Melanie Myers, IBCLC

08/08/2022

02/05/2022

Truth ❤️

In case no one has told you just how amazing you are... you're doing a brilliant job.

You're doing a far better job than those doubts that creep into your mind have you think

You are far more amazing than that nagging voice that tells you that you could do better.

You know your baby better than any one else.

Yeah we all make mistakes or have things in hindsight that we'd like to do differently. But you know what? That's normal. Everyone feels that way. And it really doesn't matter.

Your baby doesn't need you to be entertaining all day long. They don't need the latest gadgets. Or a stream of stimulating day trips. They just need you ... and to be warm, dry and fed.

Good enough parenting - where you make mistakes/ get distracted / aren't always immediately responsive is known to be, by definition, good enough! Brilliant stuff.

Now stop beating yourself up and recognise yourself for the brilliant parent you are.

02/05/2022

And an underdeveloped mammal at that. I remember as a student being told that really babies should be born at about 18 months old: able to walk, speak, and feed themselves (well, put food in their mouth, not pop to Tesco, rustle up a three-course dinner and do the washing up).

Of course, given the size of a toddler and the size of the human pelvis, that would be unfeasible to say the least, so babies are born sooner. This means, however, that most of their first year is devoted to brain development and getting the hang of key skills like holding their head up and eventually being able to move around.

Other baby mammals, such as giraffes or cows, can walk and feed themselves soon after birth and spend most of their early months growing bigger. Of course, human brains are also more complex (we have rational thought, more developed language skills and can think in abstract terms about the future and so on) and babies need time to develop their brains too.

Not to freak you out or anything, but this means that your small person is pretty much totally dependent on you (and anyone else who cares for them). Unlike a baby giraffe, they can’t walk, feed themselves or run away from danger. So they need to be absolutely sure that you are going to care for them and help them out a bit.

Don''t let anyone tell you that a small baby is 'manipulating you' or 'needs to be in a routine for their own good' or 'you're making a rod for your own back'. They're only 'manipulating' if getting support is manipulative!

When they cry it’s because they can’t do things for themselves.

When they don’t want to be put down, it’s because they’re afraid of being left alone and you're their safe space.

When they feed all night, it’s because they’re growing so quickly.

It’s not wrong (or unusual) to start to find this frustrating over time. It's not wrong to vent to anyone who will listen about how tough this is. Or do be desperate for a break. Or to draw on all the support available to you so you can make time for yourself.

But it will change as they grow and develop. And by meeting their needs you're showing them that they can trust you and the world is a good place.

01/06/2021

Posted • Newborn bow hat tutorial! Did you get one when you had your baby girl?
myersibclc 👉 Ever wonder? Now ya know 😉

01/06/2021

Posted • It’s really easy to share photos of ourselves when we feel our best. Hair done, flattering makeup and a feel-good outfit. But for me, that’s only 1% of my life. I’m a mom. I’m usually in a t-shirt and some kind of comfortable pants, sneakers or a pair of house flip flops which I never thought I’d own. My hair is rarely brushed, but down because it’s too short to do a high bun. (I did that to myself on purpose) This is me. Dark circles and all. Don’t compare yourself to the pretty photos you see on social media. They are not real life. ♥️ My b***s are more like brown paper bags, my skin has been breaking out consistently since my teenage years, I lose my s**t at least 1 time a day, I get frustrated, I need a break, I forget to brush my kids teeth, I question myself but at the end of the day I know I’m doing my best and that’s all I can do.myersibclc 👉 So important. Your kiddies ❤️ you just as you are. You do you 😉

01/05/2021

✨Yes, I can help YOU✨
✨Yes, I can help you VIRTUALLY✨
Don’t struggle! Reach out and get the breastfeeding support you need.
Not sure🤔 check out my reviews! https://g.page/MelanieIBCLC?gm

❤️ International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in Private Practice and mom to 2 great kids 🧒🏼👦🏻🥰. How can I help you?

01/01/2021

Posted • ✨ credit: myersibclc 👉 SCRATCH “holiday” to do list ADD 2021 TO DO LIST 🤩. YES to practicing all these very important TO DO’s 😉. Happy New Year 🥳.
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🌟 Follow for all things prenatal, postpartum and lactation related...that’s my jam ❤️ International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in Private Practice and mom to 2 great kids 🧒🏼👦🏻🥰. How can I help you?

12/31/2020

Posted • .e.l.e.n.m.a.r.i.e ♥️ this this this. Honestly from all your beautiful words yesterday in reply to my stickers I saw beautiful beautiful self reflection in 2020 from so many so I had to share these words from as they felt so totally fitting. Hugs to all and keep blooming x

myersibclc 👉 so whatever speed bump, mountain or year 😉...hello 🌱

12/31/2020

Posted • The 6 week growth spurt AKA Help, my baby is broken! 🆘

The 6-8 week growth spurt is hard going.

