Most new mothers know, or suspect, that there are things they need to do to prepare for successful breastfeeding. Perhaps you've signed up for a breastfeeding class, or gotten advice from experienced friends, or read a dozen breastfeeding books. No matter how much you try to prepare, there will likely still be things that you have to learn along the way. I have three breastfeeding experiences to reflect on, and each one has been different. In the last 5+ years of my breastfeeding career, there are a few things that have presented particularly surprising obstacles... . Traumatic Birth Experience If either baby or mom have a tough time during … [Read more...]

Can you get pregnant while breastfeeding? We have all heard one opinion or another regarding whether or not it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding.  And many of our experiences run contrary to the information we were given. There is factual information about breastfeeding and fertility available, whether you hope to avoid pregnancy after childbirth or add to your family with a baby close in age to your little one. Much of the confusion comes not from misinformation—trusted health organizations (like the WHO and the La Leche League) are in agreement on the basic ways that lactation affects reproduction—but in the difficulty in … [Read more...]

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to surround yourself with other breastfeeding women. Whether you are a first time mom or more experienced, there is so much to be gained from friendships with women in the same stage of life. I did not connect with my breastfeeding network until my first child was 6 months old, and I realized after talking with them that there were likely solutions for the breastfeeding problems I faced in his early days if I had just known who to ask for help. Our children were all born within 7-8 months of each other, and as they moved into toddlerhood, we compared notes on growth, development, and talked … [Read more...]