San Diego Big Latch On 2018 T-shirts - One More Week of Sales!

Who wants an awesome Big Latch On 2018 T-Shirt???

We are so excited to partner up with Heart and Soul Printing, one of our favorite local designers and screenprinters, to offer you a San Diego Big Latch On 2018 t-shirt or tank top.  

Because you loved these shirts so much, we have extended the sale on these shirts from August 4-August 12 and they are still $15.  

All shirts can be picked up at the San Diego Breastfeeding Center - we will email you with the exact date.

All proceeds will be donated to the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation to help pay for lactation consultations for local low-income families.  

Ready to see the awesome T-shirts????

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Dark Gray Ladies Racerback Tank - Available in XS, S, M, L, XL, and 2XL

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Mauve Ladies Slouchy Tank - Available in S, M, L, XL, 2XL

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Heather Gray Ladies Crew Cut Tshirt - Available in S, M, L, XL, 2XL

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For more details about the Big Latch On Event, check out our FB event page: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/2163609553861993/ 

As, well as our blog: 

https://www.sdbfc.com/blog/2018/5/22/save-the-date-big-latch-on-san-diego-2018

Breastfeeding After Exclusive Pumping

A few months ago, we sent out a Call for Breastfeeding Stories.  Our desire was to flood the Internet with beautiful breastfeeding and pumping stories of triumph, overcoming challenges and struggles, and positive outcomes, regardless of the total amount of milk a mom was producing.  We are thrilled to share these stories with you, our readers, and hope that they offer support and inspiration for you, wherever you are in your breastfeeding or pumping journey. 

Thank you to all of the mothers who submitted their stories!  If after you read these memoirs you are inspired to submit your story, feel free to send it to RobinKaplan@sdbfc.com.    

This memoir is from Amanda, from https://exclusivepumping.com/

When I was pregnant with my second child, I was planning to breastfeed her. I was also really nervous about it because of my experience with my first child.

After my son was born, we struggled with nursing while we were in the hospital. Each nurse suggested that I hold him a different way, and it always worked when they were standing right there. However, after they left and I tried to nurse again on my own, I could never get him to latch. I remember being so sleep deprived from labor that I couldn't really listen to what they were telling me and have it sink in.

Additionally, the hospital had a lactation consultant, but there had a been a huge snowstorm a few days earlier, and she "hadn't been seen since the blizzard." So that form of assistance wasn't available, unfortunately.

(After my nurse told me that, I had this mental image of the lactation consultant getting lost on her way to the hospital in a sleigh or something. Hopefully, she eventually made it back.)

After three weeks of struggling and my son still not being back up to his birth weight, I ended up deciding to exclusively pump for him. I had a lot of complicated emotions around this - guilt for not trying harder to nurse, inadequacy for not being able to make nursing work, pride in myself for managing to breastfeed by pumping only. As a Type A person, I became pretty obsessed with it - how much I was pumping, how much he was eating, how much my stash was, etc. Exclusively pumping became such a big part of my identity as a new mom that I started an entire website about it. 

So, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I wanted to make sure that she got breast milk, too, just like my son did. At the same time, I knew how hard it was to exclusively pump, and I was already terrified of having two kids under two years old. Exclusively pumping with a toddler and baby seemed impossible to me, and I wasn't sure if I could manage it again.

As soon as she was born, though, it was obvious that this baby had a completely different temperament than my son. While he had screamed for his entire first hour of life outside the womb, she just cried a little and then latched on like a champ.

There were definitely some bumps in the road over the first few days - again, I struggled a bit with latch in the hospital - but we moved past them pretty quickly, and she was back up to her birth weight after a little over week.

I have such great memories of nursing my daughter while on maternity leave. Some days (instead of going to Stroller Strides or trying to run errands) I would just decide to be lazy and spend the whole day on the couch with her - snuggling, switching to the other breast from time to time, and watching entire seasons of Game of Thrones.

I ended up nursing my daughter until she was 18 months old. I don't think I had much milk left at that point, and it was just part of her bedtime routine. When I ended up needing to go on a trip without her, my husband to put her to bed, and that was the end. I was sad to be done with nursing her, but it also felt like it was time.

Being able to nurse my daughter really helped me heal from the feelings of guilt and inadequacy I had felt after not being able to with my son. I'm so grateful for both breastfeeding relationships, though, because they taught me different things - my son taught me that I could figure things out as a mom even when things didn't go the way I'd planned, while my daughter taught me the importance of being in the moment and savoring time together.

So Your Kiddo Hates Tummy Time…. What Can You Do?