The sleep deprivation is catching up with you, the offers of help may have subsided, you've been given the 'all clear' from the GP to exercise, as if you've got the energy too, but now you feel you should be.

Baby is more wakeful, eyes wide, learning so much and becoming easily overwhelmed and overtired. Putting the baby down is a thing of the past. The feeding becomes relentless, just as you thought you'd got it together.

Everything tells you you should have found your rhythm by now, whatever that means, yet you're still in your pants at 11am and wondering if you'll ever make it out of the house again.

The glamourous BS photos appear on your feed showing unrealistic postpartum images from those that don't realise how damaging this is and how utterly s**t it makes women feel.

I could go on...

The 6-8 week growth spurt is a MF, but it's not forever.

Give yourself the grace you did in the weeks before. Snuggle down, get support and bring in the troops.

You're not meant to have your s**t together. You're not meant you do this alone. You're not meant to look like something out of a magazine. You're not meant to be anything more than what you can handle right now.

Keep going Mama, it gets easier. You're not alone.

🖤( • )( • ) 🖤myersibclc 👉 keep going, take ALL offers of help and this will pass 💕

12/29/2020

Posted • Having pelvic pain when you get out of the car? Try using both legs to get out as opposed to pivoting on only one leg!

Our prenatal fitness programming and pelvic stability accessory program focus on helping you maintain stability in your pelvis throughout your pregnant to alleviate or minimize discomfort and pain!myersibclc 👉 smart! 🤓 I can imagine the bigger the belly gets the harder to lift your legs or post C/S. Inching your feet while keeping your whole body facing the same direction would work too 🚙

12/29/2020

Posted • myersibclc 👉 and bc it feels like❤️🏡❤️. Watch for cues, nurse the baby, watch the baby grow 🌱.

12/29/2020

Posted • myersibclc 👉 trying, trusting and allowing for do-overs 💕 Yes, you are the perfect parent for your Lil 😉.

12/24/2020

For my breastfeeding and pumping parents - avoid common issues because you are juggling ALL.THE.THINGS. this holiday season 🎄 🎁 ❤️ 🔔

✨AVOID PLUGGED DUCTS AND MASTITIS✨

🔔NURSE ON ALL CUES (DON'T DELAY!)

❤️AVOID FULL BREASTS

🎄TAKE CARE OF YOU

🎁YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO ALL THE THINGS

❤️EXPECT TYPICAL ROUTINES TO BE “OFF”

✨BREATHE OUT A LITTLE LONGER

❤️YOU GOT THIS❤️

Need help? Don't delay, get the help and support you need!

Wishing you all the best!

Melanie Myers, IBCLC
www.melaniemyersibclc.com

12/19/2020

Show your support! Takes seconds 👇👇

If you're unable to take action because of your location, you can still contribute! Share this action alert on your favorite social media channel or donate to help support this and similar efforts.  

12/17/2020

Get your questions answered about COVID vaccines and lactation with Cecilia Tomori, PhD and Jonathan Snowden, Phd. Free, registration required at https://bit.ly/ler-live.

12/17/2020

Infant Risk is an amazing resource for professionals and parents!

Did you know, “The InfantRisk Center (IRC) is a world-wide call center presently in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, in Amarillo.

The InfantRisk Center is used by physicians, nurses, lactation consultants, and mothers in every part of the world. Virtually all calls are about multiple drugs, averaging 3-4 individual drugs. We do our best to help moms, lactation consultants, and doctors evaluate the risk to the infant from exposure to multiple drugs, and keep the mom breastfeeding.”

See below 👇👇

And yep ⭐️ if you have a medication question you can call them directly 😉.

Even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding is still safe and highly recommended by the major health organizations.

12/16/2020

Read ABM's newly released statement on Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccination in Lactation: https://www.bfmed.org/abm-statement-considerations-for-covid-19-vaccination-in-lactation

12/16/2020

PREGNANT & BREASTFEEDING FRONTLINE WORKERS:
If you will be receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in the next few weeks and you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you could help provide invaluable data on the excluded populations from the vaccine trials! Please consider signing up for one or more of the following studies. As I hear of more studies, I will post new links.

1. COVID-19 Human Milk Study: collecting milk samples in women who are vaccinated. Email: covid19humanmilkstudy@gmail.com for more info.
2. University of Washington Pregnancy & Lactation Registry: http://redcap.iths.org/surveys/?s=87JFRCL8R8
3. CDC VSAFE: Registry for pregnant/lactating individuals who will receive texts to help post marketing surveillance. http://vsafe.cdc.gov