Kansas Doula + Lactation Support : The Midwest Momma Collective

08/17/2022

Did you really think growing, birthing, and raising a HUMAN-BEING was going to fit into your perfectly planned pre-baby life?

If you are a recovering “girl boss”, it can feel like a huge slap in the face when you can’t keep up with the never ending list of to-dos you once had for yourself before baby arrived.

Momma, give yourself some grace and freeze a few of those expectations that you set for yourself (or from others around you).

You are doing a disservice to yourself and all the women that come after us by pretending a baby doesn’t change things.

This is a season and I promise it will come to an end. Things will begin to feel more manageable and you can pull from that freezer full of expectations and start thawing a few for a rainy day.

If you need permission to SLOW DOWN, I’m giving it to you right here, right now!!!! 😘

08/28/2021

Truth 💣 from

08/28/2021

sharing from
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🤎It’s Black Breastfeeding Week🤎 I don’t know why, but I have always been attracted to powerful black women. It’s pure ✨magic✨when black women, who have historically experienced generations of oppression, embrace their God-given superpower to birth and breastfeed like a boss.💪🏽

This week, and every week, I salute you, birthing Queens!👸🏽

Why , you may ask? 🤱🏽❓

"Black Breastfeeding Week was created because for over 40 years there has been a gaping racial disparity in breastfeeding rates. The most recent CDC data show that 75% of white women have ever breastfed versus 58.9% of black women. The fact that racial disparity in initiation and even bigger one for duration has lingered for so long is reason enough to take 7 days to focus on the issue.”
- website

Here are a few more reasons to consider:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
📌 The high black infant mortality rate (nearly twice the rate of white babies!) 😢
📌 The high black maternal mortality rate: 3-4X higher than white mothers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
📌 The history of black slave women who were forced to wet nurse their white master’s babies, creating a generational and cultural negative stigma surrounding BF.
📌 Lack of BF support in the black community, and maternal care at large.
📌 Black moms are 9X more likely to be offered formula by hospitals than white women.
📌 Lack of access to education and lactation support.
📌 Lack of diversity in lactation support.

THAT 👆🏽 is why.⠀⠀

Black Mamas,
👏🏽 YOU deserve equal and quality lactation support
👏🏽 YOU are capable of nourishing your baby
👏🏽 YOU are breaking the stigma and empowering a generation of strong black mothers. 💪🏽

I support you in your birth and breastfeeding goals and I will use this platform to magnify your successes until ALL women are supported and empowered in their motherhood journey. 📣

Tag a mama to let her know, “I support you!” 🖤

📸

08/17/2021

Repost from Bao Bei Body] at the beginning of
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“Let’s normalize breastfeeding while pregnant.” Motherhood & Lifestyle]

I’m 33 weeks pregnant in my second pregnancy, and still breastfeeding. It’s safe, it’s normal and it’s still natural.



📸 Motherhood & Lifestyle] wearing the Bao Bei Body] Adore Bralette in Latte

08/06/2021

08/03/2021

the numbers shared here just scratch the service

V v V v V

https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm

and they vary drastically based on the level of short AND long-term support in your city/state/region.

if you happen to follow me from the UK, percentages are even lower at the 6 month mark and my guess is we will never report breastfeeding rates beyond 12 months.

it is pure synchronicity that our neighbor breastfed her daughter into toddlerhood, and I never once felt like I had to interrupt their play time by taking her to feed in private or refuse a feeding in their company.

I’m tearing up just typing this, because I’ve heard stories from MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS who for 4-5 years due to the stigma I plan to fight until the day I die.

We ALL deserve to share our stories (and struggles) and this is just one reason why exists!

08/02/2021

❤️sharing from
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Today marks the first day of World Breastfeeding Week. The goal of this week is to raise awareness of the health and wellbeing outcomes of breastfeeding. This goal is not only to help improve the health of babies but to also promote, protect, and support the rights of women to breastfeed anywhere and at any time. AND I WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR HYPE GIRL!!

But first, I just wanted to give a little reminder that ALL breastfeeding journeys should be celebrated. No matter how long it lasts. No matter what it looks like. Even if it’s not what you envisioned when you were pregnant.

Breastfeeding is a very personal journey that you take with your baby(ies). Sometimes that journey is harder than you expected, or shorter than you wanted. Breastfeeding is not only defined only as directly latching and the value is certainly not defined by how long you breastfed, or if you exclusively pumped, used a supplemental nursing system, etc.

All breastfeeding journeys are valuable and should be celebrated. And that’s what this week is all about. I see all of you mamas! Black and white image: Berkshire Breastfeeds

07/17/2021

(.)(.)

🤱🏻World Breastfeeding Week is around the corner and I am so excited to finally announce KC’s very first✨Latch & Lounge✨is open for registration.

