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Congratulations to those of you who are getting ready to take the IBCLC exam this year.  As an IBCLC who has taken the exam four times (!) in my 30+ years of practice, I know the amount of studying and worrying that can take place in the months and weeks before the exam.   Not to...

The goal of this blog is to answer the question in this email: "So many of my friends are recommending the Lactation College but I am confused about how to find it and which one is which. Can you help me?"

First, how GREAT IS IT that interest in lactation growing such that interest in our...

Getting moms and babies off to a good start with breastfeeding in the first few days following birth is crucial to future success.   We know that early effective feeding helps to establish a full milk supply and leads to longer breastfeeding duration.  But what is the best...

A key tool for anyone caring for infants and children are growth charts. The following excerpt provides some history behind growth charts. It comes from an article written by Aaron E. Carroll entitled, The Trouble with Growth Charts. It was published in parenting.nytimes.com on November 25, 2019....

The 6^th edition of the Baby-Friendly USA Guideline and Evaluation Criteria (GEC) went into effect June 1, 2023. This post will discuss 4 of the changes in the new GEC.

First, some background.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is an international designation established by the World Health...

Rooming-in is the maternity model of care which allows for mothers and infants to stay together and minimizes unnecessary separation.  It is also one of the Ten-Steps to Successful Breastfeeding which are the backbone of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.  So why does rooming-in...

The PUMP Act went into full effect this month in the United States. Here are 7 things to know about this new law.

#1 Full name

The full name of the PUMP Act is Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act. Congress passed the legislation on December 29, 2022 but it was rolled out...

I’ve had the unique opportunity to visit hospitals around the country for various conferences and consults, and it was always amazing to me that I would hear the very same myths about Baby-Friendly repeated from one hospital to the next, and from one state to the next. It was as though...

Working at a Baby-Friendly designated hospital, we "do" breastfeeding support well. However, it is not unusual to care for a mother who wishes to formula feed exclusively. She is well informed and this is her choice. Here are the 6 things we do to make sure the dyad receives the best possible...

If you've been working with breastfeeding families for any amount of time, you've probably been asked, "When can I start pumping so my partner can give a bottle at night?"   I've heard the thought of not sleeping through the night described as, "not do-able," "terrible," and "a disaster."...

1. Carry a Copy of the TSA Guidelines

Print out and carry a copy of the official TSA Guidelines on Traveling with Breast Milk. TSA Guidelines

2. TSA 3-1-1 Liquids Rule

Understanding the basic TSA 3-1-1 Liquids Rule is helpful. This rule means that 1 person is allowed to bring 1 quart-sized bag...