If breast pumping or expressing milk, you may occasionally notice that your milk is not always white. While this can be confusing or even upsetting to some, it is actually quite normal to see different color variations, and rarely is it cause for concern for baby ingesting or an indication of something wrong.
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Posted in Ashley Georgakopoulos, Breastfeeding, Breast Pumping and Postpartum Resources
Breast compression refers to the mother hand expressing while the baby is attached and feeding, or while the mother is pumping (hands-on pumping). This technique allows more milk to flow without solely relying on suction. It is particularly helpful in cases where a baby is too sleepy to finish a feed after the letdown response, a milk duct contraction-induced flow, or in instances when a mother is relying on pumping.
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Posted in Ashley Georgakopoulos, Breastfeeding, Breast Pumping and Postpartum Resources
As an individual lactation consultant outside of a hospital setting, I get the privilege of following the journeys of many mothers with breastfeeding. I have often been asked, “What do you think is the most common problem?” or “What’s something you think I should know ?”
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Posted in Ashley Georgakopoulos, Breastfeeding, Breast Pumping, Pregnancy Resources and Postpartum Resources
Even though awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding is growing, it can still be a hard topic to discuss, especially with loved ones who may not have firsthand experience with it. While it is ultimately your decision to breastfeed and breast pump or not, it can be an intimate topic that your friends and family members feel embarrassed talking about. Prepare yourself to confidently talk to relatives about breastfeeding and pumping with our tips below.
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Posted in Breastfeeding, Breast Pumping and Postpartum Resources
One of the major challenges for moms returning to the workplace after maternity leave is maintaining a healthy, routine breast pumping schedule. Moms need a private space as well as time away from the demands of the job every few hours to pump in peace. It can be difficult to talk freely about breast pumping in the workplace, but ultimately, employers benefit from supporting their working moms. What’s more, the law mandates that employers provide sufficient space and resources for moms to pump.
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Posted in Breastfeeding, Breast Pumping and Postpartum Resources
There are many sources of information out there about the health and bonding benefits of breastfeeding for the baby's immune system. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, obesity, ear infections, common colds and infections, and more. But there are just as many crucial benefits and health implications for the mother!
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Posted in Ashley Georgakopoulos, Breastfeeding, Breast Pumping and Postpartum Resources
Are you a new mom traveling for the holidays? Check out our handy guide to help you!
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Posted in Ashley Georgakopoulos, Breastfeeding, Breast Pumping and Postpartum Resources
The moment you get your breast pump serves as simply the beginning of your breast milk journey. From unboxing it, learning how to use it, late-night pumping sessions, you and your pump have a lot of work to do together. That’s why it’s crucial to take care of your breast pump by regularly replacing certain parts so it can take care of you.
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Posted in Breastfeeding, Breast Pumping, Pregnancy Resources and Postpartum Resources
Despite breastfeeding being a “natural” way to feed, it can also be a source of anxiety and uncertainty. There is a culture heavily reliant on concrete, numerical affirmation, both from the family and the medical community, that with the slightest concern, occasionally equates to leading the mother to supplement and even stopping completely. Understanding “supply”, the most common word used in regard to breastfeeding, how its established and what is adequate would relieve many of these anxieties, as well as aid in mothers’ self-efficacy.
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Posted in Ashley Georgakopoulos, Breastfeeding, Breast Pumping and Postpartum Resources
Clogged, blocked, and plugged ducts. There are many terms for the same problem. Restricted milk flow, or
“milk stasis”, leading from the milk-storing alveoli (those grape-like clusters in the breasts), may lead to a fatty blockage that soon becomes painful, and even infectious mastitis, if not treated quickly enough. These clogs can very well lead to other problems and occurrences, including lower supply thresholds, nerve pain in the breast tissue, lessened pumping output and bruising sensations.
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Posted in Ashley Georgakopoulos, Breastfeeding, Breast Pumping and Postpartum Resources
