Lavender Lactation

02/06/2026

✨ Lactation Graduation Day ✨

Some discharges are my favorite kind.

Because this isn’t the end of a journey—it’s proof of how far a mother and baby have come together.

In the early days, this baby was working so hard. Weight gain was slow, feeds were exhausting, and every ounce felt uncertain. This mama showed up anyway—through triple feeding, long nights, a tongue tie release, and endless patience. She trusted the process even when it felt heavy.

And here’s the beautiful physiology part:
Milk supply responded to consistent stimulation. Baby’s oral function improved. Feeding cues became clearer. Transfers became efficient. The nervous system settled. What once required strategy and structure slowly turned into rhythm and confidence.

Now?
A thriving baby.
Exclusive breastfeeding.
A mother who knows her body, trusts her instincts, and understands her baby.

Graduation day means this mom doesn’t just leave with a well-fed baby—she leaves stronger, more confident, and prepared for the future. For the next growth spurt. The next challenge. Even the next pregnancy.

This is why lactation care matters.
When we support feeding, we aren’t just helping today—we’re empowering moms and babies for everything that comes next.

So proud of these two. 💜

02/01/2026

Meet our newest addition!!! Leanne Rogers, Lavender Lactation Intern.

Leanne is a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and lactation intern originally from Silverdale, Washington, now proud to call Hendersonville, Tennessee home. Outside of her work with families, Leanne loves exploring new places, making music through singing and piano, attending concerts, and spending as much time as possible with her family.

Earlier in her life, Leanne owned and operated a girls’ singing company dedicated to helping young girls find their voice and trust that it mattered. Supporting women in building confidence—at every stage of life—has long been central to her work and is a value she brings wholeheartedly into her care of new mothers. Why Lactation?

Leanne’s path into lactation support was shaped by both personal experience and years of mentoring other mothers. As a mother of three, she has navigated breastfeeding, pumping, and combination feeding with both preterm and full-term babies. Alongside her own journey, she has guided countless women through the challenges and joys of early motherhood.

Through these experiences, Leanne witnessed firsthand the profound difference that compassionate, individualized care can make—care that goes beyond clinical guidance to truly center the mother and honor her unique story. This realization inspired her to dedicate herself to lactation support.

Leanne is currently completing her IBCLC credential through Pathway 3, gaining hands-on experience and mentorship to ensure the highest standard of evidence-based lactation care. She brings a warm, educational, and supportive approach to every visit, with the hope that families leave feeling calm, capable, and confident—deeply trusting that they are the expert on their own baby.

01/27/2026

✨ It’s ✨

As an IBCLC, I get a lot of questions about pumping. Most moms start pumping when they return to work or want a little flexibility (hello date night 💛). This post is geared toward the occasional pumper—if you’re exclusively pumping, I’ve got more specific guidance for you.

Here are my top pumping basics every breastfeeding mom should know 👇

1️⃣ Fl**ge fit matters (a lot).
When suction is on, the only thing inside the fl**ge should be your ni**le—no ar**la, no rubbing along the sides. Poor fit = pain + lower output. Get sized by an IBCLC if you can.

2️⃣ Pump every 2–3 hours when away (about 20 minutes).
I’m a huge fan of hands-on pumping—gentle massage and compression while pumping. Stanford has a great free video on this, and yes, you can do it.

3️⃣ Know what’s normal.
Most babies take 25–30 oz/day between 1–6 months. As solids are introduced (we love ), milk intake gradually decreases—but breastmilk should remain the primary source of nutrition for the first 12 months.
That means your baby typically needs ~1–1.5 oz per hour you’re away. Smaller, more frequent bottles are ideal. Bottles can easily lead to overfeeding due to the sucking reflex—learning comfort techniques (like the 5 S’s from ) really helps. MORE IN COMMENTS!

01/26/2026

01/06/2026

A large, high-quality evidence review published in JAMA confirms something many parents feel firsthand:

✨ Breastfeeding outcomes improve with support.

The review analyzed dozens of studies and found that families who received structured lactation support were more likely to:
• Continue breastfeeding
• Exclusively breastfeed
• Meet feeding goals through ~6 months

This support included things like:
• Prenatal education
• Early postpartum lactation visits
• Ongoing follow-ups (calls, texts, check-ins)

💛 The takeaway?
If breastfeeding feels hard, it’s not a personal failure.
Breastfeeding success isn’t just biology — access, timing, and skilled support matter.

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. “Interventions to Support Breastfeeding: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review.” JAMA, 2025.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40198081/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

01/06/2026

“No one told me breastfeeding could feel like this.”

And that sentence alone carries so much weight.

The tears at 2 a.m.
The baby who won’t settle.
The pain that makes you dread the next latch.
The pumping schedule that quietly takes over your life.
The guilt for wondering, “Why isn’t this working when everyone said it would?”

Here’s what I want you to hear today 👇

✨ Struggle does NOT mean failure.
✨ Pain is not “just part of it.”
✨ Low supply, oversupply, slow gain, refluxy babies, clogs, ni**le trauma, exhaustion—none of this means your body is broken.

It means you deserve skilled, compassionate support—not Google rabbit holes, not “just keep trying,” and not being told to wait it out.

At Lavender Lactation, we don’t rush you.
We don’t shame you.
We don’t push one path.

We listen.
We assess deeply.
We support your goals—whether that’s exclusive breastfeeding, combo feeding, pumping, or peace of mind.

🤍 Because a supported mother changes everything.

