Nest Lactation, Fort Washington, PA (2025)

06/25/2024

“We are Jared and Ben and we have two sons that we had via surrogacy. We were blessed to have two amazing surrogates who pumped for us in the first few months our sons were born. However, we learned right away that feeding is challenging and at times emotional especially when things don’t go as planned. With both kids, the breast milk provided for us by the surrogates couldn’t be used longterm. We learned right away that our son Luke had a dairy allergy. We then went through four different formulas until we found a dairy free formula that worked with him. We didn’t figure this out until he was four months old! With both we also dealt with severe reflux and one had to go on a medication. Our eldest son, Levi, also had to be taken off breast milk and had to try different formulas until we figured out what worked best for him.

Both our sons preferred one daddy over the other when feeding as well. Let me tell you, this was also very difficult when your baby won’t feed for you. It took a lot of patience and team work with your partner to get through these difficult times.

We learned that with feeding things don’t go as planned and you may think you have a plan in place, but that plan can very well change. We learned to take the signs from your babies on what works and doesn’t. We could tell when our sons were very uncomfortable and discussed with our pediatrician when we had concerns. We also learned that you need to push the pediatricians until you get an answer. With many feedings of spit up and GI issues we finally got answers that our son had a dairy allergy. What we did learn is that it does get better with some patience and a lot of support from your partner.”

Jared and Ben are my amazing neighbors, who are devoted dada/daddy to their two sons.

05/27/2024

It’s never fun to work on Holidays, but all the babies and mamas and coworkers make it ok.

I wanted to give a shout out to my LC partner today. Two lactation consultants covering three maternity floors and the NICU is no small task. But it’s an honor to get to do it with this woman, the one who started it all. Fifty-one years ago, Tammy Arbeter saw a need for improved postpartum breastfeeding support. In 1973, she resolutely advocated to begin a lactation program (just her initially) at Pennsylvania Hospital. To give some perspective, The IBCLE wasn’t even in existence until 1985. Hospitals in the area began to follow suit In development of lactation programs to assist new parents. Tammy could have retired years ago, but her passion and dedication to caring for patients, as a beloved lactation consultant and doula, keeps her going strong. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to work beside her, even on Holiday weekends.

05/21/2024

“As a first time mom I was profoundly clueless about breastfeeding. I had no idea what I was supposed to feel, but I assumed it was something good- and it was not good at all. Every time my daughter latched it hurt so incredibly much that I would cry and sometimes scream. People kept telling me it would get better. Eventually it did get better, but every day that I waited to that corner felt like an eternity (an eternity that included clogged ducts and terrible thrush). With the help of some incredibly compassionate lactation consultants, we were finally able to establish a wonderful breastfeeding relationship.

That daughter took this photo when she was five years old. I am breastfeeding her sister, a baby who loved nursing so much in those early days she did not want to miss a single second and so she fed all day, all night, 24/7. By the time this photo was taken I was about six weeks postpartum and I was exhausted. I truly could not keep my eyes open.

When I look at this photo I am aware of what is not pictured. There are no props, no breast friends, no boppy. I am not wearing specific nursing clothes. My feeding posture is terrible. Feeding my younger child was so different from feeding my older child. I was exhausted, yes, but I was relaxed. There was pain, bleeding, and, again, thrush. But this time I knew that it really would get better. We would figure it out together. And, most importantly, I now knew that every breastfeeding relationship is unique and that there are a million ways for parents and their babies to bond through feeding.

I treasure this photo because it reminds me of how much more hope I felt as a second time mom. When it was hard, it was HARD. But always held on to hope that just like every stage in parenthood, this challenge would also pass.”

Hilary Waller is a friend and colleague, well established as a counselor for perinatal families. Hilary co-authored The Perinatal Patient and trains other mental health professionals on perinatal moods disorders through PESI and The PPSC. You can find her info on Psychology Today.