In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics started the Back To Sleep campaign.  The hope was that placing babies on their backs to sleep would reduce the amount of infants who succumbed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS.)  The second component of this Back to Sleep campaign was Tummy To Play; doctors knew if babies were going to be spending so much time sleeping on their backs that they had to counterbalance that with time on their tummies while awake.  Yet, somehow Tummy to Play has really taken a back seat, which has led to a significant increase in head molding, head flattening, and developmental delays.

Why is Tummy Time so Important?

• Improves motor milestone achievement

• Helps prevent skull deformities and helps round out a baby’s head

• Helps remedy torticollis

• Improves head control

• Decreases reflux

• Helps with digestion and gastric emptying

• Helps improve range of motion in a infant’s tongue

• Provides fantastic interaction between parent and infant

So, your kiddo hates tummy time…. What can you do??????

It’s all about how you do it!  Want to know the secret???

In late April 2018, our SDBFC staff attended the Tummy Time Method training.  Up until then, many of us were just placing our infants on their tummies, directly from holding them upright on our chests.  Then our infants would start to fuss almost immediately, so we thought that they hated tummy time. In all actuality, it was the transition to tummy time they hated, or better said…. The lack of easy transition into tummy time.  We were initiating their fight or flight reflex from the drastic movement from upright to tummy. In our training, we were taught that rolling an infant onto his tummy actually limits stress or overstimulation for the infant, making tummy time much more enjoyable.

So check this out!  We have been demonstrating this new rolling method to our patients and their babies are LOVING it!  Like full 180 from hating tummy time to totally digging it!

Here is a video, created by our awesome instructor, Michelle Emanuel, on how to roll your baby into tummy time.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgeJM3u3_Tw&list=PL9hKPtJid7hRIlxJXwzmLXikP0DXCXjDi

Components of an super fun tummy time routine:

• Designate a tummy time area on your home - should be on the floor (with carpet or blanket)

• Roll your infant (2 weeks old - crawling) into tummy time 4 times per session, about 4-5 sessions per day. For reference, the video shows the baby rolled into tummy time once.

• Make sure to get down on the floor and interact with your baby.  Have older siblings join in on the fun, as well!

• As soon as your kiddo starts to fuss, roll her out of tummy time, pick her up and hug her close.  Then start again, if the session isn’t complete.

• Choose times when your infant is calm and relaxed, like right after a feeding session.  Tummy Time shouldn’t cause him to spit up more.

 

Are you excited to join us in the Tummy Time revolution?

If your kiddo is still struggling with tummy time, we offer Tummy Time consultations, both in-person and in-office! Click here to book an appointment!

Save the Date - Big Latch On San Diego 2018!

We can barely contain our excitement! 

Are you ready to find out the details for the Big Latch On San Diego 2018???

This year’s Big Latch On San Diego event will be co-hosted with Kid Ventures in Liberty Station!

All participants will have exclusive, free access to Kid Ventures for the entire morning! So, while you wait for the actual Latch On to occur, you can grab some coffee/breakfast at one of the many delicious restaurants, hang out in Kid Ventures, peruse the vendor booths (something totally new this year!), and bid on our awesome opportunity drawing items!

If you are a new to the breastfeeding world, you might be wondering what the heck is the Big Latch On?  The Big Latch On, is an event that started in New Zealand in 2005 during World Breastfeeding Week.  The mission of the Big Latch On is to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding women and each year groups of breastfeeding women come together at locations all around the world to latch on their children at a designated time and day in honor of this mission and to attempt to set a new record!  Our Big Latch On event will also serve as a major fundraiser for our non-profit organization, the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation.

Here are the preliminary details.  We will begin to share more about the event over the next few weeks!

When is the Big Latch On?

The Big Latch On event will take place on Saturday, August 4, 2018 from 8:30am-noon.  The actual Latch On (children latching on to set a world record) will take place at exactly 10:30am, so don’t be late!  

Where will the Big Latch On take place?

At Kid Ventures.  The address is: 2865 Sims Rd, San Diego, CA 92106.

Is there a charge to participate?

Not at all!  This event is totally FREE!

Please stay tuned for registration and agenda details!

Wondering how you and your business can get involved?

Since the Big Latch On event is THE major fundraiser for our nonprofit organization, we rely heavily on event sponsors and opportunity drawing donations.  It you are interested in becoming a sponsor or have a service/item to donate for our opportunity drawing, please send an email to our event coordinator, Liz Bradshaw, at LizBradshaw@sdbfc.com

Get Ready for the Biggest Breastfeeding Event in San Diego!

