River Valley Lactation, Osceola, WI (2025)

07/25/2025

📢 Source:

This number comes from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (Lancet Series on Breastfeeding, 2016). The researchers estimated that:

✅ If all children were breastfed according to global recommendations, over 823,000 deaths of children under 5 could be prevented each year.

👶 Why Is Breastfeeding So Life-Saving?
Breastmilk helps prevent:

Infectious diseases like diarrhea and pneumonia — the top causes of death in children under 5 worldwide.
Malnutrition in infants, especially in low-resource settings.
Contamination risks from formula mixed with unsafe water in areas with poor sanitation.

It also:

Boosts immunity from the start.
Promotes healthy gut microbiomes, which protect against illness.
Supports brain development, reducing long-term disability.

🌐 Global Breastfeeding Recommendations:
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months
Continued breastfeeding up to 2 years and beyond, with complementary foods starting at 6 months

But despite this:

Only ~44% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed for 6 months (2023 UNICEF data)

📌 Why Aren’t More Babies Breastfed Worldwide?

Barriers include:
Aggressive formula marketing
Workplace & cultural obstacles
Lack of skilled support
Misinformation and stigma

07/24/2025

Science experiment time!

Did you know that it’s completely normal to produce more milk from one breast than the other! 💧🍼

This is a super common breastfeeding experience, and most lactating parents notice a “good boob” and a “better boob.” Here’s why it happens:

🧠 Milk Supply Is Demand-Driven
If baby nurses longer or more effectively on one side (even just early on), that breast may respond by making more milk over time.

👶 Baby Preference
Some babies prefer one side due to positioning, comfort, or even subtle anatomical differences like ear tightness or neck tension.

🫀 Breast Anatomy Variations
Milk ducts, glandular tissue, and ni**le shape can vary between breasts. One may naturally have more milk-making capacity.

🕐 Feeding Routine Habits
If you unconsciously favor one breast due to comfort, habit, or ease, that side will get more stimulation and build more supply.

✅ When It's Not a Problem
Baby is gaining well
Diaper output is normal
Both breasts are comfortable (no recurring clogs or pain)

Head to stories to cast your vote and see if there is commonality for which side is best in RVL followers.

07/24/2025

Any chance you use this bottle? And if so, have you experienced troubles with feeding?

Examples:
- You had to switch to a size 2 for your baby to be able to remove milk without it taking 40 minutes to feed a bottle.
- You notice that when they feed at breast they are chomping with their jaw.
- Struggling with excess air or fussiness.
- Baby is experiencing poor weight gain.
- Etc. Etc.

I see these bottles in nearly every home I go in to. *Thanks Amazon Registry gift box*😏 Their marketing team does an amazing job of making it sound like this is a great bottle for the ability to transition from breast to bottle and back but I think most lactation consultants would disagree.

I swear that nearly every consult I have gone to where there have been issues with the transition back and forth, this bottle shows its face. I'm sure there are unicorn babies out there that do amazing with it. I don't see those babies.

Own this bottle? Do a little experiment with me and put water in it. Fl**ge your lips out on the ni**le and attempt to suck water out. The rule is, no biting! I would love to hear about your success. 🤣

07/23/2025

Do you have a new or barely used Spectra pump around your house that you would like to donate?

I always keep a handful of them on hand and pass them on to families in need. I’m looking for Spectra S1 or S2 (along with their power cords) that are like new condition. I do not want the parts, just the pumps only. I provide in home lactation care in Western WI and Eastern MN so can arrange a porch pick up time for when I’m in the area. I’m just looking for a couple of them at this time.

Please pass along my information if you know someone with an extra pump, know someone who may benefit from this recycle program or anyone in need of lactation support.
Thank you!

07/23/2025

Daily skin-to-skin can improve milk supply, regulate baby’s heart rate and temp, and reduce stress for both of you!

07/21/2025

🦷 Myth: "Once baby gets teeth, it's time to stop breastfeeding."

👉 Truth: Many babies continue breastfeeding comfortably with teeth. Biting can happen, but it can usually be corrected — it doesn’t mean breastfeeding must end.

🍼 Why Do People Believe This Myth?
Some babies do experiment with biting when teething or curious — it can surprise or hurt the parent.
There's a fear that teeth will automatically mean painful feeds.
Social pressure may say “If they have teeth, they’re too old to nurse.”
But in reality, lots of breastfed babies get teeth between 4–7 months and continue nursing well into toddlerhood without issues.

💡 How Breastfeeding Works with Teeth
When properly latched, a baby’s tongue covers their bottom teeth, so they can’t bite while actively feeding.
Biting usually happens at the end of a feed, when baby is distracted, playing, or teething.
Many parents nurse toddlers with a full set of teeth with no pain or biting at all.

✅ Tips to Prevent or Manage Biting
Watch for signs of boredom or distraction — biting often happens when baby is done nursing.
If baby bites, stay calm and say something like, “Ouch! No biting.” Then gently unlatch and give a pause.
Offer a teething toy before nursing if baby is extra chewy.
Try to end the feed before baby gets playful or sleepy enough to bite.
With time, most babies learn quickly that biting means nursing ends, and they adjust.

🔄 Bottom Line
Teething doesn’t mean the end of your breastfeeding journey — it’s just another phase. With support and consistency, you can continue nursing as long as you and your baby want, teeth or not!

