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LALactation, Los Angeles, CA (2025)

10/14/2025

Spit happens. And many are surprised when that spit up stains. Like all animal and human-based products, breast milk proteins and fats can leave grease-like stains on clothes and blankets. We all cry over spilt breast milk, and the stains it leaves on upholstery and carpeting is a permanent reminder of that loss. Whether the breast milk is straight from the breast or from baby’s tummy as spit up, it’s the milk proteins that causes the staining. And even if the laundry looks clean after washing, it may later develop yellow spots as a result of milk protein residue that change color over time.

So what to do?
* Pretreat milk spots as soon as they happen. Use stain removal wipes or sprays and a soft-bristled brush for scrubbing stubborn stains and soak in cold water to prevent the proteins from setting into the fabric.
* While soaking milk stained clothes in an oxygen bleach solution can be effective to remove stains, oxygen-based bleaching products can be harsh on baby’s skin, so find one that is specifically for use with babies. Using products with bleach around babies can be dangerous as bleach can cause skin burns, eye irritation, and other serious health concerns, so keep it well out of the reach of children. For the most natural bleaching action, and best way to get out stubborn milk stains, dry clothes in the sun when possible!!!
* Wash in cold water using laundry detergents with enzyme action to break down proteins. Try to use laundry detergents with the fewest chemicals and allergens to protect baby’s delicate skin. A normal cold water wash cycle should be enough to get out most breast milk stains.
* Protect yourself! Nursing pads can protect your bra or shirt from leaks and towels or pillow cases can protect any pillows you’re using. Most breastfeeding pillows have removable covers that can also be washed between feedings

What do you use on stubborn milk stains?

10/14/2025

The learning curve of breastfeeding. If this is your first baby, you’ve never breastfed before. If this is your second, third or even tenth baby, you’ve never breastfed THIS baby before. Babies come out primed with instinct and reflexes to feed. But they’ve still never breastfed before. You both need to learn to feed. But not learn like learning to breathe, like learning to dance. There are two people who need to learn each other and to move in sync with each other. Yea, breastfeeding is natural, but it still needs nurtured and it takes time to nurture that relationship. Working with an IBCLC lactation consultant before delivery can help teach you the steps. After baby is born, they can help you work on those steps with your baby partner. If you’re struggling with feeding your baby, you’re not alone. Please schedule with a lactation consultant (like me, or better yet, with me!) to help learn the dance of breastfeeding. Link in bio to book.

10/14/2025

Oxytocin, often dubbed the “love hormone,” plays a crucial role in lactation. One intriguing side effect of oxytocin release during breastfeeding is overwhelming thirst. The mechanism behind oxytocin-induced thirst is multifaceted. One theory suggests that oxytocin may stimulate the hypothalamus, the region of the brain responsible for regulating thirst and fluid balance. Additionally, the act of breastfeeding itself can be physically demanding, leading to increased fluid loss through sweat and respiration, further contributing to feelings of thirst.

How much water should you be drinking while breastfeeding? There are some ridiculous answers out there. If your breast milk production has decreased, helpful people may suggest that you chug tons of water. Your lack of water intake is most likely not responsible for your decrease in breast milk and drinking too much water can inadvertently harm your milk supply. While individual water needs vary based on factors like climate, activity level, and body size, you should aim to drink enough fluids to satisfy thirst and maintain hydration.

* Drink to thirst: Listen to your body’s cues for water. Thirst is a natural indicator that your body needs fluids, so keep water within easy reach while breastfeeding
* Stay hydrated throughout the day: Drink water regularly, not only during feedings. Keep a water bottle handy and sip frequently
* Monitor urine color: Pale yellow indicates adequate hydration, dark urine may signal dehydration
* Eat fluid-rich foods: Fruits and vegetables also contribute to overall fluid intake
* Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol: Both can have diuretic effects, potentially increasing fluid loss and impacting milk production. Moderation is key

Do you have an emotional support water bottle? Make sure to wash it regularly 😜

10/12/2025

Babies are born with oral reflexes that help them experience the world and learn how to feed. These reflexes can be triggered for a few weeks to months. When these movements are triggered by reflexes thousands of times, the baby learns to intentionally make those same movements.

