Midwest Lactivist

04/07/2024

02/01/2024

15/10/2023

01/08/2023

25/07/2023

A big part of a drink calculator is...the drinks ;) Help us pick the right ones. Comment what breastfeeding moms drink, and we'll add favorites to the calculator!

19/08/2022

10/08/2022

Tomorrow is our 3rd Annual Virtual Latch where we highlight the amazing Indigenous Milk Medicine stories from across the state and across Turtle Island. Please send your stories/pictures/tips via our page or to [email protected]
And be sure to check out our page tomorrow!

03/08/2022

World Breastfeeding Week 2022 Step up for Breastfeeding Happy World Breastfeeding Week GIVEAWAY is HERE!! One lucky mama will win a prize bundle in products from an array of amazing partners! We do this to celebrate YOU reaching all your breastfeeding goals!

28/06/2022

Breastfeeding and human milk are the normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition. The short- and long-term medical and neurodevelopmental advantages of breastfeeding make breastfeeding, or the provision of human milk, a public health imperative. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reco...

14/06/2022

24/05/2022

TOMORROW!! Register here! https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2WxLwOVNQROASx8ezWSzkw

Collaborative Connections Panel with Dr. Meggie Graham at Untethered Airway Health and Tongue Tie Center, Jordan Beck with Communication and Feeding Specialists of Southeastern Wisconsin, and Michelle Emanuel with TummyTime Method!

From Dr. Graham:
We get so many questions about optimal timing of releases.

After seeing MANY failed “clip and go” outcomes, we know just how important not only an interdisciplinary approach is but also how crucial timing is!

Join us as we discuss our experience, struggles, and advice on approaching

This is an event for providers AND parents! Please spread the word and let us know what questions you want to hear answered!

19/05/2022

Every year on May 19th we celebrate those who selflessly give to all the babies in need.

This year it’s something extra special, given the current situation it’s needed now more than ever. So whether you donate to a milk bank or peer to peer, today’s for you. Thank you for all that you do. 🥛

17/05/2022

ABM STATEMENT RELEASE: ABM Statement on Shortage of Breastmilk Substitutes (Infant Formula)

https://www.bfmed.org/statement-on-shortage-of-breastmilk-substitutes

12/05/2022

30/04/2022

The InfantRisk Center at is offering a free three-month subscription to its MommyMeds app from May 1 to 8 in honor of Mother’s Day.

MommyMeds is a health and safety app for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals. The app contains a database of more than 20,000 drugs and medications and tells users what each drug is used for, potential side effects to be aware of and if a drug is safe to use at various stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Now available in English and Spanish, the app can be accessed on the App Store or Play Store and requires iOS 9+ or Android 7.1+. The annual subscription fee is $3.99.

20/04/2022

Many women do not 🤱 for as long as they would like. This is how we can ALL support breastfeeding mothers anytime, everywhere ⬇️

17/04/2022

13/03/2022

How much does your pediatrician know about breastfeeding?

I'm going to review an important paper published in 2011 by Osband and colleagues: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21272827/

The purpose of this post is NOT to bash primary care doctors. Instead, I want to explain to everyone why I require an evaluation by an IBCLC to be able to schedule an appointment with me for consideration of a tongue/lip tie release. I put a tremendous amount of value on their assessment.

This paper surveyed 132 pediatric residency programs across the US to determine the amount of breastfeeding education provided. On average, a pediatric resident gets 9 *hours* of total education on breastfeeding during their entire training (3 hours per year). The attached graph shows the breakdown of those hours and demonstrate how little time they spend with the actual breastfeeding experts (lactation consultants). In contrast, an IBCLC can spend more than 2000 hours during their clinical training.

What about ENTs and dentists? How many hours do they get during training? ZERO.

