The Milk Collective

07/02/2025

In addition to a thorough suck assessment, assessing a baby’s oral function should include — whenever possible — an observation of feeding, because a visual assessment of baby’s mouth by itself doesn’t tell the whole story. Working to improve strength and function whether breastfeeding or bottlefeeding (in baby’s case, both!) both before and after tongue and/or lip tie release is vital to the overall success of the procedure.   
 
This baby did best when I incorporated movement while feeding to keep her calm and willing to try new things. After a successful attempt at feeding her a bottle for the first time, I noticed baby needed a little extra support to maintain a good seal on the bottle and take in less air, so gentle support of the cheeks during feeding really helped (pic 2).   
  
The best providers know the procedure is not a magic wand, and refer to help assess and support before, during and after frenectomy. So grateful their release provider understands the importance of care and oral function and referred them to me for help. 🤱🏻💕👩🏻‍🍼 
 
 

05/07/2025

Don’t let anyone define your story for you:  
 
I’ve had a string of 9 pound + newborns in the past couple of weeks. Most of these families have been discouraged and made to feel like they won’t be able to nourish their babies. And yet, they are!  
 
So proud of this mama and her sweet babe, who was born vaginally at over 10lbs and is 6oz over birthweight at 9 days old, by “just” breastfeeding. 💪🏼💕 
 
 
 
 
 

03/28/2025

Sometimes, after the hard work of feeding and positioning and oral exercises is done, we get to sit and chat about life. And that’s the best part. 💕 
 
 
 
 

03/06/2025

Eighteen years ago, I called my local WIC office, hoping to sign up for their Breastfeeding Peer Counselor course in an effort to work with breastfeeding families. I never envisioned the beautiful career I’d create with the incredible families I’d serve and the IBCLC colleagues I’d learn from and with. It’s an honor to be amongst you.  

Quality IBCLCs make life so much better for new families, advocating for them in ways few others will. We are the experts in our field. We work hard to maintain our knowledge base current and evolving and our standards high in supporting new families and their goals.
 
In thinking about all of the IBCLCs who have shaped me, I notice a few are no longer in this line of work. That speaks to how much we put into what we do and into the families we serve, with little recognition or reward, and how prevalent burnout is in our line of work. I’m so grateful for you and the work you do. I’m so thankful you take my calls when I need to brainstorm and that you continue to inspire me and be there for me both personally and professionally.

Eighteen years is a long time and there are so many I look up to, but thinking especially of you and so many others (some I’m too shy to mention cause I’m simply a fan, like ). Happy ! The world is better because you’re in it. 💕

05/01/2024

Happy May!    
   
I had the pleasure of speaking with the Milk Bank of Orlando this week. I’ve had a slew of babies graduating from NICU, where they were lucky enough to receive donor milk. Once the babies are discharged, however, getting donor milk through a milk bank is limited.  
   
Sadly, they explained, they don’t have enough donor milk available to support these babies once they’ve left the hospital. They mentioned people do send in milk, but not always with the accompanying bloodwork needed for donation.    
   
They were so understanding of how hard life after a baby is and discussed how coordinating the paperwork can be overwhelming.    
   
If you have a surplus of milk, and the energy to go through the process of becoming a milk donor through a milk bank in your area, please do. Visit if you’re in Florida or the website listed in the graphic if outside of FL. So many babies need it, and so many families will be eternally grateful. 💕

09/27/2022

FLORIDA! Hurricane Ian is coming! We have a lot of recent FL transplants so here are some last minute prep tips for you to do right now: 
 
1. PUMPING: If pumping, charge pump now and keep it charged. Even in areas where storm will not hit directly, the power may go out. Review hand expression videos and keep several sets of bottles clean and ready for use. Have clean water on hand to use for washing bottles and parts as needed. If you do not have a rechargeable pump, look into a car battery or an adapter or manual pump ASAP!  
 
2. FROZEN MILK: Place in a packed freezer, with human milk in the middle to avoid thawing. If power goes out, avoid opening the freezer to maintain temp. If human milk defrosts, but ice crystals remain, it may be used and/or refrozen. If your freezer is not packed, freeze water in ziploc bags now to take up space.  
 
