River Valley Lactation

River Valley Lactation Lactation Consultant serving Western WI and Eastern MN. Booking link: https://rvlactation.intakeq.com/booking

At River Valley Lactation, I’m Kayli, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and mom serving families in the beautiful St. Croix River Valley in Western Wisconsin and Eastern MN. I provide personalized in-home and virtual breastfeeding support to help you achieve your feeding goals with confidence and comfort. Whether you’re preparing for baby, navigating early challenges, or planning your return to work, I’m here to guide you every step of the way. My compassionate, evidence-based approach meets you where you are, empowering you on your unique breastfeeding journey. Book your consultation today:https://rvlactation.intakeq.com/booking

Please send me a message if you would be interested in donating milk. I will pass along your contact information. 💕
09/09/2025

Please send me a message if you would be interested in donating milk. I will pass along your contact information. 💕

Hello September! 🍁 Anybody due this month??Did you know that this month holds 9 of the 10 most common birth dates of the...
09/01/2025

Hello September! 🍁 Anybody due this month??

Did you know that this month holds 9 of the 10 most common birth dates of the year?

This is my favorite month. I might be a little biased… all three of my kids were due in September, and two were born right in that most popular week!

If your little one is arriving soon, now’s the time to grab your consult so you feel supported from the very start. 💕

📊 The Evidence:According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC, babies who are breastfed — especially exclu...
08/29/2025

📊 The Evidence:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC, babies who are breastfed — especially exclusively for the first 6 months — are less likely to become overweight or obese later in childhood.

A 2015 meta-analysis in the journal Pediatrics found that breastfed children had a 26% lower odds of obesity compared to those who were never breastfed.

The protective effect is dose-dependent — meaning longer durations and exclusive breastfeeding offer more significant benefits.

💡 Why might breastfeeding help prevent obesity?
- Self-regulation: Breastfed babies are more likely to learn to follow their own hunger and fullness cues, rather than being encouraged to finish a bottle.
- Hormonal makeup: Breastmilk contains leptin and adiponectin, hormones that help regulate appetite, fat storage, and metabolism.
- Slower weight gain pattern: Breastfed infants tend to gain weight at a more gradual and regulated pace, which is linked to healthier growth trajectories.
- Gut microbiota: Human milk promotes a healthy gut microbiome, which plays a role in metabolism and fat storage.

📣 Key Takeaway:
Breastfeeding is not a guaranteed shield against obesity, but it’s a powerful, evidence-based preventive factor — especially when combined with healthy infant feeding practices and continued support as babies grow.

Anyone else’s kids start school this week?? 😭 Two of mine were so excited to start kindergarten and 2nd grade. PS. We ar...
08/27/2025

Anyone else’s kids start school this week?? 😭 Two of mine were so excited to start kindergarten and 2nd grade.

PS. We aren’t Vikings fans. We actually have season tickets (4 seats) for the Packers. We are a family of five so thankfully one child nominated himself out for the games. 😜

✨ Why consider a prenatal lactation education visit?✨Starting your feeding journey before baby arrives can make all the ...
08/26/2025

✨ Why consider a prenatal lactation education visit?✨

Starting your feeding journey before baby arrives can make all the difference. A prenatal visit isn’t about memorizing every detail — it’s about helping you feel empowered and confident as you prepare.

Parents who learn the basics ahead of time often:
💡 Go into breastfeeding with realistic expectations
💡 Recognize what’s normal and when to ask for help
💡 Feel more confident in their abilities
💡 Have better success meeting their feeding goals

When you already have a foundation, those early, sleepy days with a newborn don’t feel so overwhelming — you simply need reminders of what you already know.
Prenatal education isn’t just about feeding; it’s about creating an empowered parent who trusts themselves and feels supported from the very beginning. 💕

💤 Breastfeeding Reduces Risk of SIDS by 36%📊 The Evidence:A major meta-analysis published in Pediatrics (2017) reviewed ...
08/22/2025

💤 Breastfeeding Reduces Risk of SIDS by 36%

📊 The Evidence:

A major meta-analysis published in Pediatrics (2017) reviewed data from over 9,000 infant deaths and found that any breastfeeding, regardless of exclusivity, was associated with a 36% reduction in the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 2 months reduced SIDS risk by up to 50% — and the protective effect increased with duration.

