Brim Lactation & Family Care

Brim Lactation & Family Care Professional and certified Lactation Consulting (IBCLC) to meet all your infant feeding needs.

At Sound Birth Services we are committed to providing warm, professional guidance and support to families during pregnancy, birth and postpartum, for a healthy and happy transition into parenthood. We are certified and experienced to provide you and your family with the best of care and practices, with expert doula and lactation services, sound childbirth education classes, strengthening and comforting prenatal yoga classes, and social and emotional support throughout it all.

Many feeding plans aren’t actually plans.They’re a set of instructions without context.- Feed every 3 hours.- Pump after...
04/15/2026

Many feeding plans aren’t actually plans.

They’re a set of instructions without context.

- Feed every 3 hours.
- Pump after every feed.
- Top up if baby seems hungry.

But without knowing why, what to watch for, or when/how to adjust… it can quickly become overwhelming.

A good feeding plan should feel clear, flexible, and realistic to follow. It should help you understand what’s happening and not leave you second guessing everything.

If your current plan feels rigid, stressful or unsustainable, that’s worth paying attention to.

This is something we build together in consults based on your baby, your feeding goals, and what’s actually going on.

Book online at www.brimfamilycare.com or via the link in bio. 💛

04/14/2026

All jokes aside I actually think it's cute. And also really says something about the deep impact that feeding our babies has on us!

And honestly, I’m here for it.

Behind every story is someone who did the absolute best they could with what they had - even if it came with a side of strict schedules, and wildly questionable advice 😅💛

A new systematic review and meta-analysis on herbal galactagogues found what we already knew... that some commonly used ...
04/14/2026

A new systematic review and meta-analysis on herbal galactagogues found what we already knew... that some commonly used herbs like fenugreek, blessed thistle, fennel, and shatavari can increase milk volume and prolactin levels.

That’s good news!

In fact, the pooled data showed a significant increase in milk volume and prolactin compared to control groups.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S294975152600001X

It means these supports may have a role in lactation care, but there is nuance: Milk supply challenges are rarely just about the need for support from galactagogues.

Why is supply low in the first place? Because increasing production without addressing root cause can look like progres but without actually improving feeding, youight end up feeling like you're spinning your wheels.

And just as importantly, not every herb is appropriate for every body.

Herbal galactagogues can interact with:
• underlying health conditions
• medications
• hormonal profiles
• individual physiology

Which means they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Things like:
• milk transfer
• latch and positioning
• feeding frequency
• oral function
• birth + postpartum physiology
…are often the real drivers.

So yes, herbal galactagogues can help.
But they work best when they’re part of a bigger, individualized plan, not the whole plan.

If you’re working through feeding challenges, there’s usually a reason behind what’s happening, and that’s where skillful support begins!

Let's connect. Email me FMI at hello@brimfamilycare.com or book online via the link in my bio or by heading to www.brimfamilycare.com 💛

Many parents who would like to breastfeed and are told to supplement, are not told how much or why or how to stop.Medica...
04/08/2026

Many parents who would like to breastfeed and are told to supplement, are not told how much or why or how to stop.

Medical indications for supplemtation:

✨Low blood sugar
✨ Excessive weight loss (see my reel!)
✨ Signs of dehydration
✨ Poor Milk Transfer
✨ Significant Jaundice

Newborn feeding volumes are tiny in the early days, and giving more than needed can unintentionally disrupt breastfeeding...and give your baby an upset tummy!

If you don't have your own colostrum or donor milk to use and supplementation with formula is necessary, it should always come with a plan to:

✨ protect milk supply
✨ support effective feeding
✨ address the root cause

This is where good lactation support changes everything.

Prenatal consults (virtual or in-clinic) can help you prepare for these scenarios by providing guidance on milk expressions and feeding strategies to get you through these moments. And if you've already had your baby, I can come to you in hospital or home in the Comox Valley!

Book online at brimfamilycare.com

04/07/2026

If you’re preparing for birth, there’s something important to understand about newborn weight loss.

You might hear that babies shouldn’t lose “too much weight” after birth. While that can be important, the full picture is often more nuanced.

If IV fluids are given during labour (which is very common), some of that fluid can pass to your baby before birth. That can make their birth weight look a little higher than their true baseline.