3. BREASTFEEDING/CHESTFEEDING: Continue feeding or expressing milk frequently. Breastfeeding/chestfeeding is a safe, effective way to feed baby, provide antibodies and reduce stress hormones for both you and baby.  
 
Most importantly, stay safe and aware! Be very careful with flood waters and do not go outside until you get the all clear from news stations.  
 

09/09/2022

🗣Listen up lactation professionals!! Our times of suggesting heat first, digging into the breast with something that vibrates, and pump to empty are now over! Many of the new recommendations are practically opposite of what we have been taught over the years.

🛑The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine has change the mastitis protocol ( #36)🛑

The new protocol tells us:
✅ Feed the infant on demand and/or pump on your normal schedule- don't aim to "empty" the breasts or increase demand.
❌ No extra pumping, no aiming to "drain" the breast or the infected area. You can't suck mastitis out and increasing supply makes inflammation worse.
✅ Ice packs or cold compresses to help reduce inflammation
❌ Hot compresses can increase inflammation and make the swelling worse
✅ Gentle, sweeping lymphatic massage towards the armpit to help drain extra fluid (not milk) in the breast and... you get it... reduce inflammation
❌ Aggressive kneading and squeezing of the breast can make the swelling and inflammation worse
✅ Anti-inflammatory foods and OTC medications
⚠️ Mastitis is NOT always a bacterial infection, so antibiotics aren't always needed- sometimes they can have an anti-inflammatory side effect so it looks like they're making the mastitis better when they're not.

Read much more and check out the new ABM protocol here:

https://www.bfmed.org/assets/ABM%20Protocol%20%2336.pdf

02/19/2022

08/24/2021

Share the Mic Now! Black Breastfeeding Week 2021

Join us for this special FB Live event, spearheaded by Black Breastfeeding 365, to share our social media platform with Black lactation professionals during Black Breastfeeding Week 2021. Nikki & Nikki Lactation Career Consultants will go live on the LER FB page to amplify issues relevant to the Black community, including discussing image diversity and LER’s partnership with The Melanated Mammary Atlas.

Wednesday, August 25th
1:30 pm ET / 10:30 am PT
No registration required! Just head over to our page on Wednesday to join the live session.

05/10/2021

Because even on Mother's Day, baby hands and toddler hands and big kid hands still need you.   
  
Because for a lot of people, Mother's Day may be a mix of complicated feelings.   
  
Because every day is a day we should recognize that even when the world stops, you don't.   
  
Because you are someone's everything.   
  
Because of all that and more, I hope today was everything you needed it to be.   
  
Happy Mother's Day to all those who mother. I see you. 💕

04/17/2021

Erica Chidi and Erica P. Cahill, M.D. created this guide for Black mothers which also has valuable information for all healthcare providers on how we can check and work on our own implicit bias to better serve and protect the Black mothers and babies we work with.

If you are a healthcare provider, please take time out of your day to read through the guide and click on the links meant for us.

How racism can impact your pre- and postnatal care — and advice for speaking to your Ob-Gyn about it.

04/15/2021

📣📣📣• IT’S BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK!
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Many people were not aware of the the Black Maternal Health crisis that our country has been facing until last year. The more open discussions about race that we have been engaging in as a country has really allowed for this crisis to get some more attention.
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For a developed country, the US does poorly in terms of maternal mortality (meaning mothers dying in or around childbirth). The numbers become downright tragic when you get to Black moms. The rates that Black moms die in pregnancy related deaths are around the maternal mortality rate in Mexico (which is considered a developing country). It’s a travesty because we like to think about all of the innovation in medicine and money in America, compared to other countries, and we are failing at saving Black moms.
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For the record, Black maternal mortality is a GLOBAL PROBLEM!
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Our Black moms in the UK are dying at a rate 4-5 times the rate of their White counterparts in pregnancy related deaths.
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9 out of the top 10 countries for maternal mortality rates in the world are in Africa - including #4 which is Nigeria - the most populous African country!
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We need Black Maternal Health Week because we have a Black Maternal Health Crisis!
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Take some time to listen and pay attention this week. There will be lots to learn and lots of calls to action! We can change this...we can make this better!
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