Breastfeeding Tips & Breast Pump Guide | Lactation Connection

  There are some roadblocks to breastfeeding than come up often when moms are in the hospital or at their first pediatrician visits.   Depending on a mom's personality some are good advocates for themselves, but a lot of moms just go along with what they are told without questioning.   Often even if the pediatrician is pro-breastfeeding, a staff member will give you a biased opinion of what needs to be done in a certain situation.   While there are times supplementing with formula is helpful, often it is not necessary and depending on how the supplementation is done can hinder breastfeeding success.    Common scenarios that present barriers to breastfeeding are listed here including science-based evidence for this information in case you need to pass it along to any health professionals who may disagree so that  you be your baby’s advocate.  1. The baby has low blood sugar. The high protein content of colostrum helps with glucose stabilization...

Spectra is an industry leader in breast pumps and if you have the option to getting a Spectra breast pump, whether it is through insurance or private pay, it is a great investment.  These pumps are high quality, offer high output, exceptional warranty service and offer a wide variety of accessories to make your pumping life easier. One of the best things you can do when you get your breast pump is to familliarize yourself with the control panel.  The one pictured below is for the Spectra S1, but the only difference between the control panel on the blue   Spectra S1 and the pink  Spectra S2 is that on the S2 you will not see the battery life indicator in the top right section of the LED display since the S1 offers a rechargeable battery whereas the S2 is powered only by electricity. The green S3 Pro intented for hospitals, clinics or corporate lactation offers the same control panel as well.    Of course, you will want to start with the on button loc...

One of the questions we are often asked is how do I find a lactation consultant near me ?  And does insurance cover the consultation? Those are two great questions and we have answers for you as well as tips on how to hire your IBCLC and what questions you should ask in the process. 1.   Use an up-to-date lactation consultant locator .  The ones on the international board of lactation consultant examiners is often outdated as many lactation consultants aren't in private practice and don't do home visits.  Lactation Connection hosts a free locator on their website and it is up to date for 2024 with lactation consulants who have personally provided their current contact information and service areas. 2 .  Speaking of information, that should be your first question when you speak to a lactation consultant. Below are some examples of what to ask.     What are your credentials?   There is a vast difference between an IBCLC (International Board Certi...

    Packing your hospital back should be quick and easy with this list.   We have curated most of what you need in just one place!  Shop for your dual purpose hospital bag, nursing bras, nursing covers, nursing pad and breast cream here .  Another thing you might want to do is to put your breast pump in your vehicle in case you need it! Best wishes for a safe and healthy birth! Tanya

Big news: Spectra is making changes to their bottles!    As inventory rolls over, all Spectra products will begin featuring a new bottle to replace the pink and gold ones.  The new bottle features an easier to grip and easier to read design as well as a gender neutral ivory colored collar, sealing disc and cap.  So if you have a boy, and you are using the bottles for feeding, going from pink to ivory is a bonus!   The wider base is very helpful to prevent tipping and crying over spilled milk, but they will not fit in the bottle holder; if you were unsure, that is what the round hole on the S1 and S2 was for.  Since it only held a single bottle, most moms weren't using it anyway.  Lactation Connection offers a Dual Dock Double Bottle Holder that is specifically designed to hold all Spectra bottles including the new ivory design! The new ivory bottle design is compatible with all Spectra breast shield flanges! The bad news is that if you love the...

  The Marmet technique for hand expression has long since been the gold standard for teaching moms how to hand express breast milk.  Having the ability to hand express breast milk comes in handy if you want to harvest colostrum, alleviate a clogged milk duct or just need to get the breast milk flowing for the baby who needs extra encouragement to latch.   Before you begin, prepare both your body and your mind, by using massage or warm compresses as well making the environment comfortable and conducive to relaxation which will help with let-down.   If you need a faster method for expression, a quality manual breast pump like the Spectra Manual Pump is great for occasional use and very affordable.  If you are working and breastfeeding, choose a double electric breast pump instead.   Here's to keeping it flowing, Tanya

When a plugged duct turns into mastitis, it is not something that is not to be taken lightly.  How do you know if you have mastitis?  Usual symptoms are an area of your breast that is red and painful along with flu like symptoms such as chills or fever.   If you experience these symptoms, use this tactic:  Heat, Rest, Empty the Breast Heat:   Apply hot compresses.  If you don't have a hot compress on hand, use a disposable baby diaper with hot water in it.  This can be re-warmed in the microwave, but test on wrist before applying to breast. Rest:  Sleep when the baby sleeps and get off your feet as much as possible. Empty the Breast:   Point the baby's chin towards the affected area.  For example if the clog is more towards your arm, use the football hold.  Pump after every feeding for 5-10 minutes to finish emptying anything the baby leaves behind. You may see some information that says to avoid breast pumps, but this is only...

    Harvesting colostrum both antenatally (before birth) and postnatally (after delivery) is a great way to prepare for the unexpected.  Sometimes birth plans do not go to plan and having this liquid gold at your disposal in case of emergency is always a plus especially since colostrum is essential as baby's first immunization, highly concentrated in antibodies and nutrition to boost your baby's immune system.  In addition, if feedings are slow to start, colostrum can maintain your baby's blood sugar levels.   A colostrum collection kit makes it easy to have the things you need on hand.  While using a breast pump can sometimes cause contractions, a more gentle hand expression is not only safer but more effective in saving every drop. While there are several methods of hand expression found online, research shows that the Marmet Technique is still the most effective so we have included the full instruction sheet below.  Once you have begun hand ex...

Just like a birth plan, sometimes, breastfeeding does not go to plan and some moms may need to supplement.  This does not have to mean the beginning of the end of breastfeeding if caution is used in how you supplement. Supplementing Baby at the Breast Often supplementation is only necessary for a short term while mom is regaining her milk supply or baby is having a frenotomy to release a tethered tongue to facilitate milk transfer. And the best method for supplementing formula is doing so while keeping the baby at the breast.  However, Supplemental Nutrition Systems are often expensive and difficult to clean so short-term feeding tubes are the preferred method in these cases.  In the case of supplementing a newborn, the best option is a 5FR feeding tube that is 36" long.  Don't opt for a shorter tube such as 15" because the shorter the tube, the faster the flow of milk and babies need to latch and use their tongue and jaw just as they would when exclusively breastf...