Nursing Mamas' Advocate

08/07/2025

08/06/2025

New sticker rolling out, just in time to give a bunch away for !
Make sure to follow along August 1-7 for your chance to get one! ❤️

08/06/2025

When I moved to Asheville in 2016, I had five under the age of 18 and Asheville Pediatrics took care of my littles. Today during a visit I noticed they have a breastfeeding room! Congratulations 🎊

08/06/2025

💝💝💝

We are thrilled to invite you to the 5th Annual Breastfeeding Bash!

This event is FREE for ALL! Whether you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, combo-feeding, pumping or a support person- you are welcome! Come enjoy games, music, free food, giveaways and more. RSVP now for a chance to win a $100 gift card and other AMAZING raffle prizes.You must RSVP to be eligible for the raffles! RSVP LINK: HTTPS://FORMS.GLE/SEUNW98MVNLPRTUA6

04/09/2025

The natural term for us humans to breastfeed is anywhere between 2 and 7+ years. Some babies stop earlier, some children carry on for longer. It’s thought that the eruption of the permanent set of teeth (losing your milk teeth) influences this timescale.

Many cultures around the world breastfeed until natural term, including many women in the Western world. This age range is only surprising in cultures that interrupt breastfeeding, often without realising it or knowing which norms are biological and which are cultural.

The concentration of fats and proteins increase as the baby grows into a toddler, along with increased levels of antibacterial and antiviral components such as lysozyme, which is an anti-inflammatory, and destroys bacteria.

Lysozyme increases in concentration from about 6 months old, when babies become more independently mobile and everything (toys, sand, twigs, the cats biscuits?) goes straight in the mouth, and keeps increasing after the first year.

The concentration of Lactoferrin also increases over time. Lactoferrin inhibits the growth of some cancerous cells. It also helps our babies to absorb their own iron stores, whilst binding to the iron in our baby’s body which prevents it from being available to harmful microorganisms that need iron to survive. Lactoferrin also kills the bacteria strep mutans, which causes tooth decay and cavities.

Our body’s immune system takes around 6 years to become fully mature, so the support of the protective factors in human milk until our immune system can fully function on its own seems play a part in the timescale of natural term weaning too.

Longer term breastfeeding is also associated with reduced risk of diseases for the mother, including breast cancer.

We acknowledge that many mothers find it difficult to establish breastfeeding in the first place, that breastfeeding is a multi-layered investment on the part of a mother and that natural term feeding might not feel like - or be - a possibility for many.

Or you might simply not want to. We're not here to tell anyone what to do.

We also acknowledge that lack of information about our biology contributes to the lack of support for mothers when they want to establish - or continue - breastfeeding, but cannot find the help they need from people who understand why it matters so much, or what is normal.

Let's continue to turn that around.

More information and references about how remarkable you are at https://human-milk.com/pages/science-of-breastmilk

10/21/2024

Help support North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition by donating or sharing with your friends.

10/21/2024

Milk donations have reopened! Please let me know if you are interested in donating breast milk to the families of Western North Carolina. We can put you in contact with the appropriate folks to get milk into the right hands.

10/21/2024

BREASTFEEDING FACT 🌮🍤🥘
Human breast milk contains the smells and flavors of what you eat.

The baby tasted these same flavors in utero (through the amniotic fluid) and breastfeeding continues to help the baby become used to the cultural food preferences and flavors of their family.

It is not true that flavorful or spicy foods are not okay to eat while breastfeeding, as well as all vegetables.

It is important to continue to eat a wide variety of foods as this is a critical time in your baby’s taste bud development.

📸: ( Fresh Pine Photography - St. Louis Motherhood Stories)

10/02/2024

09/14/2024

Knowledge is better than wealth❤️

In a world that often glorifies hustle and constant productivity, it’s important to remember that breastfeeding thrives on patience and presence. Nursing a baby on demand isn’t something that can be rushed or scheduled. It requires slowing down, tuning into your baby’s needs, and embracing the moment. While the hustle mindset may work in some areas of life, nurturing your baby is about connection and meeting their needs with love and care. Let’s celebrate slowing down and making space for the beautiful, natural rhythm of breastfeeding. 💖

09/14/2024

It’s all connected!

Co-regulation is huge! Here are some tools for regulation and co-regulation:
🩷https://www.theottoolbox.com/zones-of-regulation-activities/
❤️https://www.theottoolbox.com/co-regulation/

Image from Psychotherapy Central