Nourishing Roots Lactation Services

16/03/2025

Here’s a free opportunity to learn about introducing solid food! Held at the public library in Welland. Register at the link! https://www.wellandlibrary.ca/event-details/feeding-with-confidence-2

16/03/2025

Here is a free opportunity to learn about introducing solid food! Held at the public library in Welland. Register now! https://www.wellandlibrary.ca/event-details/feeding-with-confidence-2

12/02/2025

Such a great infographic to explain the wide variation of feeding patterns that often puzzle us!

All LLLC information sheets have been written and reviewed by a team of La Leche League Canada Leaders who are also International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). If you find these resources helpful, please consider making a donation so we can continue to help breastfeeding families i...

08/02/2025

This is always fascinating to read about!

Breastfeeding does more than nourish—it actually has the power to influence a baby’s genes! Research has shown that human milk can turn on beneficial genes and suppress harmful ones, shaping long-term health outcomes.

How does this work?
Human milk contains microRNAs and other bioactive components that help regulate gene expression—meaning they can control which genes are activated or silenced.

This is particularly important because:
✅ It helps correct mutations in genes that may lead to health issues.
✅ It strengthens the immune system by turning on protective genes.
✅ It reduces inflammation and lowers the risk of chronic diseases.
✅ It supports brain development and gut health, laying a strong foundation for lifelong well-being.

This means breastfeeding is not just about nutrition—it’s actively programming a baby’s health at a genetic level! The more we learn about human milk, the more we understand how it truly is nature’s first medicine.

17/06/2024

Such a great visual!

On day 1 and day 2, human stomachs are very small. At this time, they can't stretch either. The small amounts of thick colostrum are just right for tiny tummies getting used to a new way of eating.

By day 3, a baby's stomach begins to be able to expand. Interestingly, it is between day 3 and day 5 that milk volume starts to increase for most mothers. As your milk production increases, your baby’s stomach expands slowly to be able to hold more milk.

01/06/2024

This is lovely!

LLLC is proud to support all families in their breastfeeding, nursing, chestfeeding, human milk feeding journeys! Every mother, parent, family looking for support is welcome!

12/04/2024

This is an important reminder!

Babies have their own feeding patterns. Some feed at regular intervals. Others feed very irregularly. Some babies cluster feed. This means they nurse very often for a few hours and then sleep for several hours. A good milk supply is established by following your baby’s feeding cues, not scheduling feedings. Cues may include licking lips, restlessness, rooting (turning head towards breast) or mouthing hands. Crying is a late hunger cue. Typically 8 to 12 feeds or more within 24 hour is expected.

*Also big thank you to LLLC Group Mom Heather for breastfeeding a clock and her baby for this post!*

09/02/2024

Love this!

These two babies both attend the same La Leche League Canada Group with their moms.

The little girl is at the 3rd percentile, meaning 3 percent of exclusively breastfed babies are smaller than she is. And the little boy is at the 90th percentile, meaning 10 percent of exclusively breastfed babies are larger than him.

Both are almost 5 months old and are exclusively breastfeeding, as often and as long as they want to. Neither of them has even been given a bottle, formula or solid foods.

Both babies are happy, healthy and developing well. Humans come in a wide variety of sizes!

10/12/2023

Good to know during this festive season!

Can peppermint really impact milk production?

Peppermint has been used to decrease milk production in some cultures. Does that mean you need to skip the candy canes this season? Probably not. There is very little peppermint oil in most candy canes. (And much, much less in peppermint tea, if you were wondering.) There are no published studies on the impact of peppermint oil on lactation so no one really knows the answer to this question. But like most foods, peppermint candy canes can likely be eaten in moderation with no impact on your milk production.

The bigger concern is delayed or shortened feedings due to the busyness of the holiday season. Remember to take the time you need to nurse your baby. That may mean you are late for that party, or the other guests need to wait for dinner. That’s okay. During this season of giving it can be helpful to remember that the only gift your baby wants is time with you.

28/11/2023

The levels of iron in human milk are remarkably constant despite variations in maternal diet or the mother’s iron body stores. Your milk contains the perfect amount of iron to complement your baby’s own iron stores while exclusively breastfeeding. There is also enough to tide your child over during the introduction to solid foods. This iron is in a highly bioavailable form. That means that it’s easy for your baby’s body to absorb. Babies can absorb up to 50% of the iron in human milk, as opposed to only 4-10% of the iron in iron-fortified cereal. The lactose and vitamin C in human milk increase iron absorption.

Human milk contains small amounts of iron, but breastfed babies generally are not anemic or iron deficient. The reason is found in the gut microbes. Studies have shown that formula fed babies have higher numbers of iron-stealing bacteria in their guts. This reduces the amount of iron which can be absorbed by these babies. Breastfed babies, on the other hand, have less iron-stealing bacteria and more vitamin C producing bacteria in their guts. Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron.
Read more:
https://www.lllc.ca/iron-and-breastfeeding

20/11/2023

It should be self-evident that very small people will have very small stomachs but you might be surprised just how limited the capacity of a newborn’s stomach is.

Before birth your baby never felt hunger because the placenta provided constant nutrition. After birth small frequent feedings help your baby transition to an intermittent rather than a constant feeding pattern. To make this transition easier for your baby, your breasts provide small amounts of very thick, concentrated milk, called colostrum on Day 1.

A brand new baby’s stomach does not stretch on days 1 and 2. By Day 3 the stomach starts to expand to hold more milk. Interestingly, it is between day 3-5 that the milk volume starts to increase for most mothers. As your milk supply increases, your baby’s stomach expands slowly to be able to hold more milk.

When your baby is latched well and is drinking effectively, your milk supply increases to keep up with your baby’s needs. In this way, your baby stimulates your breasts to make more milk as your baby’s appetite increases.

Read more to learn how your baby’s stomach changes in the early days.
https://www.lllc.ca/sounds-breastfeeding

19/11/2023

Your milk contains stem cells. These are cells that build and repair the body. They can make copies of themselves and also become other types of cells, such a bones cells, heart cells, liver and brain cells etc.

Your baby ingests thousands to millions of stem cells from your milk every day.

Multiple studies have been conducted on stem cells and their effect on tissue repair, wound healing, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease. These cells may also be a reason that mothers who breastfeed have a reduced risk of breast cancer.

Further reading and references here https://www.human-milk.com/science