Preggie Pals

lactation consultant

Breastfeeding Support For All!

April 16th, 2013 by Michelle Viquez

My passion for breastfeeding and all things mommy support really began at the tender age of 17. The culture of mommy support really only involved mothers of an “appropriate” age at that time. I’m talking late 90’s and it was probably worse prior to that. I was a young mother and besides my own mother, I was completely alone in any means of parenting or breastfeeding support. The resources just weren’t there. From what I’d learned over the years formula was the thing in my mother’s generation so not many mothers of that era breastfed. Formula was liberating to women and it was more the norm than breastfeeding. In the hospital, at the time of my son’s birth, I don’t recall a visit from any lactation nurse or any offers to try breastfeeding. I got some handouts and I was actually sent home with a few cases of formula. (more…)

Breastfeeding 101: Take a Breastfeeding Class!

February 14th, 2013 by Anna and Beth

I started my breastfeeding education by reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, a book published by La Leche League that was recommended to me by multiple mom friends. It is a great and helpful book.  I still use it as a reference when new problems or questions pop up as we go along this journey. However, one of the greatest tools in my breastfeeding education journey was a breastfeeding class we took as a part of our childbirth education series through Bloomington Area Birth Services. (more…)

How to NOT Need a Lactation Consultant

Episode 32 | December 14th, 2012

There are many things a breastfeeding mom can do to help herself on her journey- while she’s pregnant and after the birth of her baby. What are some of the best ways to be successful at breastfeeding so you won’t need the help of a lactation consultant? How can you medical team make or break your experience? And what situations put mothers at higher risk for needing assistance? (more…)

Seeking Breastfeeding Support

September 16th, 2012 by Meagan Church

Let me start by saying, I am an introvert. I like to have quiet time, down time, time to myself. I’m not one for big groups, especially when they are filled with a bunch of people I don’t know. So when friends suggested I attend a breastfeeding support group, I had reservations. As I have previously mentioned, Adelyn went through a phase of being a fussy feeder from about six weeks to six months of age. Thankfully we are now on the other side and feedings are much better. But, during that time, I had plenty of moments where I felt confused, frustrated and even angry. I cried during failed attempts to feed her and had moments where I just needed to walk away. I could not figure out what was going on with her. I tried a host of different things, but nothing seemed to work. So, I turned to the Internet. I researched fussy feeding, hoping to find a solution, but I came up empty. I began to talk to friends about it and many of them suggested attending a breastfeeding support group. I was hesitant, for a lot of reasons: I’m an introvert, I have two older kids to tote around, I have nursed those two other kids, so shouldn’t I be able to figure this out myself? (more…)