👇 Let’s talk in the comments:
What is ONE thing about breastfeeding that surprised you the most—good or hard?

01/02/2026

1. Breast milk changes within a single feeding

The milk at the beginning of a feed is higher in lactose and water, while milk later in the feed contains more fat and calories. This isn’t “foremilk vs hindmilk” as two separate milks—it’s a continuous gradient influenced by how full the breast is.

2. Breast milk is a living tissue

It contains live immune cells, stem cells, enzymes, and hormones. These components actively respond to both the baby’s saliva and the mother’s immune system, adjusting protection in real time.

3. Milk adapts to illness—sometimes before symptoms show

When a baby is exposed to a virus or bacteria, the parent’s body can increase specific antibodies in the milk—even if the parent never feels sick. Many people don’t realize milk can become more protective pre-symptomatically.

4. Milk volume is driven by milk removal, not breast size

Breast size reflects fat tissue, not glandular tissue. A small-chested parent can produce a full supply, while a larger-chested parent may struggle—what matters most is functional glandular tissue and effective milk removal.

5. Lactation is a neuro-hormonal process, not just a breast function

Oxytocin (the let-down hormone) is released from the brain, meaning stress, fear, pain, or feeling unsafe can directly inhibit milk flow—even when milk supply is adequate.

6. Human milk is designed for frequent feeding

Human milk is lower in protein and fat than many mammals’ milk, which is why human babies feed more often. Frequent feeding is biologically normal, not a sign of low supply.

01/01/2026

What a year!!! We are so thankful for our families who bless us with the ability to do what we love, all while trusting our expertise during one of the most impactful seasons of life. We are grateful for your partnership!

2025 brought huge growth for Lavender Lactation!! We had a total of 802 visits! Jess passed her boards and joined our team. We brought on a new intern, Ariela. Donna rejoined our team and Joy completed one of the most rigorous courses in supporting the dyad pre and post tethered oral tissue release, the IBCLC masterclass. Lastly, we reached over 100 5 star reviews, which is a huge milestone for a small business. We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings!

10/04/2025

IBCLCs are infant-feeding experts!
So often we meet families who just need the right guidance—whether it’s adjusting their pump settings, finding the perfect fl**ge fit, choosing the best bottle shape, or figuring out the right ni**le flow rate.

Instead of making endless trips to the store or trying product after product, we’re here to help you cut through the noise and avoid the not-so-great options on the market.

✨ We’ve got you—and we’re here to make feeding your baby simpler and more successful.

09/20/2025

Did you know breastmilk isn’t the same from day to day? It’s a living, dynamic fluid that adapts to meet your baby’s exact needs.

💛 Colostrum (days 1–4): High in protein, vitamin A & zinc, coating your baby’s gut with immune protection—immune transfer from mom to baby.
🍼 Transitional milk: (days 4-7) Lactose, fat & carbs rise to fuel brain growth and rapid development.
🥑 Mature milk (after 1-2 weeks): Packed with DHA & ARA for eyes + brain. Night milk even has extra fat and melatonin to help with sleep.
💎 Minerals & vitamins: Iron levels are low but 50% bioavailable. Calcium stays stable no matter your diet. B vitamins & vitamin C shift with what you eat.
🧬 Real-time adjustments: Milk boosts antibodies when baby is sick, and preterm milk contains more protein and minerals for catch-up growth.

✨ Fun fact: Every feed is tailored to YOUR baby in that moment. Breastmilk isn’t just food—it’s personalized medicine, brain fuel, and immune support all in one.

Save this for later 💾 | Share with a new parent 🤱

09/08/2025

Breastmilk contains lymphocytes and macrophages that produce antibodies and other immune factors. It provides lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, the “friendly” bugs that help prevent the growth of dangerous bacteria. Another molecule in breastmilk kills harmful bacteria. In addition to protecting against pathogenic bacteria, breastmilk contains elements that guard against viruses, fungi, and parasites. The immunology of breastmilk is quite impressive.

🤱

08/29/2025

✨ The Power of Hand Expression in Breastfeeding & Beyond ✨

Hand expression is one of the simplest yet most empowering tools a mother can learn when it comes to breastfeeding. Whether during pregnancy, in the early days after birth, or throughout your breastfeeding journey, this skill offers incredible benefits:

💜 Antenatal Colostrum Expression
Learning to hand express during the last weeks of pregnancy can help mothers collect and store colostrum—the nutrient-rich “liquid gold” that is packed with antibodies and immune-boosting properties. Having this on hand can be especially reassuring if baby needs extra support in the first few days.

💜 Confidence After Birth
The early postpartum period can feel overwhelming. Being able to express even a few drops of colostrum or milk reassures a mother that her body is working. This small success builds confidence in her ability to feed her baby, especially while waiting for milk volume to increase.

💜 Relief & Support During Breastfeeding
Hand expression can help soften the breast before latching, relieve engorgement, and keep milk flowing if baby is struggling to nurse effectively. It’s a gentle, natural way to stay comfortable and protect milk supply.

💜 Accessible Anytime, Anywhere
Unlike a pump, hand expression requires no equipment—just your hands. This makes it a valuable skill in the middle of the night, while traveling, or in the earliest hours after birth when pumps may not be available.

🌿 Why it Matters: Mothers who feel confident in their ability to hand express often report less anxiety, more trust in their body, and greater resilience during their breastfeeding journey. It’s a simple skill that empowers, reassures, and provides peace of mind.

✨ Every drop of colostrum and milk counts. And every bit of confidence you gain matters just as much.