active-duty of being a new mom when you’re literally on active duty?

Today we’ll take a walk in the shoes of one woman who can tell us exactly what it’s like to care for a newborn when you’re in the military. Join us and our special guest, Krystal Wallace, an former active duty and current Reservist with the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Assistant Education Director for Mom 2 Mom Global, a worldwide network of breastfeeding support and advocacy resources for military families.
We look forward to having you join us!

Innovations in Breastfeeding Mar 04, 2021

Hello Mommas and Mommas-To-Be! This week on the podcast we’re talking about what we like to call “Breastfeeding 2.0”.

Have you ever wondered why motherhood in general and breastfeeding, in particular, attracts so many wives’ tales and generational remedies? From cabbage leaves to drinking beer, many of the “helpful hints” we get for breastfeeding is actually age-old advice passed down through the decades. In a world that is completely dictated by technology, this seems a bit at odds with where we are as a society today. Have there really been no advancements in breastfeeding? Is the advice passed down from our mothers, grandmothers, and aunties still sage? Today we are going to find out.

With us on the show today is Adriana Vazquez, Co-Founder & CEO of Lilu (Lee-Lou), a company that has created the first-ever massaging pump bra. Adriana’s long list of credentials includes being recognized as one of the top 30 Femtech Healthcare Influencers of the Year, and the patent for her bra nabbed her Philadelphia’s Invention of the Year in 2019. While most of the breastfeeding world still relies on age-old wisdom, Adriana is leading the charge to bring technology into motherhood which makes life a heck of a lot easier for those who want to breastfeed successfully while working, parenting, and managing our increasingly busy day-to-day lives.
We look forward to having you with us for today's show!

Tongue-Tie and Other Common Breastfeeding Roadblocks Feb 25, 2021

One of the most common misconceptions we hear at Nest Collaborative is how natural and effortless the feeding bond between mama and baby is supposed to be. But more often than not, it simply isn’t the case. Here we are at the beginning stages of breastfeeding - awkwardly fumbling through, trying to figure it all out. But after a few days and weeks, it should get better right? In theory, yes. But what if it doesn’t?

You may have heard the term “tongue-tie”, which seems to be the phrase du jour for breastfed babies who can’t quite get a grasp on the latch. Believe it or not, up to 37% of babies are diagnosed with tongue-tie, so the problem is more common than many of us realize.

So what exactly is tongue-tie, how do you know if your baby has it, and what can you do about it? On the show today is the amazing Dr. Scott Siegel, President of the Northeast Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center for Tethered Oral Tissues in Manhattan and Long Island. Dr. Siegel has over 25 years of experience and has devoted the past 18 years to the treatment of issues related to tethered oral tissues, and to date, he has performed over 30,000 tethered oral tissue surgical procedures. To say he is an expert is quite the understatement!
We look forward to having you join us for our chat today on Breastfeeding Unplugged.

Pumps 101 Feb 18, 2021

This week we are unlocking some of the mysteries behind one aspect of new motherhood that can be completely overwhelming and, for some, downright freaky. Welcome to the wonderful world of breast pumps!

First, let’s take a look at some numbers. If you think you’re the only one with pumping on the mind, you’re wrong. Breast pumps are a $1 billion dollar industry with 85% of breastfeeding women using one at some stage of their journey. While the whole concept of pumping feels completely foreign at first, it’s something most of us have to get used to, and quickly. Pumping is crucial for working moms who need to feed baby while juggling their 9-to-5, and even stay-at-home moms like the convenience of pumping to both keep a supply at the ready and hand off a bit of the feeding responsibilities to their partner.

So to pump or not to pump and how do you even get started? We have a lot of questions and I’m sure you do too so let's jump right In with our expert, Robin Williams of Bosom Buddies, a Denver-based company that rents and sells breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies for moms all over the country.

I'm Home From the Hospital, Now What? Feb 11, 2021

Well momma, you did It! You got through labor and delivered this perfect little baby. After a day or two, you’re on your way home from the hospital or you're getting settled in after a home birth, only just realizing that you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing!