For lots of reasons, some babies may need help learning to spontaneously move their tongue as these reflexes integrate (go away). Once babies are past the newborn stage, “suck training” looks less like exercises and more like play. Around 2-4 months, babies start realizing, “Hey! I have a tongue—and I can move it!”

This stage is all about helping your baby explore and gain control of their mouth to help with feeding, transitioning to solids, and eventually learning to speak:

💡 Try these oral play ideas:
•Touch and massage baby’s cheeks, lips, gums and tongue. Giving them external sensory input helps the learn internal awareness that they have different parts of their own face
•Offer teething toys that encourage tongue movement side to side (not just up and down).
•Use songs or games that involve sticking your tongue out. Babies love to mimic! They are born with mirror neurons that are primed to try to imitate what you do and say
•Start oral care early. Yes! You can brush your baby’s “teeth” before they even have any. Use a silicone finger brushes or a soft bristle brush to clean baby’s mouth twice a day starting as a newborn
🧠 Why it matters:
Developing tongue awareness and movement supports more coordinated sucking, swallowing, and speech later on. For babies who’ve had tension, ties, or early feeding challenges, this kind of play can be especially powerful.

✨ It’s not about drills. It’s about curiosity, confidence, and connection.

10/11/2025

Our bodies are not symmetrical. While the fl**ges that come with your pump are the same (usually too large) diameter come as a matched pair, some people may actually need different diameters for each side. Some may even need a completely different type of fl**ge, like silicone on one side or hard plastic on the other. If your pump experience isn’t comfortable, feeling like nothing or a gentle tug, keep trying to find the right fl**ge. New research says smaller is better, with most people finding they need the diameter to be somewhere in measurement between that the tip and the base of the ni**le measure. If your lactation consultant told you to add 2-4mm from the measurement of the base, they are giving outdated, non-evidence based recommendations which can increase the risk of plugged ducts and inefficient milk removal that can lead to dropping supply over time.

**ge

10/11/2025

Breastfeeding is the biological norm of our species. If a baby cannot breastfeed well; we need to know why. Many babies can be dysfunctional at both breast and bottle, but because bottle feeding uses different muscles than the breast and is a more passive feeding method, many babies can still gain weight better when bottle feeding. Families are often told by health care providers that because the weight gain is fine, there is no issue. When in reality there may be massive red flags for feeding dysfunction on the bottle as well.

Dysfunction on a bottle happens for many reasons. It may be from the wrong shape ni**le or a flow that is too fast or slow. It may be from how they are being held or positioned. It could be because they were born premature and are still figuring out how to coordinate the complex process of sucking, swallowing and breathing at the same time. Tension or asymmetry in their body from how they were positioned in utero or how they were birthed also contribute. The biggest reason I see for bottle dysfunction in the early weeks after delivery is from undiagnosed tongue and/or lip tie or oral dysfunction.

If your baby truly has an oral dysfunction, switching to bottle feeding isn’t a quick fix, because there’s an issue with the baby’s anatomy and physiology, not the container of the milk.

Having a full, hands on assessment of baby’s oral and body anatomy AND function as well as observed feedings by breast and/or bottle can help get to the root of the dysfunction and properly manage feeding issues.

10/11/2025

Hand pumps are underrated. I always kept one at work and one in my diaper bag for low tech milk removals. The new game changer is the long squeeze… once your milk is starting to flow from regular pumps, hold down the handle for a long squeeze and see the satisfying flow of milk!

Here are five other tips to help increase milk production when using a hand pump:

1. Pump Frequently and Consistently
•Regular removal of milk signals your body to produce more milk, following the principle of supply and demand

2. Ensure Proper Breast Stimulation
•Massage before and during pumping: Gently massage your breasts to stimulate milk flow and emptying.
•Use a warm compress: Applying warmth prior to and during can encourage letdown and milk flow.

3. Optimize Hand Pump Technique
•Alternate sides frequently to mimic your baby’s natural nursing pattern.
•Try “hands-on pumping” by compressing the breast while using the pump to maximize milk removal.
•Pump for about 15–20 minutes per side or until the milk flow slows significantly.

