Susan Howard, IBCLC

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Falls Church, VA
Susan Howard, IBCLC

Nurse. Lactation Consultant. Mentor. Lactogeek. Baby Bottle whisperer.

05/01/2026

Back in the 1950s era, "Mothercraft" classes were a cornerstone of midwifery care in Britain. They covered hygiene, feeding tips, bottle prep, and more so new moms felt prepared.

The main goal was always to help moms feel safe, confident, and informed to care for their baby.

And the same rings true today. Navigating breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping, etc is always better with knowledgeable, judgment-free support.

That's exactly why I love being an IBCLC. No matter the era, moms have always needed support 💙

Lactation is, and always will be, timeless.

Have you heard of "Mothercraft"? Let me know in the comments 💙

04/29/2026

This special note popped in my mailbox not too long ago, and it makes me smile every time I glance over at it.

Isolated postpartum days are hard to get through.

So, it's a little easier when you have other women in your circle, always there to help you out when you need it.

While I don't do in-person visits and groups as much, when it comes along, I truly love doing it. Motherhood can be lonely if you let it be. And that's why I love being a warm source of support for moms that just need to make lactation a bit easier 💙

04/27/2026

What to do with leftover bottles?

Well, if you noticed, I've been sprinkling in a few posts about what to do with them. And now I'm putting them in one place for you to save...

And I came up with an extra idea at the end! 💙

Happy Monday!

04/24/2026

Have you seen one of these?

This is a vintage Meinecke bottle sterilizer (circa 1950s) and built for hospital use. Practical, functional, and no-nonsense.

The set includes the outer vessel, a perforated insert, and a fitted lid. It has heavy-gauge steel with a white enamel finish and a classic blue trim.

It's small, but it tells a bigger story about how hospitals were approaching infant feeding safety long before lactation support looked anything like it does today.

Bottle sterilizers have certainly come a long way since this one!

Have you ever come across a piece of vintage baby or feeding equipment like this one? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. 💙

04/21/2026

Before you toss or stash those small bottles, here’s a fun idea: use them as mini rolling pins. 🍼

They’re perfect for personal pizzas, pastries, or any dough you need to roll out in a smaller space. Give it a try next time you make pizza 🍕

04/20/2026

If you don't want to buy an expensive bottle warmer, try this instead.

Just grab a to-go cup and fill it with hot water (about halfway). When you want to warm a bottle, place it inside and it'll warm up quickly.

It works great in a pinch, and less expensive than a bottle warmer 🍼💙

Would you ever try it?

04/17/2026

Did you know colostrum was once thrown out?

It’s fascinating. Actually, various cultures throughout history have held differing thoughts on colostrum.

In some pre-industrial cultures, colostrum was viewed as unhealthy because the yellow color resembled pus or body waste. Mothers were advised to let their "first milk" pass through before nursing their babies. Many cultures still hold this belief.

But we now know how valuable colostrum really is.

Colostrum is loaded with antibodies that serve to protect baby from infections. It contains immunoglobulin A, which acts like a sealant for your baby's intestines. It coats the gap junctions in the gut, helping seal out pathogens and minimize allergies. The prebiotics in colostrum help populate the gut with healthy bacteria setting the stage for a healthy gut microbiome. It also acts as a natural laxative to help clear meconium and minimize jaundice.

It's the critical bridge that protects and builds immunity before the mature milk comes in. And it's exactly what your baby needs in those first few days of life.

The small quanity helps a newborn learn to safely coordinate sucking and swallowing before the milk volume significantly increases.

Early colostrum collection (starting around 36-37 weeks for some parents) can be a helpful tool, especially if the mother has gestational diabetes, or other risk factors for low supply.

Mothers can also hand express extra colostrum after the baby is born for supplementation in the early days.

In short, colostrum = literal liquid gold. 🌟

What are your thoughts on colostrum? Were you encouraged to collect or supplement with colostrum?

04/14/2026

Early parenthood can be a delicate time. And oftentimes, having lactation issues can just compound the stress and worry. Usually, all it takes is a few small, thoughtful tweaks and a listening ear.

I'm so incredibly grateful to be in a position where I can help families during these moments and provide them with the support and guidance they need 💙

04/13/2026

Tending to a toddler after having your second baby is filled with tiny, daily challenges. These tiny challenges tend to pile up, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed.

One of these tiny challenges is this:

The moment you sit down to nurse or snuggle your new baby, your toddler says, "Mama, I need a snack!"

With the likelihood this will be a daily occurrence, here's one idea to solve it:

Prepare a toddler-friendly snack basket. Make sure it has snacks that toddlers can eat without much help and put it in a reachable (or even portable) location.

This way, you'll be able to keep sitting, and your toddler will be satisfied (at least for a little bit).

Would you try this idea? Let me know in the comments 🥰

04/11/2026

Did you know there were foot-pedal pumps?

They were a little clunky, but made a lot of sense during an era when pumps were still large, mechanical, and built for hospital settings. Actually, Medela's first hospital pump came out in 1980, and their first battery powered one wasn't built until 1991. So, during that time, some models were just foot operated!

The portable, personal pump came a bit later.

But, now, we can look back fondly on the foot pedal pump!

Photo credit: LactationHub

04/08/2026

Just when you're about to return to work, it happens: bottle refusal.

At first, it feels overwhelming. You don't have much time, and you're not sure how to fix it.

I've worked with a lot of parents (like Krista) who came to me at a loss. And often, the solution isn't as complicated as it feels. Sometimes all it takes is making the problem smaller. In many cases, a few small adjustments can make a real difference.

I love helping families find a path out of bottle refusal, even with the most persnickety babies 💙

So, if you're struggling with this, I'm here to help. Message me anytime 💙

04/07/2026

I know pumping moms have a bunch of these bottles taking up space in their cabinet. They aren't being used for milk, and yet they aren't great for donating either.

So, if you have a bunch of these and have toddlers to entertain, they make great sensory bottles. Put a few beads, buttons, or tiny toys inside them and make your toddler happy 🥰

I'm going to share this in a series with more bottle repurposing ideas. Not super groundbreaking, but practical and fun. And if you have them why not use them?

Do you have any great ideas for leftover bottles from the baby years? If so, I'd love to read them in the comments.

Address

Falls Church, VA
22042

Website

http://www.arlingtonlactation.com/

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