First Flight Lactation

12/18/2025

12/16/2025

* Your milk contains stem cells, which can go on to become heart, kidney, or brain tissue
* One of the best ways to treat cracked ni***es is to put your own milk on them. Coconut and olive oils work better than most store bought balms/creams
* Evening breast milk contains more melatonin—a hormone to help baby sleep. Night milk is lower in water and higher in fat to help baby sleep and grow
* The taste of breast milk changes slightly based on your diet. This helps babies get used to different tastes to prepare them to eat a variety of solid foods
*The taste changes and the flow and volume of milk can drop during your period, making some babies become fussy around that time or the month
* Most babies suck stronger and longer to the taste of garlic in breast milk than to any other flavor you eat
* Continue to breastfeed even if you’re sick. When sick, your body makes antibodies that pass on to baby, reducing their risk of getting sick
* Colostrum contains 10x more beta-carotene than mature breast milk. It has increased levels of vitamin E and zinc to promote a newborn’s skin and eye development
* “Good bacteria” are constantly transferred from your body to your milk; the precise strains of bacteria fluctuate daily and from season to season
* Your milk has a unique smell that your baby can identify. The smell is similar to your amniotic fluid. This helps baby find the breast after birth
*Speaking of smells, your body odor may be more pungent after birth. This helps baby recognize you as mom and distinguish you from other adults
* Breastfeeding promotes proper mouth development. Studies have found that babies who were exclusively breastfed for the first six months were less likely to have teeth alignment issues such as open bites, crossbites, and overbites, than those exclusively breastfed for shorter lengths of time or not at all
*Pumping is breastfeeding, too

12/14/2025

Night feeding are biologically normal.

12/14/2025

Eating these healthy high fiber foods boost Prolactin levels!!

Prolactin is hormone responsible for making breast milk. We know that when you’re breastfeeding, you need about 300-500 extra calories to supoort making nutrition for your baby. You’re still eating for two!! There are foods with phytoestrogens which help boost and support your natural prolactin levels.
There are several main classes of phytoestrogens. Lignans are part of plant cell walls and found in fiber-rich foods like berries, seeds (flaxseeds), grains, nuts, and fruits. Two other phytoestrogen classes are isoflavones and coumestans. Isoflavones are present in berries, grains, and nuts, but are most abundant in soybeans and other legumes. Coumestans are found in legumes like split peas, lima and pinto beans. Eating these will naturally increase prolactin which in turn helps support making milk
* We all know oats are the go-to for increasing supply. They are rich in plant estrogens and beta-glucan. But other grains like brown rice, barley, and quinoa work as well!
* Garlic! It will definitely flavor you milk, but research shows babies love the flavor and often suck more in response.
* Fennel: Raw or cooked, fennel seeds can be added to a recipe, or drunk as a tea. There are also many lactation specific supplements that include fennel in pill form for a more concentrated dose
* Dark Leafy greens like spinach, kale, collard greens, and broccoli. And yes, you can eat broccoli while breastfeeding.
* Seeds: Sesame seeds, flax seeds, and chia seeds are all super boosters of making milk and can be added to baked goods and smoothies very easily
* Berries: Get a phytoestrogen boost with fruits like strawberries, cranberries, and raspberries.
* Nuts: Almonds are high in linoleic acid and known to be the most lactogenic nut. Packed with healthy fats and antioxidants, Vitamin E and omega-3, walnuts, cashews, and pistachios are all good choices. Snack on raw or roasted nuts, add them to cookies, smoothies, and salads.

galactogogues

12/14/2025

When your baby gets sick, your body does not guess. It listens. Through nursing, your baby’s saliva sends signals that trigger your immune system to respond. Your breastmilk then increases antibodies, white blood cells, and protective factors designed specifically for what your baby is fighting. It is living, responsive, and constantly adjusting. This is not just food. It is communication, medicine, and comfort all in one. Your body is not just feeding your baby. It is actively helping them heal 🤱💛

10/24/2025

10/04/2025

Reading different milk storage guidelines from different sources can be crazy making! Which guidelines are right? Why don't the experts agree? What do you really need to know? The good news is that there are logical explanations for these differences. And once you know them, you can store and use yo...

09/25/2025

Is weaning required for mothers undergoing IVF embryo transfer? No, according to this 2025 Canadian retrospective cohort study. This new information may be vital to couples using assisted reproductive technologies to conceive another baby. Read more here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40540121/

09/21/2025

A Pediatrician’s Perspective

09/21/2025

Your breast milk can save lives.

09/14/2025

Has somebody told you that your baby doesn’t need to breastfeed at night past a certain age? This age often varies by advisor. However, science tells us that in many cases, this simply isn’t true. Why? Babies and mothers are different and these differences affect baby’s need for night feedings...

08/13/2025

Is your first baby a dog???
Take this awesome Zoom Class!!

Our first baby and dog class (on how to get the dog ready for a new baby) is tomorrow!!! It’s ZOOM- so it doesn’t have to be local people.

Know someone expecting?