MaMa Mentoring; pregnancy thru preschool

07/12/2025

Does breastfeeding really matter to babies’ health in high-resource countries like the US & UK? Yes concluded a brand-new 2025 systematic review. Formula fed babies are at increased risk for childhood leukemia, SIDS, ear infections, GI infections, lower respiratory infections, and a host of others.

Read more about it here:

Breastfeeding is associated with beneficial effects for several infant and child outcomes. Further research that addresses the limitations of existing studies is needed to continue to inform national initiatives.

07/06/2025

No two feeding journeys with our little ones is the same. Let's chat about what happened along the way with you and your kiddo. From initiation to introducing solid food to weaning and picky toddlers there is SO much to talk about. Not to mention pumping, bottles and returning to work or adding another baby into the mix. What do you want to share or ask?

Join me, the MaMa Mentor Tuesday July 8th
10-noon
Intimate Journey Birth & Wellness Center
4251 S. Higuera, #300
SLO

Pregnant, postpartum, or toddler moms are all welcome and your wee ones too.

https://www.facebook.com/events/31433310882934648

07/05/2025

The baby’s saliva on the breast tells the woman’s body exactly what nutrients the baby needs, as they need them.

The body basically has a precise food order placed once baby begins suckling at the breast.

It follows the request and produces exactly what that child needs, down to the smallest nutritional value.

Babies nutritional needs are not linear, each are different and individualized.

Each baby will have their own different needs, they will change day to day.

No man-made imitation could even come close to the nutritional value of breast milk.

So, while breastfeeding might not seem like the right choice for every parent, it is the best choice for every baby.

Proven, time and time again ❤️

07/01/2025

In recent studies on epigenetics, scientists discovered that babies who experienced high levels of touch and affection had more stable and mature DNA methylation patterns—a process that influences how genes are expressed. These chemical markers don’t change the genetic code itself but can affect how genes function, especially during early development.

Infants who were held and cuddled less showed irregularities in their DNA methylation, which were still present years later. This suggests that the environment—even one as simple as being held—can leave biological marks with long-term consequences. It underscores the biological importance of physical closeness in early life, not just for emotional bonding but for healthy gene activity. 👶🧬

07/01/2025

Breastmilk changes constantly in relation to your child’s needs.

When your body becomes aware of a virus or bug that your baby has picked up, either through contact with your baby’s saliva, or their skin, or from sharing the environment and picking up the bug yourself too for instance, your body immediately starts to make the antibodies tailored to that infection, and delivers it through your milk.

The more milk your child drinks, the more antibodies and protection they receive.

Levels of prolactin, the hormone that supports milk production, are highest at night, making night feeds an important part of establishing your milk supply.

Levels of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep, also increase at night. When we’re born, it takes several months for our body to start making its own melatonin, so your milk helps your baby to start establishing their own sleep rhythms.

Though disclaimer, it can take years for children to sleep through the night. That is natural - if exhausting - too.

The concentration of Human Milk Oligosaccharides, sugars that feed good bacteria in our baby’s gut and protect our children against infections, changes in relation to our children’s age, and even to the seasons.

The concentration of fats and proteins increase as a baby grows into a toddler, along with increased levels of antibacterial and antiviral components such as lysozyme, which is an anti-inflammatory, and destroys bacteria.

Lysozyme increases in concentration from about 6 months old, when babies become more mobile and everything (toys, sand, cats biscuits?) goes straight in the mouth, and keeps increasing after the first year.

The concentration of Lactoferrin also increases over time. Lactoferrin inhibits the growth of some cancerous cells. It also binds to the iron in our baby’s body, preventing it from being available to harmful microorganisms that need iron to survive. Lactoferrin also kills the bacteria strep mutans, a cause of tooth decay and cavities.

Our baby’s immune system takes months to start to become able to fight pathogens effectively, and around 6 years to become fully mature, so the support of the protective factors in breastmilk for as long as possible, ideally 2 years at least, is natural.

The longer we mothers breastfeed for, the more our risk of certain diseases, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, is reduced.

All this can be summed up this way: your breastmilk is unique and can’t be replicated.
Breastfeeding is really hard work. But you are doing an incredible thing, and you are BRILLIANT.

More incredible science, references and support at https://human-milk.com

06/30/2025

What's the deal with low milk supply? This podcast does a great job educating parents and pros about this often misunderstood topic.
Nuggets:
1. Moms if you don't want to end up in the hell of triple feeding remember these critical windows. 3 hours, 3 days and 3 weeks. Get help ASAP.

2. Pros remember to assess brain, breast and baby. First with a macro view and second with a micro.

EBB 360 - Overcoming Challenges with Low Milk Supply with Katie James, Midwife, IBCLC, and Host of the Midwives' Cauldron Podcast - Evidence Based Birth® | Podcast on Spotify

Evidence Based Birth® · Episode

06/30/2025

Have you ever wondered why most mothers instinctively cradle their babies on the left side?

It might seem like a random habit, right?
But it’s anything but random.

💡 Studies show that around 80% of mothers across the world naturally hold their babies on the left side of their chest.
And behind this seemingly simple gesture lies something extraordinary — a deep neurological reason.

When a mother holds her baby to the left, her left eye is more engaged with the baby’s face.
And here’s where the magic happens:
Everything seen with the left eye is processed in the right hemisphere of the brain — the part responsible for decoding emotions, recognizing faces, and building connection.

Without realizing it, a mother activates her brain’s emotional radar, tuning into her baby’s feelings more deeply and intuitively. 💞

Think about how powerful that is:
A natural reflex, carried out without thinking…
is actually part of a biologically designed, emotionally intelligent system.
A built-in bond amplifier. A heart-to-heart translator.

🌿 Nature really does leave nothing to chance.
Not even the way we hold the people we love.

It’s pure instinct.
It’s pure connection.
It’s love in its most primitive and perfect form.

06/27/2025