4. Stay Hydrated and Nourished
•Drink plenty of water throughout the day to support milk production.
•Eat nutrient-rich foods, focusing on protein, and consider adding milk boosting foods like oats, nuts, seeds, or flaxseed.

5. Create a Relaxing Environment
•Stress can inhibit letdown, so find a quiet and comfortable place to pump.
•Look at pictures of your baby or listen to relaxing music to help stimulate oxytocin and milk flow.

Have you tried this hack yet? This pump is from

10/09/2025

This is every working mom’s nightmare. And an issue I see weekly in my office. The may have offered a bottle when baby was a newborn but stopped because the didn’t like pumping. Or never offered a bottle because they figured all babies take one. Either way, it is still panic inducing when baby won’t take a bottle and you’re going back to work.

Optimally, you’d introduce a bottle somewhere between 2–6 weeks postpartum—after breastfeeding is established but before baby loses the suck reflex. Once you’ve introduced it, keep it in the routine consistently (even just a few times a week) so baby stays familiar with it.

💡 Finding the right bottle:
Look for a shape that passes the “triangle yes” test—the ni**le should be wide at the base, gradually narrowing toward the tip, and long enough that baby can deeply latch without collapsing their lips. Think breastlike in function, not just in looks.

🥛 How to offer:
•Start with snack-sized bottles (½–2 oz) instead of full feeds. The goal is practice, not replacement.
•Offer body-temperature milk. Many babies reject cold milk simply because it feels unfamiliar.
•Try when baby is calm, alert, and happy, not starving or overtired.
•Sometimes, having the breastfeeding parent offer a small bottle mid-feed can help baby associate bottles as part of their normal feeding rhythm.

👩‍🍼 If it’s not going smoothly:
Bottle refusal is common and can be emotional for everyone involved. A lactation consultant or infant feeding therapist trained in oral function can help assess latch mechanics, bottle flow, and sensory needs to make the process smoother.

Remember: every baby is different. Consistency, patience, and gentle persistence go a long way. ❤️

10/08/2025

Breastfeeding isn’t always filled with warm fuzzy feelings. There are three distinct types of breastfeeding aversion, each with different causes, timing, and management strategies. Understanding which one you’re experiencing can help you find relief and support.

1️⃣ DMER – Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex
•A brief wave of sadness, anxiety, or irritability that occurs right before or during letdown.
•Caused by a sudden drop in dopamine that happens as prolactin rises to trigger milk flow.
•The emotional shift usually lasts 30 seconds to 2 minutes, then resolves on its own.
•This is a physiological reflex, not a psychological reaction. It’s your body’s chemistry at work.
•Awareness and support can help find strategies to navigate this

2️⃣ BAR or BAA – Breastfeeding Aversion & Agitation
•A strong feeling of irritation, restlessness, or anger while a baby is latched.
•Commonly occurs during pregnancy, tandem nursing, or when a parent feels “touched out.”
•Thought to be linked to hormonal shifts, fatigue, sensory overload, and stress.
•Unlike DMER, BAR/BAA doesn’t coincide with milk letdown and may persist throughout the feed.
•Setting limits (like shorter sessions or specific nursing times) and addressing fatigue can reduce symptoms.

3️⃣ Sensory Aversion (Sensory Overload or Tactile Sensitivity)
•A persistent discomfort or overwhelm related to the physical sensations of feeding: touch, closeness, or repetitive movement.
•Often reported by parents with sensory processing differences, autism, ADHD, or postpartum overstimulation.
•Not hormonally driven, and may occur across multiple caregiving tasks, not just feeding.
•Interventions may include sensory breaks, grounding techniques, or occupational therapy approaches.

These reactions are real, biologically based, and not a sign of failure or rejection. Understanding the underlying mechanism helps guide management.

Breastfeeding isn’t always serene — and that doesn’t make it any less valid.

Did you experience any of these?

10/07/2025

The fat in your milk accounts for 50% of the calories your baby takes in each feeding. While protein and lactose remain relatively stable throughout the day, milk fat concentration can vary by 47% in a 24 hour period!