So what's the take home message? If you have a baby with breastfeeding issues or compensations that are causing maternal symptoms, your first stop needs to be an IBCLC. Should you ever do a procedure because an ENT or dentist says you should? No, not without IBCLC involvement first. And if you're a medical professional taking care of these dyads, you need to change your mindset. All too often, IBCLCs aren't respected, their notes aren't read, their voices are silenced by people who don't listen to people without a medical or dental degree behind their names.

19/02/2022

Donated breast milk helps nonlactating mothers provide nutrition to their babies. But the supply is down, and the need is urgent.

17/02/2022

Pokemon and Lactation Supporters both start as base versions. Then, some of them evolve into stronger versions. And then some of them evolve again, into the strongest version

Each evolution has its own effectiveness and weakness, and each level is used to its best effect in different scenarios.

Charmander – La Leche League Leader, FBUSA counselor, WIC peer counselor
This is the evolution you use when you would like to attend a group support meeting, and need answers to basic questions about lactation and feeding babies.

Charmeleon – Certified Lactation Educator(CLE,) Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Certified Lactation Specialist (CLS), Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC) etc
This is the evolution you should use when you need education about lactation and feeding infants, help you get a more comfortable position, suggest some basic ways to make your journey easier, and assist you in finding resources in your community.

Charizard – International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
This is the evolution you need to use when you need a professional assessment of your lactation journey. They can help with ni**le damage, clogged ducts, pumping, do an oral and structural evaluation of your baby, or work through more complex issues like low milk supply, oral ties, and inducing lactation.

01/02/2022

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There's an urgent call for breastfeeding moms to save their extra milk.Milk banks across the country are suffering a shortage and looking for healthy donors to replenish their sto

21/01/2022

The following statement has been issued by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) regarding the status of the donor milk supply.

In efforts to meet the increasing demand for donor milk, coupled with a decline in milk donations, the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) and its member milk banks across the United States and Canada are urging healthy, lactating people to consider donating to their local milk bank today. Doing so is essential to maintaining the stability of the donor milk supply, which ensures life-saving medical treatments for high-risk infants.

Collectively, our member milk banks face new challenges as COVID-19 cases surge and winter storms threaten to further disrupt the supply chain. As these concerns intensify, milk banks also confront a decline in donor turnout, milk drive cancellations, and staffing challenges.

Thus, the need for donor milk remains constant. Supply must constantly be replenished. Milk can take several days to be tested, processed, and made available for infants in need. The current supply is being used almost as quickly as it becomes available

About HMBANA
The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) mobilizes the healing power of donor milk by accrediting nonprofit milk banks in the United States and Canada, setting international guidelines for pasteurized donor human milk.

17/01/2022

I'm hugely in support of those who choose to feed past babyhood. My son weaned just after his third birthday.
What age are you/did you feed to? X

17/01/2022

Don’t assume you will be the unicorn family who doesn’t need to feed the baby at night to maintain milk supply and baby’s growth curve. Over and over this last year we saw these programs jeopardize nursing relationships that families had worked hard to achieve. After the first two weeks of life, if your baby hasn’t woken up by 6 hours, I recommend you wake them up or do a dream feed. Your baby might need more feeds than even that (that’s normal!!!)

23/12/2021

As we prepare for the festivities to come, remember that no one is obligated to pass their baby around like a corn casserole. Baby carriers are a great option to keep babies close and away from germs.

If someone asks, remember "No" is a full sentence and they don't need an explanation or excuse.

23/12/2021

It takes a village. From start to finish.

Have you thought of becoming part of the village for someone else? The new year is around the corner and everyone is planning their resolutions, have you thought of turning your passion for lactation into a career of supporting others?

We have a blog post walking you through the process here: www.soaklactation.com/blog/baiab

As well as our group Becoming an IBCLC & Beyond: facebook.com/groups/baiab

17/11/2021

Weʼre raising money to help support the Sri Lankan Sextuplets. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

27/10/2021

An hour session with Dr. Trillitye Paullin, the CEO of Free To Feed, followed by a Q&A about infant allergies, elimination diets, and navigating through this journey.

21/10/2021

Central Illinois Breastfeeding Task Force