The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog

Pain from your c-section, long after the birth? Check out my new podcast.

A few years ago I was helping a mom with breastfeeding, and we started talking about her birth.  She said, "You know, no one tells you all the things you can do to help your scar heal well after you have a c-section."

I nodded sympathetically and said, "yeah," but what I was really thinking was, "What?  I had a c-section and I have no idea what she's talking about!  What the heck can you do?"

I recently became a member of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), and one of the first things I did was watch a webinar they hosted on caring for the c-section incision area.  I really enjoyed it was able to arrange to interview, for Motherlove Herbal Company, the woman who did the presentation, a New York physical therapist named Isa Herrera who is the author of Ending Female Pain: A Woman's Guide.

In the interview Isa said that some women have pain, numbness and other complaints from their scar for years after their births, and that in some countries in Europe women are automatically referred for physical therapy as part of their recovery.

You can listen to the podcast interview on the Motherlove Blog, or at their free iTunes store. 

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This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we recall some posts on race, ethnicity, and breastfeeding

I thought today might be a good day to compile a number of posts I've done which address issues of race and ethnicity and breastfeeding.

• First, I have a new post up at Best for Babes today entitled "Is there a 'soft bigotry of low expectations' when it comes to breastfeeding?" (link soon) which explores whether African American mothers receive lower quality care because providers expect them not to breastfeed.

• Here's a popular podcast on African American moms and breastfeeding was an interview I did with Kathi Barber, founder of the African American Breastfeeding Alliance

• Here are two posts I did on "Las Dos," the pattern of supplementation among Latina moms, and the campaign I worked on to reduce that practice:  "My husband, the breastfeeding slogan genius," and "Las Dos."

• Here's a plea I wrote for more diversity among lactation consultants.

• And here's an older post on race and other demographic factors and breastfeeding initiation data, called "Who breastfeeds?" and a more recent one describing an unwelcome result from the data, "Big gaps persist."

• While you offered a lot of different explanations for it, I suggested that race and ethnicity could answer the question: "Why do western moms breastfeed more?"

• Here's a recent post on breastfeeding and ethnicity for Best for Babes, specifically cultural practices related to breastfeeding and how hospitals respond.

• A post reporting on a segment on African American moms and breastfeeding on the NPR program "Tell Me More."

• Finally, here's a post about my book Spanish for Breastfeeding Support and a podcast of the audio portion of the first chapter.

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New podcast on Biological Nurturing and Laid-Back Breastfeeding, with Suzanne Colson

I have a new podcast up on the Motherlove Blog, an interview on the revolutionary concept of Biological Nurturing and Laid-Back Breastfeeding, with Suzanne Colson.  

Suzanne is the author of An Introduction to Biological Nurturing and the DVD Biological Nurturing: Laid-Back Breastfeeding for Mothers.

We discussed the concept of Biological Nurturing, the primitive neonatal reflexes she has identified, why babies sometimes fight or “box” the breast when feeding in traditionally-taught breastfeeding holds, and why she believes babies are “front feeders” and not “dorsal feeders.”

*One note:  This interview was recorded in the busy hallway at a breastfeeding conference, and as a result the audio is not up to my usual standard.  Hope you enjoy it anyway!

You can listen to the podcast at the Motherlove Blog, or download it through Motherlove's free iTunes store.

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New podcast with the author of Pushed: The Painful Truth about Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care

I have a new podcast up on the Motherlove Blog which I think you'll enjoy. 

It's an interview with the Jennifer Block, author of Pushed: The Painful Truth about Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care.

We talked about the reasons for the record-high rates of cesarean birth and induction, the low rate of VBAC, her assessment of where things are trending, and how to avoid getting "pushed" in childbirth.  We also discussed the response of women's organizations to these trends in birth.

A little while back I also did an email interview with Jennifer on the reasons for the high rate of early elective births, for the Best for Babes blog.

You can listen to the interview on the Motherlove Blog, or download it from their free iTunes store.

Podcast on lactation after loss

I have a new podcast up at the Motherlove Blog on lactation after the loss of a baby - in pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy.

This is a topic I think gets too little attention, so I'm happy to share it. 

I also shared a brochure for moms on this topic a few months ago.  And I wrote about attending a training on supporting mothers who have experienced a loss a while back, too.

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When the Booby Fairy doesn't arrive: New podcast interview on insufficient glandular tissue on the Motherlove Blog

I'm really happy to share a new podcast interview I have up on the Motherlove Blog about insufficient glandular tissue, or the incomplete development of the glanduar tissue in the breast.  It's also known as breast hypoplasia. 

