Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Breastfeeding Coalition

05/10/2026

Happy Mothers Day to all you mamas!!!

05/07/2026

Learn, Connect, Act. Join me at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee - USBC annual conference June 3-5 in Bethesda, Maryland. To register, visit https://bit.ly/NBCC26

04/12/2026

03/25/2026

🚨🚨🚨 Study shocks exactly no one: New Moms Need Weeks Of Monitoring To Catch Post-Pregnancy Complications

A new Canadian study found around 40% of pregnancy complications would have been missed had doctors not kept tabs on new moms for six weeks postpartum.

Something which seems completely obvious, given the number of complications we see in places with little to no postpartum followup in the first 1-6 weeks.

Many parents are only observed in the first few days after birth and not followed up with again until 6 weeks. However, thr study published in Canadian Medical Association Journal found that extending observation until 6 weeks catches more cases of severe maternal morbidity such as sepsis, hemorrhage, cardiovascular complications, etc.

With many parents only being observed through the intrapartum period for severe complications, many face the risk of missed or delayed treatment.

With this research, one hopes we'll see a difference in standard perinatal care. Unfortunately, changes in policy take time.

What could help?

Parents should be made aware of red flag symptoms. Partners, support people, and doulas should know red flags of when a parent should immediately seek care with their providers. OBs and midwives need to be available to postpartum parents for care.

Until we see change, parents need to remain educated and advocate to protect themselves during the postpartum period.

What care did you receive (or not receive) in the postpartum period?

03/25/2026

US doctors are sounding the alarm that an increasing number are declining vit K at birth.

As doulas, we don't give medical advice, we share evidence-based info.

Vitamin K shot has been recommended since 1961 in the US. Vit K impacts the body's ability to properly clot and prevent bleeding.

Why? Vit K is a fat soluble vitamin humans do not produce and don't store well. Older infants can maintain vit k through diet.

Newborns have low levels as it doesn't transfer well from the pregnant person to the baby.

Human milk also doesn't have high levels of Vit K.

Most infants' blood will clot even with naturally low levels, but some babies will not. We aren't sure which until bleeding occurs.

Why is vit k given to babies? In the 1930s, a Dutch scientist discovered vit k deficiency caused Haemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn (HDN), now named Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB) as it can occur after the newborn period.

Since 1961, we have over 60 years of data showing the vit k shot reduces the risk of VKDB. There is also data showing oral vit K reduces the risk, however, it has not shown to be as effective as the shot.

What is the risk of VKDB? The overall risk is low. However, once it occurs it can be life altering and even fatal. Classic VKDB is more common but often less severe. Late VKDB can be severe.

Among infants who do not receive the vit k shot: Risk of classic VKDB (first week of life), depending on the source is 0.25% to 1.5% of newborns (250 to 1,500 out of 100,000) or 0 to 0.44% (0 to 440 out of 100,000)

For late VKDB, no vit k: 4.4 to 7.2 infants out of 100,000 will develop late VKDB

One dose oral vit k at birth: 2.6 infants out of 100,000 will develop late VKDB

Oral vit k at least 3 doses in infancy: 0 to 0.9 infants out of 100,000 will develop late VKDB

Vit K shot at birth, anywhere from 0 to 0.4 infants per 100,000 get late VKDB. The shot doesn’t prevent every case of late VKDB, but most countries report incidence rates of zero or close to zero.

So, should your baby get vit k?

Research shows it reduces the risk of VKDB.

Parents should look at the evidence, chat with providers, and make informed decisions.

03/25/2026

The 4th trimester is often completely over looked! How is it ok to just have a 6wk or 8wk check up and be like your good to go! No no no no!!!!!!!!!!!!! This period is extremely hard on women especially with zero to little support!

Our ancestors understood the importance of women and they respected this transition for moms! Postpartum moms where taken care of, they were allowed to rest fully with their babies allowing them to nurse them and establish supply, moms were fed properly to ensure they had what they needed to feed their babies and also heal there body!

When we birth our womb opens 10cm this is a portal bringing our sky babies earth side! We should be treating this time with respect for our moms and babies!!!!

A woman’s body can need two years or even more to fully recover after pregnancy because childbirth creates major whole body changes that go far beyond the usual 6 week postpartum visit.

The process takes extensive time for organs to shift back, connective tissues to repair, nutrient stores to rebuild, and hormones, along with brain structure and neurological function, to settle again.

To explain further, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues, especially the pelvic floor and abdominal wall, need considerable time to regain strength, often requiring 6 to 18 months or even longer. Hormonal changes also continue for months, affecting mood, metabolism, and energy. Research shows some blood markers, including bone and liver health, can take more than a year, around 56 weeks, to return to pre pregnancy levels.

Pregnancy also causes organs to move and expand. On top of that, the placenta uses up vital nutrients like iron, zinc, magnesium, and DHA, leading to significant nutritional depletion that takes time to restore, especially during breastfeeding.

The brain also experiences structural changes, a “pruning” or decrease in gray matter, to adapt to motherhood, and this, together with ongoing sleep deprivation, can contribute to “mom brain” that lasts for years.

Although surface healing may happen within weeks, the deeper abdominal fascia and core often need 6 to 12 months or longer to fully recover. Beyond physical healing, adapting to the mental, social, and emotional demands of motherhood is a long term journey.

Recovery is highly personal, but one thing is clear: the “6 week” rule is far too limited for full healing. Proper nutrition, support, and patience are essential for helping the body gradually return to its pre pregnancy state.

03/14/2026

🩸✨ Breast milk is made from blood — not directly from what you eat.

Your body pulls from your bloodstream to create milk that’s perfectly designed for your baby. Most newborn gas is normal, and diet usually only matters if there’s a true protein allergy or intolerance.

Evidence matters. So does reassurance.

03/06/2026

What's happening in a baby's gut in the first weeks of life shapes their immune system for years.

New research shows babies who develop healthy gut bacteria early, especially Bifidobacteria, have a lower risk of allergies and eczema later in childhood.

Human milk feeds the good bacteria. Early, frequent breastfeeding helps seed a healthy microbiome. This isn't just food. It's immune education.

Science is catching up with what lactation care has always known. Human milk is magic.

I speak to hospitals and organizations about the latest lactation research. Want to bring this conversation to your team or community? DM me or tap the link in bio.

Myers, P. N., Dehli, R. K., Mie, A., Moll, J. M., Roager, H. M., Eriksen, C., ... & Brix, S. (2026). Early-life colonization by aromatic-lactate-producing bifidobacteria lowers the risk of allergic sensitization. Nature Microbiology, 1-13.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41526643/

02/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D9CDGuP3m/

Mammary memory is real. Your b***s don't actually get bigger with baby #2 they just remember what to do.

Yep, studies show your mammary glands remember previous pregnancies, so they respond faster and may produce more milk next time around. Your body's like oh, we've done this before. Got it 👌🏻

Did you notice more milk with your second or third baby? I'm so curious if you felt the difference too.