Cassondra Moriarty Lactation + Fertility Care

01/07/2022

I've been shadowing the amazing Jen Kowal of and am very excited to be joining her team officially in 2022. Her experience, wisdom, and energy are all things I'm looking forward to sharing. 🙌

10/21/2021

Early parenthood involves being up at all hours in the night. Sometimes I tell people to think about how things look from above - If someone took a picture of them tending to their little ones in the middle of the night. For starters, it looks beautiful. Secondly, all over the globe - night and day - there are millions of other moms nursing, rocking, shushing, feeding their babies at the exact time as you. You are not alone. I love this quote from Sweet Sleep. It helps normalize some of the most demanding aspects of new parenthood.

10/18/2021

Love this visual of the tongue. Tongue function and form matter!

Learn about the structure and function of the tongue, humans' weird and wonderful muscular hydrostat!

10/05/2021

Hormonal long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) like the IUD, implant, or Depo-Provera carry risks to mental health and milk supply.

09/23/2021

You've heard it from mom groups, doctors, blogs, and family members.
🤰🤱
Breastfeeding prevents pregnancy! No it doesn't! My sister in law got pregnant while nursing! My friend used breastfeeding as birth control for a whole year!

So...what's the deal? Does breastfeeding work as birth control?

🥁Drrrrumrollll.....the simple answer? Yes! And no. Biologically, we know that prolactin (the nursing hormone) is designed to suppress fertility. It does this by sending a negative feedback loop to the pituitary gland. (Fun fact - this is how hormonal birth control works.) But obviously eventually, yes! Cycles will come back. For some women, this happens as early as 8 or 12 weeks. For others it can be a year or more! Since ovulation precedes menstruation, you can get pregnant before your first bleed. Luckily there are ways to track this so you can identify your return to fertility in real time, day to day.

09/23/2021

"Children’s brains and bodies are deeply shaped by caregiving practices and such moulding lasts a lifetime."

True responsive care means adjusting to what babies need

09/15/2021

HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL and BREASTFEEDING

The "mini-pill" is often touted as safe for breastfeeding.
✨BUT✨
Some parents, even on progestin only hormonal contraception, see a dip. Yes, even with the hormonal IUD. If nursing was going fine, and you started hormonal contraception, and nursing suddenly changed (more fussiness, dissatisfaction after feeds, more frequent feeds, more frequent night wakings, less diaper output, falling off growth curve) consider either trying a different formulation or trying a non hormonal method. If the pill - or IUD or ring or patch - is in fact the source of your troubles, you should see supply come back up after a few days off of it. Modern Fertility Awareness Methods allow you to enjoy the infertility breastfeeding fosters (whether it's weeks or years) *and* track the first ovulation and period. More on Fertility Awareness Methods, and cycles while breastfeeding later!

08/29/2021

THE SNOO.

Let's talk about it. The snoo has become a sensation, new must have baby item for new moms. It promises that your little one will "sleep through the night" and affords parents the same.

Here's the thing, though. For most moms, this is a recipe for low supply. To keep a robust supply, frequent milk removal is required throughout the night, especially in the first 12 weeks - the age the snoo is made for. It doesn't happen overnight, but babies often start to fall off their growth curve which ensues in early initiation of solids and/or extra milk supplementation which further reduces supply. This also often coincides with the 4 month sleep progression, when baby life is too exciting during the day to make up for feeds missed during the night.

If you are seeing:
▪️Baby falling off growth curve
▪️Recurrent clogged ducts
▪️Mastitis
▪️Fussy feeds during the day

It might be time to reconsider the hallowed "Snoo". There are alternatives that allow the whole family to get more sleep AND protect your milk supply!

08/25/2021

New Jersey midwives say a state regulation requiring them to officially consult with obstetricians has become a burden that limits women's choices.