05/03/2024

“I love this photo because Sam is my third and last child and I finally felt confident breastfeeding publicly. While breastfeeding my first child, I never would have felt comfortable feeding in public because, as a new mom, I didn’t feel capable enough. My second child was hard to feed while out because he really preferred a lay down hold, so I would have to lie down to feed him well. It was funny because I’d be at someone’s house and ask to lie on the floor in one of their rooms. Breastfeeding is such a journey and is different for each child. I always share that with my clients who are struggling. Each of my children presented with a new and unique struggle that had nothing to do with me as the breastfeeding mom. Sometimes it’s truly the baby and not the mama!”

Jenny is a colleague and friend of mine. She, with this picture, was my inspiration for starting this series on parent feeding stories. Jenny and I worked together at The Postpartum Stress Center for several years. Jenny now has her own practice, specializing in perinatal mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, and complex relationships. Check her out at therapyhome.llc

04/25/2024

I will start with my story. I only have one image of me breastfeeding my first child, which I searched for and was unable to locate. The lack of photos tells a story in itself. When I had my first child I was determined to exclusively breastfeed. For most of my life, I was able to achieve what I set my mind upon. But breastfeeding came with challenges for me. During my first lactation consult, It was determined that my son had a tight frenulum, which was revised, but in that same appointment I was also told that he wasn’t transferring enough milk. That’s ok. We would work it out. I would meet this challenge. I pumped diligently after ever feed, 8-12x a day (for over a year) and I rented a scale, weighing him before and after each feed to know the exact amount that I needed to supplement with (this is something I strongly discourage anyone from doing). The thing is, even with all the work and effort I put in, I never made a full milk supply. I was about 5-8ounces short a day. This devastated me. I was a therapist at the time and aware of the importance of mental health, but it was difficult for me to focus on all my efforts and the love I was putting in, and not view this as a failure.
Around 3 months of age, my son began having issues feeding due to severe acid reflux, later receiving the diagnosis of gastroparesis (he’s a thriving and healthy 14 yo now). This was a very difficult period for me. I was a mother and a caregiver for the first several years of his life. After I climbed out of the woods of this time, I began to focus my attention on supporting other parents during this vulnerable period. I began shifting my specialization as a therapist from working with children, to working with their parents. I became a IBCLC to help support other families in meeting their breastfeeding goals. I wanted to offer guidance with empathy so that others didn’t feel as overwhelmed as I had in that first year.
The picture I am posting is of me and my second son, 7 months old in this photo. Did I still have supply issues? Yes. Did he have reflux as well? Yep. But I had grown so much from the feeding circumstances with my first child. I had been broken open in such a way that forced me to deal with any underlying issues I held. That I now looked at these challenges as a gift that has informed the way I parent my children even today. I recognize, now more than ever, that challenges are always an opportunity for growth. And I’m thankful for the good, the bad and the ugly.

Chandra Campana owns two businesses, Artful Healing Counseling and Nest Lactation, part of Flourish Family Collective in Fort Washington. Chandra offers virtual and in office therapy appointments, specializing in perinatal mood disorders, grief, parenting support, anxiety/OCD, and cPTSD. She offers in home and in office Lactation Consults as well. Check out her websites:
nestlactation.com
artfulhealingcounseling.com

04/25/2024

Today starts the beginning of a new series on feeding stories from real parents. I was inspired to start this series when I came across a profile picture of my friend breastfeeding her baby. I began thinking about all the people in my life and how vastly different their feeding journeys have been. In all my experience with friends, family, and patients, I have never seen one feeding story that is the same as the next. Recognizing the uniqueness of each narrative can help diminish the shame and pressures that come from black and white thinking. My hope is to lift up and showcase individual stories, as telling our stories helps to grow our community and lends to feeling supported and held. I will post a new story every Thursday. DM me with a story and photo if you are interested in sharing.

Nest Lactation

06/25/2024

05/27/2024

05/21/2024

05/03/2024

04/25/2024

04/25/2024

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