Moms with hypoplastic breasts often struggle valiantly to provide enough milk for their babies, despite 'doing everything right.'

I talked with Diana Cassar-Uhl, IBCLC on the visual markers of hypoplastic breasts, the incidence of it, what to do if you have hypoplastic breasts.  She shared her story of helping her best friend, who coined the term "booby fairy."  She also discussed the use of goat's rue to build glandular tissue.

You can listen to this podcast on the Motherlove Blog or download it from Motherlove's free iTunes store.

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New podcast: Breastfeeding in Combat Boots

I have a new podcast interview on the Motherlove Blog to share.  It's an interview with Robyn Roche-Paul, author of Breastfeeding in Combat Boots.

Robyn is a US Navy veteran who breastfed while serving on active duty as an aircraft mechanic, and is a lactation consultant and La Leche League leader.  Her work focuses on helping mothers on active duty continue to breastfeed after returning to work.  You can find more information about breastfeeding while in the military at her website and Facebook page.  Robyn wrote a guest post for this blog a little while back.

I spoke with Robyn about special challenges mothers in the military face when it comes to breastfeeding, stories of mothers making it work under challenging circumstances, policies that impact mothers ability to breastfeed while in the service, and some practical advice for preparing to pump at work.

You can listen to the podcast with the player on the Motherlove Blog, download it and listen with Quicktime, or get it at Motherlove's free iTunes store.

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Can you "supplement" your baby with Vitamin D by increasing the amount in your milk?

Have you resisted the idea of giving your baby a Vitamin D supplement, but are also a bit concerned that your baby isn't getting enough Vitamin D from the sun?

If so, you'll be interested to listen to this podcast interview I just did with Dr. Carol Wagner, one of the world's leading researchers in the area of Vitamin D and lactation.

Recent research is showing that Vitamin D plays a key role not just in bone development, but in a host of other functions, and that deficiencies can lead to serious disease.

Dr. Wagner and I spoke about these questions:

- What level of Vitamin D is necessary in a mother in order to be providing enough to her baby through her milk?

- Is it possible for a mother to safely take enough Vitamin D to give her baby the same level of Vitamin D as if she were giving her baby a Vitamin D supplement directly?

- Should mothers get their Vitamin D levels tested in pregnancy or during breastfeeding?

- Is breastmilk "deficient" in Vitamin D?

Of course, this podcast should not be considered medical advice, and you should consult your health care provider for advice tailored to your situation.

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New podcast on breastfeeding after breast surgeries, with Diana West

I have a new podcast interview up on the Motherlove Blog on breast surgeries and breastfeeding.  It's an interview with Diana West, the nation's leading expert on the topic!

We talked about breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery, breast augmentation surgery, breast lifts, and nipple piercings.

Diana is founder of the web’s best resource on breast surgeries and breastfeeding:  bfar.org, and lowmilksupply.org.  She is author of Defining Your Own Success, Breastfeeding after Breast Reduction Surgery, and co-author of Breastfeeding after Breast and Nipple Procedures, The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, Eighth Edition.  Diana successfully breastfed three sons after her own breast reduction surgery.

A few years ago I recorded a podcast interview with Diana about milk supply.

You can listen to the conversation at the Motherlove Blog, or download it for free at Motherlove’s iTunes store (available soon).

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Join me on the Best for Babes blog!

I'm thrilled to announce that starting this month I'll be blogging for the Best for Babes Foundation!

Through the generous sponsorship of Motherlove Herbal Company, I'll be joining Bettina and Danielle in working to fulfill Best for Babes' mission:  to help moms fight the Booby Traps™ that prevent moms from reaching their breastfeeding goals.

From Best for Babes' announcement:

"Tanya’s addition to the Best for Babes family is going to give another advantage to moms in the fight against the Booby Traps™ - the barriers that prevent them from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals. 

We have asked Tanya to focus on identifying, exposing and  providing moms the tools they need to navigate the Booby Traps, breaking them down one-by-one chronologically, beginning with the barriers expecting moms face with their providers before they even have a baby.  She’ll also be doing some podcast interviews with us on the Booby Traps™ in the coming months."

Best for Babes has created an authentic and powerful voice for moms - a platform which we can use to advocate for the elimination of barriers to breastfeeding success.  I'm so happy to be able to join their team!

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