Tongue and Lip Ties
*Note: the signs below can have many causes and do not automatically relate to a tongue or lip tie Potential Signs of Infant Tongue or Lip Tie Related to the Parent: * Nipple pain [...]
Caring for Older Siblings While Breastfeeding
Caring for older siblings while breastfeeding an infant can be exhausting, especially in the first few months after a baby’s birth. Read a few tips.
Insurance Reimbursement for IBCLC Consultations
Nurturing Traditions fights hard to obtain insurance coverage for as many clients as possible. However, some insurance plans will not contract directly with lactation consultants and we are not able to bill them directly. In [...]
Starting Solid Food
Lately I've been hearing a lot of not-so-great recommendations related to starting breastfed babies on solid food. Many of these recommendations are put out by the baby food industry and formula companies and are [...]
When Do I Switch Breasts?
Many parents are given time limits regarding switching breasts when they are nursing their baby. Parents are told to nurse from anywhere from 5-30 minutes per breast. Sometimes parents are told not to switch [...]
Why Parents “Fail” at Breastfeeding
The word "breastfeeding" brings such strong emotions for many people. When people ask about my career, I get a variety of responses. Some people act as if I just told them I work in an [...]
Breastfeeding Upside Down (Latching the Breastfed Baby)
Getting a "good" latch when breastfeeding can feel like such a difficult task! In the past, lactation consultants used to focus on certain positions like the football hold, the cradle hold, the cross-cradle hold, [...]
Common Reasons to Schedule an IBCLC Consultation
For some women, breastfeeding is fairly effortless right from the start. The baby latches easily after a little practice and both mother and baby enjoy breastfeeding. Other times, breastfeeding is more of a struggle. The following [...]
How to Tell if Your Baby is Getting Enough Milk
Aside from preventing nipple pain, telling if a baby is getting enough milk is the most common concern of breastfeeding parents. In our culture, we hear so many stories of low milk supply that we [...]
Insurance Coverage of IBCLC Care
BCBS PPO Anthem PPO United PPO/HMO PNOA (Provider Network of America, check for the logo on your insurance card) MultiPlan (check for the logo on your insurance card) Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA [...]
Normalizing Breastfeeding
According to Facebook, a profile picture and comments like this are acceptable. Ads like this are acceptable. Yet an advertisement like this is not. As you [...]
The Scoop on Poop
Poop is something that becomes an everyday household word after having a baby. As an IBCLC, I’ve seen poop cause tears of joy and tears of frustration. Some of the first [...]
Deciding Whether or Not to Schedule?
I’ve been where you are. I’ve been in a place where I needed guidance and needed answers. I wasn’t sure if they were actually out there or where to seek them. I felt nervous [...]
Becoming an IBCLC
I am frequently asked how to become a lactation consultant. The term "lactation consultant" is not trademarked. Since anyone can use the term, it is important to understand the differences in specific trainings and certifications, [...]
Sleep and the Breastfed Baby
When my first daughter was born, I was lucky if she slept more than 10 minutes after I put her down. Even placing my daughter in the co-sleeper attached to my bed with my hand [...]
Introducing a Bottle
Some babies easily accept the bottle and may go back and forth between it and the breast with no issues. Other babies take a little more convincing, especially as they get older. A baby will [...]
Medications and Breastfeeding
**Heather called me frantically at 7am. In the background, I could hear a screaming, incredibly frustrated baby. Heather had been in the emergency room the night before for a sprained ankle and was told to [...]
Breastfeeding and Water Intake
Several times a week I hear about moms who were told the more water they drink, the more breastmilk their body will produce. I see moms drinking 100 or more ounces of water a day [...]
Top 10 Things to Know About Breastfeeding
Mothers and babies are made to breastfeed.Breastfeeding has endless benefits for both mothers and babies. Babies are born expecting their mother’s milk. Women have breasts so they can make milk and nourish their babies. Babies [...]
You Know You’re the Child of a Lactation Consultant When…
While looking at pictures in a farm book, you point out the picture of the cow “breastfeeding” her baby.Your stuffed animals are lined up on your bedroom floor so you can teach them how to [...]
Is Nipple Pain Normal?
While sore and damaged nipples are common, they are not an inevitable part of breastfeeding! Myths surrounding pain and breastfeeding are one of the most frequent reasons parents quit breastfeeding. Parents are often told to [...]
How Much Does Your Physician Know About Breastfeeding?
Physicians can be wonderful in terms of identifying and preventing health issues in you and your baby. A supportive, knowledgeable health care provider can be a huge asset in your parenting journey and I always [...]
Soup for the Postpartum Mother
In non-Western cultures throughout history, the postpartum period was considered a sacred time. Postpartum women were cherished and honored. The mothers were the center of attention, not the baby. They were not allowed to [...]