07/18/2025

📊 Breastfeeding in the U.S.: Initiation vs. Continuation
According to the CDC’s 2022 Breastfeeding Report Card:

83.2% of infants in the U.S. start out breastfeeding — which means most families do attempt to initiate breastfeeding.

But by 6 months:
Only about 55.8% are still breastfeeding at all
And just 24.9% are exclusively breastfeeding

🔍 What’s Behind This Drop-Off?
Breastfeeding often starts strong but becomes harder to sustain due to:

Lack of paid parental leave — most U.S. parents return to work within weeks.
Inadequate workplace pumping support
Limited access to skilled lactation help (especially after hospital discharge)
Misinformation or inconsistent advice from healthcare providers
Societal pressure
Challenges like pain, low supply worries, or latch issues

💡 What Can Help?
Prenatal education: Families who learn about breastfeeding beforehand are more likely to meet their goals.
Postpartum lactation support: Home visits, phone support, or outpatient IBCLC help can make a big difference.
Supportive communities: Peer support groups (like La Leche League, Baby Cafés, etc.) help normalize the journey.
Culturally relevant care: Tailoring lactation help to each family's identity, values, and experiences improves outcomes.

07/17/2025

So I am not a huge believer in the need for gadgets to make breastfeeding successful BUT there is one item that I find hugely beneficial to own. I'm guessing that the majority who have worked with me previously would be able to guess what it is. 😊

A hand pump!

While I was breastfeeding, you could find one on my nightstand (for fast middle of the night milk removal when my kids started sleeping longer stretches), in my car (in case I ended up somewhere longer than I intended or forgot my full pump for work) and in my diaper bag (to cover all my bases). I found that I could remove milk much faster with hand pump than using my full pump and without as many dishes to wash or ever truly needing to get out of bed if I was sleeping.

What items did you find helped you reach your goals?

07/15/2025

There are 3 things that I ask my patients to assess on their latch every time they feed in the early days of breastfeeding.

1. Are you belly to belly with baby? No matter what position is chosen, baby's hips, shoulders and head should be aligned and facing you. No hips to the sky with head turned.

2. Is the baby's chin raised at least 90 degrees off their chest? Go ahead and drop your chin all the way to your chest and try to drink and swallow water. It is hard work to do it that way and will probably also lead to pain for you. Are you worried that their nose is completely into your breast? Check out their chin position.

3. Is a majority of your ar**la within the baby's mouth? We need a good deep latch for active and pain free milk removal.

Are there more items that I am going to look at and assess about the latch? Absolutely. But these are your items to pay attention to and are more easily controlled by you.

07/14/2025

This may be one of the more common myths that I see in action. There is a general feeling that if you start feeling signs of mastitis, you MUST get in to get an antibiotic to make it go away. While there are scenarios where an antibiotic may be needed, majority do not.

Think of clogs or mastitis as inflammation within the milk duct:

🧊 Use cool compresses, not heat
Skip the warm compress — use cold packs to reduce swelling and inflammation instead.

🛑 Be gentle with massage
Deep or aggressive massage can make things worse. If needed, use light lymphatic drainage-style massage away from the area toward your armpit — think gentle sweeping, not digging.

✨ Prioritize milk removal
Keep breastfeeding or pumping frequently. Milk movement is key — but don’t overdo it or be excessive.

💊 Consider anti-inflammatories
Anti-inflammatories can help decrease inflammation and manage pain.

🧘 Rest & hydration
Support your immune system. Drink water, rest when you can, and lower your stress as much as possible.

📞 Know when to call for help
If you develop a fever, chills, body aches, or worsening symptoms for over 24 hours of trying these methods— you may need antibiotics. It just doesn't need to be the first tool attempted.

Did you know this? Or did you start pushing on the clog, use heat and start pumping every hour? 😜

07/13/2025

With M-Th filling up, I just opened up two Friday slots. Reach out if you’re needing lactation support!
And reminder that today is the last day to submit Blue Cross Blue Shield for approval through The Lactation Network.

07/11/2025

🍼 How Breastfeeding Helps Lower the Risk of Obesity

1. 🧠 Baby learns to regulate their own appetite
Breastfed babies feed at their own pace and stop when they're full. There's no bottle measurement or encouragement to "finish" a set amount, so they develop better hunger and fullness cues from the start.

2. ⚖️ Breast milk has a unique nutritional balance
It's perfectly tailored for baby’s needs, with the right mix of fat, protein, and hormones that support healthy weight gain—not excess.

3. 🧬 It influences metabolism and fat storage
Breast milk contains hormones like leptin and adiponectin, which help regulate fat storage and energy balance—potentially programming a healthier metabolism long term.

4. 🦠 It supports a healthy gut microbiome
Breast milk promotes the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. A healthy microbiome early in life is linked to a lower risk of obesity and metabolic disease.

5. 📈 It supports slower, more gradual weight gain
Breastfed infants tend to gain weight more slowly and steadily, especially after the first few months—this pattern is associated with a lower risk of obesity later.

📌 While breastfeeding isn’t a guaranteed “obesity shield,” it’s one of many early-life factors that contribute to healthier outcomes. Pairing it with responsive feeding and healthy habits later in life strengthens the impact.

River Valley Lactation

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