Love & Latch by Samar Mroue, RN, BSN, IBCLC

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Love & Latch by Samar Mroue, RN, BSN, IBCLC

I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, my goal is to help you reach your breastfeeding goals

02/11/2023

It’s been nearly 2 years that I haven’t posted on this account, and by doing that, I was able to give my family and my clients a lot more of my time and attention. I’m back, but will be posting mindfully, keeping my mental health and family as top priority!

This event felt like a big enough deal to have a permanent spot on my feed :)
First of all, I had a new baby 🥰 💞her name is Rhea and she’s 4 months old. Life has certainly been an adjustment with 3 children.

The main reason for my post, is that yesterday, the had the grand opening of its first ever depot site in Ventura County; this is a huge event for the local breastfeeding community, and I was so very excited to be their first donor to drop off milk at the new site.
Rhea and I donated about 100oz of our milk. This milk will be processed by the and used for sick/premie babies who need it.

If you or anyone you know have extra milk to donate, ask me about milk donation.

05/10/2021

𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧’𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙮!
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Every year, on this day, I post almost the same words.
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I’ve been there, I know the struggle. For years, I was waiting, wanting, wishing! For years, I noticed every pregnant person on the street, every round belly on social media, and ached at every birth announcement.
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If this is you, I see you, I feel you, I am you!
You are already a mother. Celebrate this day, and every day!
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𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧’𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙮 🧡

05/06/2021

𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙮 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙢 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣?
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As a follow up to our live earlier today, from created this graphic comparing tell tale signs of the commonly experienced “Baby blues” and some of the symptoms of Post Partum depression.
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If you haven’t watched the live from this morning, please note these resources that we mention and refer to:
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www.postpartum.net
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Local Ventura county resources www.maternalmentalhealthventura.org
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Local Los Angeles County www.maternalmentalhealthnow.org
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Book recommendation:
“Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts” is an amazing workbook for moms, written with beautiful illustrations to make it fun and interactive
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Meditation:
The app
The app

If you are experiencing symptoms of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, please reach out for help to any birth worker such as your midwife, doula, therapist, OB, lactation consultant etc…. We all have the capacity to guide you to the resources that may help you!
@ Thousand Oaks, California

04/28/2021

𝙄𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙮 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙢 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣?
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Mental health has been one of the biggest concerns for all of us during this pandemic, but specifically for new postpartum parents, we have seen a surge of mental health issues, sometimes going undetected for way too long.
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My friend Allison from Rooted in Harmony Counseling will be joining me on IG Live on Wednesday, May 5th at 9:30am PST (California Time) to chat about the difference between Baby Blues and postpartum depression (or other perinatal mental health issues), and help us understand when and where to seek help.
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If you have any questions for us to address, please comment below and we’ll make sure to answer them next week.

Make sure you follow Instagram.com/love.latch to watch the live

04/12/2021

🌙𝙍𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙣 𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 and 𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 🌙
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The lunar Month of Ramadan starts tomorrow. May it bring joy and light to all those who observe it.
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Ramadan is observed by fasting from dawn to sunset, for 30 days, and the question of breastfeeding during Ramadan comes up every year.
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Check the slides below for my tips on Breastfeeding during the Fast.
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Do you have any tips to add? Do you have any questions about fasting and breastfeeding?

04/02/2021

Did you know that crying is a very late hunger cue? ⁣
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Think about how you feel by 3:00pm if you missed lunch. is an understatement, right? In baby terms, that’s what crying indicates, especially if baby has been trying to tell us they’re hungry but we didn’t listen. ⁣
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The above are the early signs that baby needs to feed, whether it’s been half an hour or 3, it doesn’t matter, picking up on those cues means a happy baby whose calm enough to learn to latch and breastfeed. ⁣
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If we wait until baby starts crying, latching will become frustrating, especially if it has been a challenge already. Excessive crying leads to excessive gas, and leads to general fussiness, and definitely a more stressed parent. ⁣
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So how about this: When in doubt, just nurse!! ⁣
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Do you have any questions about newborn behavior?⁣

03/29/2021

On the occasion of National Choking Awareness Day, I wanted to bring a little awareness on the matter of gagging and why it is such an important and GOOD reflex to witness with our babies. I also talk about what to do and what not to do in the event that you need to help your baby in a choking emergency.

I hope this is helpful, let me know in the comments if you have any questions.