Meet SDBFC's Newest Lactation Consultant - Michelle Clookie!

We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant at SDBFC! Michelle Clookie joined our team in September 2017, as a lactation consultant intern.  Since then, she has joined our SDBFC Foundation Board, is one of our support group leaders, and started to see her own patients on May 7th. Here is my interview with Michelle.  We can't wait for you all to meet her!

Michelle, tell us about yourself! 

I grew up in Southern California, and moved to San Diego 11 years ago after living in Austin, TX for 2 years. I met my husband, Jeremy, shortly after moving to San Diego and we have been married for 7 years. After 8 years in non-profit, where I focused on training, development and content writing, I decided to stay home with our little girl Charlotte when she turned 1. I fell in love with all things motherhood: the community, the support, and soon starting working for the Postpartum Health Alliance part time to help support Mamas. After having our son, Beckett, who is now two, I realized I wanted to go even further into supporting families. I decided I could combine my love for training, and supporting families, by becoming a lactation consultant. Supporting people through empowerment has always been my passion and my work, and this has by far been the most fulfilling. I work part time and then spend as much time as I can with my kids and husband at the beach! 

What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?

I had breastfeeding challenges with both of my children, and because it was so unexpected with my first baby, it took a long time for me to accept the situation. I tapped into a lot of support, and these struggles allowed me to see an incredibly supportive side of the San Diego mom community.  I quickly began doing all that I could to help normalize breastfeeding and motherhood challenges. This just feels like the most natural next step in my support of all things mom/baby/family. 

What are you most excited about working with SDBFC? 

I have been a patient of the SDBFC two different times, and I am most excited to offer the same quality care I received to the families I work with. I am also really proud that SDBFC supports so many military families. I have a deep respect for the sacrifices military families make on a daily basis, and I feel honored to be able give back to their families anyway I can. 

What are your top 3 tips for a brand new breastfeeding family? 

1. Surround yourself with people who have similar goals. There are many different ways to parent a child, and I have found it easier to achieve my parenting goals when I surround myself with others who share my same vision. Breastfeeding can bring on unexpected challenges, but when you are surrounded by people that understand your goal, it will be much easier to reach it! 
2. Have a plan, but keep your expectations flexible. I LOVE planning, and learned within the first 24hrs of parenthood (actually birth) that sometimes your kids have other plans. That’s ok. I have found it much easier to offer myself grace (and others grace) when I am flexible with my expectations. Things may not look the way you wanted them to, but there is still beauty there! 
3. Ask for help! There is a running joke not to ask me if I need anything, because I will gladly tell you my Costco shopping list. Motherhood wasn’t meant to be done alone, ask for help without shame. San Diego has the most incredible resources for families, if you are in need of support in any way, I can almost guarantee you that there is a loving person waiting to help you! A great place to start making those connections is in Breastfeeding support groups, baby classes (sign language, tummy time etc.), and baby wearing groups! 

WELCOME TO THE SDBFC TEAM, MICHELLE!

Join Us for a Private Screening of The Milky Way Movie

Please join the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation for a screening of The Milky Way Movie.

Whether you’re a newly breastfeeding parent, a seasoned pro, an advocate, birth worker or just plain interested in birth and breastfeeding, come join the conversation!

Before the movie, you will have time to mingle with other local families and practitioners, enter our opportunity drawing for amazing gifts and services, and pick up a signed copy of Robin's new book, Latch: A Handbook for Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage.

After the movie, we'll be hosting a panel discussion moderated by Robin Kaplan (President of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant & Author of LATCH) featuring Executive Producers of the film Chantal Molnar and Jennifer Davidson and more experts to be announced.

Event goers will receive a free raffle ticket, with the opportunity to purchase more.  All proceeds from the event, raffle and book sales will go to the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation

Schedule:

• 1pm - Doors Open

• 1:30pm - The Milky Way movie

• 3pm - Panel

• 3:30pm - Opportunity Drawing

Please share this event with your friends and families and don't forget to purchase your tickets before the event through our Eventbrite link.

If you are interested in donating an item or gift certificate for services/classes, please contact our event coordinator, Liz Bradshaw at lizbradshaw@sdbfc.com

Film Synopsis:The Milky Way is a documentary exposé about breastfeeding in the United States. We show how women can reclaim their birthright and restore the nursing mother archetype. More than a breastfeeding promotion film, this is a film by, for, and about women. It is about the knowledge that inherently resides in every woman, how to access that knowledge and how to trust what we already know. It is a film that inspires women to say, “I can do that! I want to do that!”