That's what we are going to talk about today. How can you be prepared to breastfeed your newborn when you get settled back Into your everyday environment? What can you expect in those first days and weeks? What should you look out for to make sure that baby is feeding well or if she or he is having a bit of trouble?

On the show for this episode is Adrienne Koznek, a Portland, Oregon-based International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with Nest Collaborative and the mom of one eight-year-old boy. Adrienne’s own personal breastfeeding journey started off quite difficult, but she was able to go the distance and she now helps families all over the country on their own path through early parenthood.

Join us for today's episode, you won't want to miss It!

Everything You Need To Know About The Latch and the Hold Feb 04, 2021

Our topic for this week is something that’s absolutely crucial to successful breastfeeding, yet completely mystifying to most new moms.

Today we’re talking about the latch and the hold - two terms that you might not have heard of until just recently, if at all. These actions are the ties that bind momma and baby from day one. So how can something so simple and natural be so complicated at the same time?

When you feed your baby for the first time, two things will effectively make things easy or hard. The first is how your baby latches or holds onto your nipple with his or her mouth while feeding. The second is the hold - the way that you position your baby so feeding is comfortable for both of you. As you probably guessed, feeding your baby is going to become a very consuming part of early motherhood, so nailing the basics is key. That's what we are going to help you do today.

We are thrilled to welcome our guest Leah Tribus to the show. Leah is a Virginia-based IBCLC with Nest Collaborative and a registered nurse. She has worked with moms and babies for 17 years, focusing on lactation for the last eleven.
We look forward to having you join us for today's show mommas!

Breastfeeding Economics: Milk Supply and Demand Jan 28, 2021

This week we’re diving into the economics of breastfeeding, a little something we like to call supply and demand.

What most moms don’t know when they start their breastfeeding journey is that their bodies are already prepared to produce and supply enough breastmilk to meet their baby’s every nutritional need for the first several months of his or her life. It’s just one of the things that makes motherhood so completely awe-inspiring.
Of course, while that ability is deeply ingrained in our very being, our own thoughts and fears can make it easy to ignore our intuition.

Am I making enough milk?
Is he hungry?
Am I overfeeding her?
How do I regulate my supply?
Am I doing this right?

These are just a few of the questions that every single mom asks herself. That second-guessing can lead even the most confident momma down the wrong path. So let’s talk about it! Our guest today is Ann Bennett, an Austin-based IBCLC with Nest Collaborative and breastfeeding encyclopedia who will most certainly put your mind at ease. Join us for today's show!

10 Things You Never Knew About Breastfeeding Jan 20, 2021

Make no mistake, breastfeeding is hard. It’s one of the things that most people won’t tell you about when you’re pregnant. Most moms think that breastfeeding is "natural" and that it will come easy, but if you think about it, how could it? As a momma, you’ve never done this before. Your baby is in the same boat. So how can we possibly think that the feeding bond will be a beautiful, instant connection?

Welcome to "Breastfeeding Unplugged," a podcast brought to you by Nest Collaborative. Every week, we will be coming at you with a brand new topic - some will cover the basics, like “Common Misconceptions” or “Keeping Up Your Milk Supply” while others will tackle more niche ideas such as “Breastfeeding Innovations” and “Knowing Your Pumping Rights at Work.” Our goal is to have real conversations with the best experts in the business to make sure you feel supported and most certainly not alone In your breastfeeding journey.

It was so tough to pick a topic for this first podcast but when we got together to talk about it, we all found ourselves chatting a lot about misinformation and how so many moms are confused about breastfeeding because of advice they got from family and friends, or because they simply didn’t know what to expect from day one. So today we’re going to chat about the 10 Things You Never Knew About Breastfeeding with my very special guest, Joanna Kreyling.
From nipple pain to milk production and everything In between, join us for this 30-minute episode and meet your new breastfeeding friends. We look forward to hanging with you!

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