In the first 24 hours, babies naturally get rid of that extra fluid and it can show up as what looks like a bigger weight loss.

So sometimes, that early drop isn’t just about feeding or milk supply.

This is why context matters and why a 24-hour weight, feeding assessment, and diaper output (and type of p**p!) can give a much clearer picture of what’s actually going on.

As you prepare, it’s worth knowing what good milk transfer looks like, and how to track things like diaper output in those early days.

Being informed ahead of time can change how you experience those first few days… and help you advocate for the support you need!

I had a conversation recently with a care provider who shared something he often says to families struggling with low mi...
04/06/2026

I had a conversation recently with a care provider who shared something he often says to families struggling with low milk supply:

“Don’t feel bad...some people just don’t make enough milk and can’t breastfeed. It's not your fault.”

His intention was genuinely kind. He was trying to soften the guilt and protect parents from feeling like they’d failed.

But it also made something really clear to me:

We still have a long way to go in how we support lactating families.

Because while that statement can feel comforting in the moment, it often gets used before a full assessment has even happened.

True primary low milk supply is rare. What’s much more common is low supply with an underlying cause that hasn’t been fully explored.

Low supply is a clinical sign and, when we stop at reassurance alone, we can miss opportunities to actually understand what’s going on and what could be improved.

This is the gap I work in. I provide a thorough investigation of your birth and health history, looking at the full picture of feeding.

And when medical follow-up is needed, I support that process by:

✨ Providing handouts for relevant blood labs to bring to your provider.
✨ Sharing evidence-based information on medications and lactation.
✨ Offering clinical context so your concerns are taken seriously.

You deserve both compassion and competent investigation. Not one instead of the other. If something feels off, it’s worth looking deeper.

I was so glad to have been able to have this conversation and provide the practitioner with more context and education around low supply. And he is now including this knowledge in his practice and will refer out to an IBCLC when it is beyond his scope or knowledge!

Need extra help? Book online with Pamela at brimfamilycare.com 💛

April is Autism Awareness Month.This feels really vulnerable, but here goes:As a late-diagnosed autistic, for a long tim...
04/02/2026

April is Autism Awareness Month.

This feels really vulnerable, but here goes:

As a late-diagnosed autistic, for a long time, I didn’t have the language for my experiences. I just moved through the world knowing certain things felt harder than they seemed to for others.

Reflecting back on my early parenting experience brought a lot of "aha" moments.

Sudden noise could feel jarring in my body. The constant sensory input of touch, sound, movement etc added up quickly. And I was often overwhelmed in group social settings, even ones that were meant to feel supportive. Trying to mask all of this made things even more exhausting.

And when I didn’t have clear, direct information, it made everything feel even more destabilizing. (I experienced this yesterday when I went for surgery and was led into a room but not told what to do after I had changed 🙈 hint: get in bed 🤣, and again when it was cancelled and I was told I could leave...I didn't know where to go!)

At the time in those early days, I didn’t understand why. I just thought I needed to handle things better. Now I understand those experiences differently.

Understanding my neurodivergence has shifted how I see myself...and how I support others.

It’s made me more intentional in my work as an IBCLC:

More clear.
More calm.
More attuned to how overwhelming this season can be, especially when your nervous system is already working hard.

Feeding challenges happen in real bodies, with real thresholds, real limits, and real needs.

If you are neurodivergent and navigating early parenting, you’re not doing it wrong. You may just need support that actually fits you.

I want to know you and your needs.
There is space and non-judgmental understanding for you here. 💜

You don't have to pack up your baby and drive to see me. Virtual consultations can be a really effective way to troubles...
03/30/2026

You don't have to pack up your baby and drive to see me. Virtual consultations can be a really effective way to troubleshoot your challenges and make a feeding plan.

I learn all about your health, pregnancy and birth history and the issues at hand. Then I demonstrate on props, offer education and support, and give you confidence in moving forward.

Plus, you have continued connection with me to ask any follow up questions that pop up along the way. It's never a one and done with me!

Discounts are always added for short appointments.

DM me for more info or Book online through the link in my bio!

lactationconsultant

Address

Cumberland, BC

Telephone

+12506506655

Website

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