03/21/2021

𝙎𝙬𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜!
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This is such a huge topic in the baby world. Swaddling can be a great tool to soothe newborns, but there’s so much conflicting information.
There are also SO many brands of swaddles on the market right now, and some are even embedded into the bassinet, forcing babies into super tight and restricted positions.
Here are some facts about swaddling:
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✨It is not a right of passage for babies: some hate swaddling, and that’s a perfectly valid reason not to swaddle. Neither of my kids were swaddled (only my first for a week because I thought I had to!)
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✨the AAP recommends transitioning out of swaddling by about 8 weeks of age (or even earlier)
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✨ A newborn baby has had their hands as a source of comfort and sensory input throughout their womb life, they will continue to need the comfort of their hands after birth! There’s no reason to take their hands away from them (this could also apply to mittens 🤷🏻‍♀️).
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✨We should NOT swaddle babies tightly with their arms pinned to their sides!!!! This is an unnatural position for baby, and can cause tension in their shoulders, arms, chest, and even hips. Over the chest or up by their shoulders are preferred positions.
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✨Always make sure your baby is not too warm in a swaddle as it may make baby sleep longer than they should (remember that waking is a survival mechanism for humans).
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✨Always unwrap Baby when feeding, to prevent overheating, and promote a better position at breast.
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✨Give Baby as much non-swaddled time throughout the day as they are swaddled. This will ensure enough movement, and will allow the reflexes to integrate better. If your baby needs to be swaddled past the newborn stage, there are things that can help!
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How this relates to breastfeeding?
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🤱🏻A newborn who’s too warm may not wake as often as they should, this could lead to dehydration, issues with weight gain, or a problem with milk supply
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🤱🏻I’ve seen many babies start latching poorly at 2 & 3 months of age due to over-swaddling, and especially in the tight arms down position. This is due to all the tension building up in the body, leading to a tight jaw and mouth as well.
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Do you have any questions on swaddling?

03/08/2021

Here’s to the strongest women I know, and the ones I miss the most ❤️

Swipe for some Then & Now fun!

Happy International Women’s Day! ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 @ Beirut, Lebanon

03/04/2021

𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙉𝙊𝙍𝙈𝘼𝙇!
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It’s also NORMAL for you to respond to their wakings, by nursing, cuddling, shushing, rocking, swaying, patting, (insert whatever method you like to comfort your child with), etc....
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Infants and children go through many many sleep changes. They often happen at predictable times, but may just happen out of nowhere too.
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Here are some reasons why your baby may start waking at night again, even after months of sleeping long stretches:
▪️teething
▪️growth spurt
▪️mental leap
▪️a new milestone (they want to practice!)
▪️separation anxiety (checking on you!)
▪️a survival mechanism
▪️under stimulation
▪️overstimulation
▪️missing you after a day at work
▪️adjusting to a big change
▪️too hot
▪️too cold
▪️hungry
▪️thirsty....
Did I forget anything?
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Whatever the cause, responding to your child’s waking with your comforting presence shows them how to regulate and fall back asleep, through their interaction with you.
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What I’m trying to say is that “Self soothing” is not a concept that infants and young children are biologically capable of, so we need to stop expecting them to act like adults. Babies are also incapable of manipulating, so each and every one of their waking is a need waiting to be met.
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Also, you know what? B**b pretty much solves every single one of those issues, so if that works for you, just keep on b**bin’

03/03/2021

𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙄𝘽𝘾𝙇𝘾 𝘿𝙖𝙮!
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IBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, which is what my job is, basically a b**b job 😁
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My dream for this world is for every new parent to have access to skilled lactation care, regardless of their age, skin color or financial situation, preferably starting before birth. This means, all breasts are examined BEFORE birth, and medical history is evaluated to anticipate and educate on any possibly arising issues. Then every dyad is seen soon after birth, and help is provided as needed, before complications start. Ahh, for this to come true, means every parent would make an informed decision about feeding their baby, and exclusive breastfeeding rates would increase, leading to healthier children and a healthier planet. One can dream!
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Today is meant to celebrate the work lactation consultants do to support parents in their feeding journeys. If you received support from an IBCLC that you love, today is the day to send them a note, write them a review, or just check in and say hi. We love love love to hear updates from parents and babies we met along the way!

03/01/2021

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝟰𝟬!
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Age has never been anything but a number to me. I’ve always embraced my age, and celebrated it.
This year feels different though! I’ve been having all sorts of feelings and emotions this past month. Lots of thinking about what’s important, and lots of trying to “figure things out”! Is this what a midlife crisis feels like? 😂😂
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I’m sure the pandemic has something to do with the way I’m feeling! I had big plans for my 40th birthday, big plans for the way I’m going to look/feel when I’m 40, and none of it came true.
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It’s ok though, I’m not sad, just going through lots of growing, learning, and trying new things/ways!
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I’m so blessed with a family that loves me unconditionally, and friends that I can call at any moment like no time has passed since we last spoke! That’s what’s important to me!

Address

Newbury Park, CA
91320

Telephone

+18053903943

Website

http://www.loveandlatch.com/

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