
Doula Support and Breastfeeding
As IBCLCs we are passionate about breastfeeding and we know doulas can make a huge difference when it comes to birth and breastfeeding outco

Nursing Isaac
Today's breastfeeding story comes from Amanda and baby Issac. Amanda is a fellow military spouse and very compassionate soul. We worked with her and her sweet family last year and we were moved by their love and patience during their many challenges. Amanda has graciously shared their story in her own words. We are so grateful! P.S. we are so happy to share this lovely picture from her birth. Thank you to Melissa Bonacci Photography! Actually, the title should be, “Attempting

Rachel's Journey-the Road to Exclusive Breastfeeding
We began working with Rachel and JJ back in December. They worked incredibly hard to overcome their breastfeeding challenges over the course of nearly two months. For this reason, I knew I wanted to highlight their story in hopes of inspiring other new mothers. Of course, I have to give a big thank you to Rachel (and JJ) for allowing us to share. Enjoy! I knew that I wanted to try to breastfeed my son. I work in healthcare so I am aware of the benefits of breastfeeding to mom

Jackie's Breastfeeding Journey
Today we share one woman's breastfeeding journey in her own words through a recent interview we conducted. We worked with Jackie in late Spring of last year after her beautiful daughter Isabel was born. Jackie faced breastfeeding challenges like many mothers do and she was so gracious to share her story to normalize those challenges and provide hope for new mothers. Please enjoy and thank you, Jackie! What preparation, if any, did you do for breastfeeding? I did my own resear

Recipe Round Up-Grab your Fork!
Are you a new breastfeeding mom? Are you hungry, really, really hungry? This blog is for you! This is also for those of you planning meal ideas for the baby on their way or for those of you culinarily (is that a word?!) supporting that new friend or family member with a scrumptious and easily reheatable dish. Moms often worry about the “right” calories. We are frequently asked about avoiding or including certain foods to make better milk. Truth be told, women who follow all k

Breastfeeding Book Review
It’s been a long time since I’ve written something. With everything going on in the world, I haven’t known what to say. I’d love to share more about my time working with displaced Syrian refugees in Greece with Nurture Project International, but in truth, *I* haven’t processed my experience yet. Once I make peace with my personal experience, I will definitely share. So then, on to today’s blog post: a book review! I don’t know about you, but when I was having children, my boo

Safe and Supported Motherhood is a Human Right
Lactation support in a refugee crisis
One evening, earlier this spring, I was mindlessly scanning social media after my kids had gone to bed. One post in particular caught my eye. Nurture Project International, a US-based, grassroots, non-profit, was looking to fill the volunteer position for Infant and Young Child Feeding Coordinator (IYCF) to lead their efforts supporting Syrian refugee families as part of their Greece Response Program. As you might already know, since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War roug

Galactagogues-what's the real deal?
Have you ever been frustrated because you feel you aren’t producing enough milk for your baby? Have you considered trying herbs or a medication? You are not alone! Many moms have the same struggle; perception of a low milk supply is one of the top concerns among new breastfeeding mothers. While we'd encourage you to work with a trained lactation professional (like us!), we also want to tell you about some common galactagogues that may be used to increase a maternal milk suppl

Meet Katja Nuce, aspiring IBCLC
This year has been amazing. See our last post to hear all about it. During this year we have taken on two official interns who are completing their clinical hours through IBLCE Pathway 3. Today we'd like to introduce Katja Nuce. Her background in maternal child health is extensive and is only trumped by her passion for breastfeeding and supporting mothers. You may see her around the office or on a home visit. Please stay tuned for a welcome post for our other student, Aniek,

Happy Birthday and a big Thank You!
Thank YOU! Believe it or not this is our birthday month! Happy, happy birthday to Sweet Songs Breastfeeding! We have spent the month of July celebrating as we look back on a stupendous year. We saw more than 200 families over the course of more than 300 consultations. Through our Lactation Fund, we provided quarterly lactation support to the women and families of The Alpha House. And through your donations from our support groups we provided numerous baby items to our sister