Factors that influence milk fat in breast milk:
🤱🏽 Things that influence the amount of fat in your milk include: Lifestyle, Diet, Body size, Health or disease/inflammation, Number of children, Type of birth, Overall milk volume produced daily

👶🏼 In the baby, your body will respond to make specific milk for your baby based on their Gender, Gestational age, and Birth weight!!!

🍫 Other factors that influence fat in human milk:
⏰ Time of day (highest fat is in the afternoon/evening)
👶🏼 👧🏽 Stage of lactation (colostrum has the lowest amount of fat. Extended milk for toddlers 12+ months has the highest amount of fat!)
🗓 Time postpartum (milk fat increases with time!)

Ways to help increase milk fat:
🤱🏽 Feed more frequently. The shorter you go between feedings, the higher fat and lower water concentrations are in your milk
⭐️ Shake your breasts prior to feeding. This gets the fat at the back of the breast to be activated more quickly to flow sooner in the feeding
🙌🏻 Breast compressions while feeding and pumping increases the amount of fat that is squeezed from the breast during feeding
🐠 Add in healthy fats to your diet: salmon, herring, sardines, flax and chia seeds, and walnuts are high in healthy fats that can boost those kinds of fat in your milk
🍦 Manage diabetes/blood sugars
🏋🏽‍♀️ Make sure you’re not anemic or iron deficient
♨️Reduce inflammation in the body (can often be done with diet and lifestyle changes and/or with the help of a naturopathic practitioner)

10/07/2025

There is no developmental age when a baby needs to take a bottle. Babies can go straight from breast to open cup or straw cup. I LOVE teaching babies how to drink from a straw, and there are so many developmental advantages of mastering this utensil!

Oral Motor Skills Involved:

• Lip Closure: Babies need to close their lips around the straw to create a seal for sucking.
• Tongue Control: The tongue assists in manipulating the straw inside the mouth and directing the liquid to the back of the mouth for swallowing.
• Suction and Swallowing: Babies use a combination of suction and swallowing to draw liquid up through the straw and into their mouths.

Benefits to Oral Motor Development:

• Straw drinking requires more complex oral motor skills compared to bottle feeding. It also promotes a more mature swallow pattern than the bottle.
• It promotes the development of tongue strength, lip control, and overall oral coordination.
• Straw drinking can help transition babies towards more advanced feeding skills, such as drinking from an open cup.

This was my first time using the new silicone Honey Bear from (I’ve used the other ones for decades as a speech therapist). The only difficulty was not being able to see where the straw is and the liquid levels. But my friend didn’t mind! This baby is just over six months old.

When did you introduce a straw cup to your baby? Use the link to purchase this one!

10/07/2025

Infant reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), can occur for several reasons, including:

💦Fast Let Down from Over Supply: When a mother has an oversupply of breast milk, it can cause a fast let down, leading to the baby swallowing air and milk quickly, which can contribute to reflux.

👅Aerophagia from Tongue Tie: Babies with a tongue tie may have difficulty latching properly during feeding, causing them to swallow air (aerophagia) which can lead to reflux.

🤢Allergies/Sensitivities: Food allergies or sensitivities, such as cow’s milk protein allergy, can cause inflammation and discomfort in the digestive tract, leading to reflux.

🍼Overfeeding: Feeding the baby too much at one time can overwhelm their small stomach and lead to reflux.

👼🏼Positioning: Laying the baby flat on their back after feeding can promote reflux, as gravity helps stomach contents flow back into the esophagus.

🤮Delayed Gastric Emptying: Slow stomach emptying can cause food to stay in the stomach longer, increasing the risk of reflux.

👶🏻Premature Birth: Premature infants often have even more immature digestive systems, which can make reflux more common and severe.

👀Hiatal Hernia: A condition where part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest, which can exacerbate reflux.

The most common reason I see for breastfed babies to have severe reflux is undiagnosed tongue tie, followed by allergies or sensitivities in their mom’s diet. If reflux is severe or persistent, consulting a healthcare provider is recommended.

LALactation

10/14/2025

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Monday	8am - 6pm
Tuesday	8am - 6pm
Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm
Friday	8am - 6pm
Saturday	8am - 6pm