This indoor/outdoor event is FREE for families and will be held in Lee Summit on August 1st from 4-6pm ❤️

💁🏼‍♀️We can’t wait to spoil you with gift bags, professional nursing photos, and a community of postpartum professionals ready to serve you in this journey.

We will not stop advocating, until every parent feels supported in their feeding journey, AT ALL TIMES, no questions asked❗️

🎟 The Eventbrite registration is linked in my bio.

PLEASE share with anyone nursing, pumping, donating or supplementing human milk in any capacity. All feedings journeys welcome and respected 🌈

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kc-latch-lounge-registration-163086657583

06/27/2021

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻from
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Just a reminder: not every problem needs a solution. Sometimes it just needs a listening ear.

I was working with a momma this week that was struggling juggling combo feeding and needed a good vent. But everyone she had tried to speak to, partner included, told her if she was so frustrated to just quit.

But she didn’t want to quit. She just needed someone to validate what she was going through.

When moms want to talk about their feeding journey and the struggles they are having, the last thing they need is to be told to stop or cut their journey short.

Instead we should ask HOW can we help support them in their journey to help them achieve their goals. What are their goals? Do they even want to stop? Or do they just need a reminder that yes, this is HARD but they are doing a fantastic job!

Sometimes with our best intentions we may think telling a momma it’s okay to quit is what she needs to hear, but the truth is, she just needs us to listen and support her. And if we’re not sure how, just ask.

🤍

06/14/2021

sharing from
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We spend SO much time & money on gender reveals, baby showers, birth prep & delivery....but what about creating a Postpartum Plan?

I did a poll the other day on if you purchased + created a postpartum plan .... only 4% of people said they did.

Real truth moment: for the first birth of my son, I didn’t either. I didn’t know to. No one told me to. I was unaware of what was to come. Over the years, I’ve become more educated through experience, creating relationships with doulas, mama coaches, and birth + postpartum educators, and other PFPT’s. One you know all your options, you can’t unknown and I plan to share this information with all of you.

Tell me — did you create a postpartum plan? If you came across someone who told you about it, would you have then?

🤍 Jess , follow along for all things postpartum, pelvic floor education, & rehab from birth.

06/12/2021

This image is perfection!

sharing from
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Ok please let’s stop saying this.

With many years experience as a midwife I will acknowledge your pain and validate your experience.
And I will reassure you that there’s nothing wrong with you.
You are not broken.
You will heal.

Your nervous system is actually working fine and has responded appropriately when you faced a real or perceived threat to your own life or the life of your baby / babies.

I’ve seen so many clients traumatised by their perinatal experience and after treatment move forward healed and restored.
Artist 👩‍🎨 unknown please tag

06/06/2021

I might have screamed my baby out, but because my throat was OPEN, she was out in 3 pushes 🙌🏼
reposting from
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In my birth classes, I ask students to practice holding their breath and pushing, just like they coach you in the hospital...

“What happens in your va**na?,” I ask.
❌“Tightness”
❌“Clenching”
❌“Closed”
❌“Tense”

Next I show them how to push using breath…. “What do you feel in your va**na now?”
✅“Openness”
✅“Expansive”
✅“Release”

Now, what do you think is more helpful to pushing a baby out? 🤔

It’s not rocket science. 🚀

It’s basic physics.

When you hold you breath, it tightens the pelvic floor and va**nal muscles around baby’s head.

What happens when you push an 8 pound baby into tense, tight muscles? FRICTION. 😬

That’s how baby’s get “stuck”

That’s why we are seeing an increase in pelvic floor damage and severe tearing. 🙅🏼‍♀️

That’s why it takes 2-4 HOURS of pushing on average in hospitals.

It’s not instinctual.

It’s not physiological.

It’s damaging women’s body’s
..And isn’t healthy for babies. 👶

You never need to hold your breath in labor. If you do push, try short, grunty pushes as baby is crowning.

The body is brilliantly designed to labor the baby down all by itself.

Want to learn how to push physiologically?

👉I show you how in the Pain Free Birth E-Course.🙌 (Link in bio)

❓How long did you push?

04/26/2021

ALL👏🏻OF👏🏻THIS👏🏻!
Ditch the clock and feeding apps and learn your baby’s feeding cues ❤️..
sharing from + .dietitian
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when it came to my daughter, I decided to trust my instincts when it came to feeding her.

the common way that most people are taught to feed their babies is on a strict schedule for a certain number of minutes at a time. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been adjusting a baby and witness their rooting reflex. I look at mama and tell her that her baby wants to nurse and she says no, baby just ate 30 minutes ago so she isn’t hungry... but she’s rooting...

we’ve been conditioned that our babies asking for more food is a sign that they’re manipulating us and just want to use you as a pacifier.

comfort is a biological need and babies don’t manipulate.

the best thing we can do for our babies is observe. just take a breath, put the parenting books down, and observe your baby. are they rooting? offer them an opportunity to eat. are they wiping their eyes? offer them an opportunity to sleep. get to know how they communicate and start responding to their needs.

the world will tell you your baby needs 8-12 feedings in a 24 hour period (which is every 2-3 hours). as an adult, if you’re hungry 1.5 hours after breakfast, you’ll get a snack, right? or maybe you’ll dive right into an early lunch. why make your baby wait until the 2 hour mark?

because a book, your doctor, a nurse, friend, or family member told you to?