How to Protect your Postpartum Body from Falling Apart

We are so excited to be offering a brand new workshop/series in our space next month: New Parent Ergonomics Workshop and Series.  Taught by Robin Naughton, owner of Breathe Fitness, expectant parents and parents of newborns/infants/toddlers will learn practical exercises to protect their bodies from breakdown (due to repetitive movements from typical parent-related tasks) and tips on how to integrate them into your everyday routine.

Here is an excerpt from Robin, talking about her new workshop/series!

All pregnancies are different.  All babies are different.  You know what’s not different?  The repetitive stresses of caring for your new little bundle of joy and the subsequent new parent aches, pains, and injuries.

Sadly I’ve yet to talk to a new parent who was given a heads up about proper parent ergonomics… no birthing class, midwife, OB/gyn, or fitness professionals seem to even really mention much about it.  Often postnatal care is baby-centered: proper positioning for their best latch, proper leg placement for healthy hips in a carrier, the ideal angle to avoid flat head or reflux. Now don't get me wrong, all of these are incredibly important for our babies' health and development, but what about the parents? Who teaches us how to take care of our own bodies in our new, incredibly demanding (and rewarding), role as new parents? 

All babies need to be fed, held, transported, comforted, and played with, and these are just the basics.  I had a friend who’s baby would only fall asleep if he was manually swinging him… in his carseat!  The lengths we’ll go to to keep our babies happy, calm, quiet, or asleep, can get pretty crazy.  The resulting wear and tear on our bodies, as parents, is no joke when you consider that all of these tasks are repeated multiple times a day, every day, for many many days (years seems overwhelming to say). 

Now, any parent that’s gotten the flu or stomach bug knows that babies’ needs don’t just magically diminish when we’re not feeling well.  The same goes for when we get hurt.  My baby is a sweet loving little angel but she doesn’t care that I have a torn rotator cuff.  She still needs me to carry her to and from the car, get her in and out of the crib, feed her, and change her diapers.  So what are we supposed to do?   How do we help our bodies heal and not make things worse?

Click here to read more about the ABCDE's of not breaking your body while keeping your baby happy and healthy

Ready to protect your postpartum body from falling apart???  Don't miss Robin's workshop and 4-week series at the San Diego Breastfeeding Center.

To sign up for Robin Naughton's New Parent Ergonomics Workshop on April 21, 2018, click here.

To sign up for Robin Naughton's New Parent Ergonomics 4 week series on Monday mornings in May, click here.

So, What's in your Latch book, Robin?

Since we announced the release of my new book, Latch: A Handbook to Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage, many of our readers have asked what they can expect to find in the book.  Well, let me tell you!

First we start off with how to prepare for breastfeeding.  Most of us spend months preparing for the birth of our child, but don't give much thought about what happens after our baby is born.  So, this book starts off with the basics of how milk production works, all about latching, as well as how to put together your Dream Team of Support for once your little one is earth side.

Then, we move into what to expect during those first two weeks after birth, which we know can feel the most overwhelming.  Hormones aplenty coupled with learning the new task of taking care of your newborn (and yourself!) can sometimes knock down our self esteem and make us second guess everything that we are doing.  This chapter will give you the tools to know what's normal (and not), what to expect, the multitude of breastfeeding positions out there, and where to go if you feel like you need more support and guidance.

The next chapter looks at the ways your breastfeeding journey can change and morph during  the next 2.5 months.  Babies begin to feed more effectively and efficiently.  Parents begin to gain back confidence when they see that their dedication is starting to show positive results.  Plus, you begin to get into a rhythm with your baby, which feels more predictable (aka magical!)  There still may be a few bumps along the path, which this chapter will help you solve, but things should continue to get easier and easier.  Now is the time when families begin to offer bottles, become friends with their pumps, start breastfeeding in public, and feel more comfortable with breastfeeding in general. 

The last three chapters look at going back to work strategies, typical infant sleep patterns and behaviors, introducing solids, and eventually weaning.  

My favorite part of the book is the personal stories from other breastfeeding moms.  There is such a sense of comfort when hearing that someone has gone what you have gone through.  That's why we seek out these connections in local groups and/or online.  We need to feel heard and that others have experienced what we are experiencing.  Plus, the determination and courage that these families share is awe-inspiring!

So, now is your chance to get a sneak peek of the book!  Check out some common myths and misconceptions about breastfeeding, straight from Latch!  You will have to buy the book to read the rest!  