I timed some newborn feedings with rosie and she would eat 16 times a day. responsive feeding is definitely not common, but it is the biological norm.

photo by my dear friend

04/22/2021

asking the important questions in this country!

04/18/2021

doula 🙋🏼‍♀️lactation consultant 🙋🏼‍♀️
sharing from
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🤔Why does this list seem like a luxury❓

Support is SO important during the initial postpartum period. In my humble opinion this ☝🏼is the
🌟Postpartum Dream Team 🌟

Every woman should leave her birth experience with the contact information of a mental health provider trained in perinatal mood disorders, a specialist in pelvic floor therapy and a lactation consultant 💥

Let’s do better by our mamas and get them hooked up!

👩🏻‍💻👩🏽‍💻👩🏼‍💻SHARE this if you’re fired up to change postpartum!

04/16/2021

For three days, three different doctors told me I was fine with retained placenta & membranes inside of me. Mothers have died from sepsis from this EXACT cause, and in my third trimester, I knew one personally. Had I dismissed this inner “knowing” it’s possible I would not be here today. This is now the cornerstone of my business as a doula and lactation consultant. Let me help you tap into this intuitive knowing 💫
sharing from .holistic.psychologist
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We have been conditioned within education systems that tell us “experts” have letters next to their names. These letters cost—in my case hundreds of thousands of dollars + access to this education is limited to those who can perform with academic standards which typically means a skill in memorizing chosen information then repeating it.

Healing is a process that cannot be taught within a classroom.

There are no experts, only lifelong students.

It’s a lived experience. It’s a journey. It’s an awakening to the truth of who we are. It’s an awareness of our our soul + how we are interconnected as a collective.

The people I learn from are the people who speak from their heart. From their intuitive wisdom. The people I bring onto my team (almost all of them lack formal credentials) are the people who have hit rock bottom, who’ve met themselves, who have the courage to face their past, who have the belief in themselves to create their future. Who speak belief + hope rather than fear or division.

As a doctor of psychology, I have respect for the time, commitment, + dedication it takes to get formal credentials. And, I’m incredibly aware of the limits within these systems. Of who creates the content taught. Of who benefits from the current structure of psychology that says we are genetically bound to our fate + that “professionals” carry all of the knowledge.

To those of you wanting to teach, wanting to be on purpose, wanting to create community around what matters to you— I see you. Start talking. Start creating conversations. Start sharing YOUR story, because it heals.

There is space for every one of us. It’s our first responsibility (+opportunity) to own it. The world needs you .

04/15/2021

This is SO important when we are talking inflammation and sticky clogs within a milk duct. I’ve seen mommas bruise their breasts from forcing a clog from behind and the outcome is NEVER good 😩
love this visual from
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Clogged duct? 😖
WHERE exactly do you massage? Think about a crowd of people all trying to get through a door at the same time. That’s what happening!
⭐️BEFORE PUMPING- Applying vibration BETWEEN your ni**le and the clog can help clear the way!
You can also use your finger tips or a wide-tooth comb starting at the ni**le and going away from the ni**le in direction. (That’s the opposite of what you might think to do!)
⭐️ WHILE PUMPING- Then, while using long slow squeezes of your manual pump, or dangle-pumping, or dangle-nursing, massage with the pads of your fingers to guide that clogged milk toward the ni**le.

03/25/2021

was one of the first accounts I found & followed that helped me self-diagnose the PTSD is was experiencing.

Traditional talk therapy left me reliving the same experience week after week and I was already physically and mentally exhausted from the daily flashbacks, ruminating thoughts, and nightmares of my third stage.

I knew this could not be fixed with medication, so I filled my prescription and it joined the other unused bottles in my medicine cabinet. The trauma stored in my body needed to move OUT and I knew that couldn’t happen with an anti-depressant. to be continued...

sharing from
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Are you pregnant? ......
Have you found you are veering between utter joy, anger and emotional bouts of tears?

Pregnancy can feel like an emotional rollercoaster.

Around 12% of women may experience antenatal or prenatal depression – a depression that occurs during pregnancy.

Antenatal depression can be caused by a hormonal imbalance but other factors may cause this.
For example previous miscarriages or birth trauma, a
history of depression or poor support can be some causes.

If you have suffered a previous traumatic birth, you may feel overwhelmed and triggered in a new pregnancy.

If this is you......Please get in touch ☎️📩

Beautiful art