Thanks for all of your support and please enjoy this first view of Latch!

Robin Wrote a Breastfeeding Book!

One thing that many people don’t know about me is that I have always had a passion for writing. Before becoming a lactation consultant, I wrote curriculum for local museums and websites and wrote two unpublished children’s books.  So when I was approached to write this breastfeeding book I knew that there was no way I could pass up this amazing opportunity.

Supporting new families through their breastfeeding journeys has truly been my calling.  I love my job and the adrenaline rush I feel when I have empowered a family and helped them to meet their breastfeeding goals.  There is so much more to breastfeeding than just latching a baby to a breast.  There are nuances, both simple and challenging, that help make this process enjoyable and seamless.  We, as lactation consultants, have the honor to facilitate this breastfeeding process, when needed, and this book is just one step in that journey.  Latch: A Handbook to Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage provides families with the supportive and educational basics they need while breastfeeding their children, from pregnancy to weaning.

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some content you will find in Latch.  This book is a great baby shower gift, for even the most seasoned-breastfeeding parent, as well as something you will want to buy even if you have already started breastfeeding.  Latch is already available for presale on Amazon at: bit.ly/LatchBook and can be in your hands as early as March 13, 2018!

Thank you for following along and I look forward to sharing more details about Latch over the next few weeks!

Iron Rich Foods for Infants and Toddlers

Rachel is a pediatric dietitian and mom to an infant and toddler.  She is the instructor of the “Introduction to Solids” at the San Diego Breastfeeding Center.  Join us for the next Introduction to Solids class on February 17th at 10:00am.  More information and registration can be found here.

At your baby’s 4 or 6 month checkup, your doctor may discuss starting your baby on solid foods.  It is an exciting time – up until this point your baby has been taking in all of his nutrition from breast milk or formula, and you get to shape his palate with new flavors and textures over the next 6 months and beyond. Your doctor may have talked to you about introducing iron rich foods early on. This is because iron stores in your baby typically start to become depleted around 6 months of age. I typically recommend families wait until 6 months of age to start solids (although I have heard pediatricians recommend between 4-6 months). 

It is common to hear that infant fortified cereals are a good first food.  Why?  Infant cereals are typically fortified with iron and lots of other vitamins and minerals, which is why foods like rice cereal have historically been discussed as a good first food. BUT now we know that iron fortified cereals are not the only option, and many parents skip them altogether to start on solid foods. Another benefit of skipping these cereals is that early exposure to more tastes and flavors has been shown to increase baby’s interest in the tastes and textures of new foods in the future.  Here are some great iron rich foods to offer right from the start:

Meats: meats can be a great food to introduce early on. Try stewing meats or using a slow cooker to allow for a softer texture.  If you are introducing pureed foods, you may need to add a bit of water with meats to allow the food to blend or try blending with other great first foods like avocado and sweet potato. If you are using a baby led weaning approach, try soft meatballs with minced chicken or beef.  Make chili and soup with chicken, beef, turkey and lamb. 

Lentils and beans:  I love these as dips, added to a sauce or as finger foods for a bit older baby.  Beans and lentils are super easy to make. Mash on their own or add to a sauce.  And if you take my introduction to solids class, I always bring in a sample that’s parent and baby approved, such as my green pea hummus or lentils - you can use these interchangeably as a puree for baby or a great dip for a slightly older toddler or an adult.  

Greens: spinach, chard and kale are a few food sources of iron. Saute them with other vegetables or combine them in a puree with meats. As your baby learns to drink out of a straw or an open cup add greens to a fruit smoothie for some added nutrition.

Eggs: Eggs are a good source of iron. An egg scramble with veggies is a great way to get in some iron, and lots of vitamins and minerals.

Grains: Often overlooked, but some grains are high in iron.  Some of my favorites include teff, amaranth, quinoa and millet.  Make cereals with these grains, use in chili or stew, or make muffins or bread.

These are only a few great sources of iron. Although breastmilk is typically thought of as a poor iron source, the iron in breastmilk is absorbed very well by baby and is still an excellent source of iron for your growing child.

And one more tip – iron is better absorbed with a source of vitamin C.  So for better absorption of iron pair an iron rich food with something like citrus fruits, berries, broccoli, apples or tomatoes. Also- breastmilk is an excellent source of vitamin C!

And remember that providing a balance of nutrients is important – iron is one of several important nutrients once baby starts solids. 

Want to learn more?  Join me at my upcoming Introduction to Solids class at The San Diego Breastfeeding Center on February 17th. Click here to register and for more information.