🤔 Why does breastfeeding protect against SIDS?
There’s no single cause of SIDS, but breastfeeding may help by:

🛡️ Enhancing immune protection
Breastmilk contains antibodies and immune factors that protect against infections — especially respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, which are linked to increased SIDS risk.
🧠 Supporting neurological and cardiorespiratory development
Breastfed babies tend to have more stable heart rates, better arousal responses from sleep, and improved brainstem function — all crucial for survival during sleep disruptions.
🌡️ Reducing inflammation
Human milk reduces inflammatory markers and may promote better autonomic regulation, which helps prevent sudden cardiorespiratory failure during sleep.
👃 Decreased exposure to harmful pathogens
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of infections and bacterial colonization, particularly in the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.

🗣️ Bottom Line:
Breastfeeding — even partial — is a powerful, evidence-based way to reduce the risk of SIDS. Promoting and supporting breastfeeding is one of the most impactful public health tools we have for infant survival and safety.

I'll go first...I'm a very goal oriented person. I use them in my personal and professional life and they push my focus ...
08/20/2025

I'll go first...

I'm a very goal oriented person. I use them in my personal and professional life and they push my focus greatly. I'm also a big pusher of having SMART goals. If it doesn't feel achievable, you may not work towards it.

My initial breastfeeding goal with my first child was 12 weeks. He breastfed for 16 months.

🍼 Primary vs. Secondary Breast Pumps — What’s the Difference?Not all breast pumps are created equal — and knowing the di...
08/18/2025

🍼 Primary vs. Secondary Breast Pumps — What’s the Difference?

Not all breast pumps are created equal — and knowing the difference can save you time, milk, and frustration.

✨ Primary Breast Pump

- Built for daily, long-term use
- Use typical, plastic flanges that are not contained in your bra
- Strong, consistent suction designed to maintain milk supply
- Ideal for exclusive pumping or regular pumping at work
- Often covered by insurance for pumping parents

✨ Secondary Breast Pump

- Designed for occasional or short-term use
- Typically smaller, more portable (think in your bra cups, wearable pumps, compact motors)
- Perfect for quick relief, travel, or as a backup
- Not intended to fully replace regular pumping sessions or multiple sessions in a row

💡 Why It Matters

Using a secondary pump as your main pump can sometimes lead to supply issues because it may not have the power or efficiency of a primary pump. On the other hand, relying on a primary pump for every situation can be bulky or inconvenient. While you may see people on TikTok maintain their over supply using a secondary pump exclusively, this is not a majority of people.

Tip: If you’re not sure which pump is right for your needs, or if you’re returning to work soon, chat with a lactation consultant to make sure your setup supports your feeding goals.
** These are just examples and it is not an all inclusive list.

Anybody not realize this going into breastfeeding?

💼 Do you own a business or manage people? You may want to take note. I have worked with MANY moms who have gone the othe...
08/15/2025

💼 Do you own a business or manage people? You may want to take note. I have worked with MANY moms who have gone the other way and quit their jobs over this.

📉 The Reality:
Returning to work is a critical turning point for many breastfeeding parents — and often, it's when feeding goals get derailed.

- Studies show that employed parents are significantly more likely to stop breastfeeding earlier than those who stay at home.
- In fact, the CDC cites returning to work as one of the top three reasons parents stop breastfeeding before reaching 6 months.
- A 2019 study published in Journal of Human Lactation found that moms with inadequate workplace accommodations were 2.5x more likely to stop breastfeeding before 6 months.

🧑‍💼 What "Support" Really Means:
It’s more than just a room — here’s what working parents need to succeed:
✅ Adequate break time to pump without penalty
✅ A private, functional lactation space (not a bathroom)
✅ Supportive supervisors and workplace culture
✅ Flexibility with scheduling — especially for pumping and feeding
✅ Access to paid parental leave, if possible

🔄 When support is there:
Parents are more likely to meet their breastfeeding goals
They use sick time less often because their child has breastfeeding benefits
Job satisfaction increases
Retention rates improve — especially for those returning after birth

🗣️ Why This Matters:
For many parents, the decision to stop breastfeeding isn’t about choice — it’s about lack of support. When the workplace becomes hostile to pumping, feeding goals fall apart.

💡 Supportive work environments = healthier families + empowered employees.

Have you ever quit breastfeeding (or your job) over lack of support??

Did you guess "B" to my post yesterday?? If so, you're RIGHT!These are just a handful of examples but know that if the b...
08/14/2025

Did you guess "B" to my post yesterday?? If so, you're RIGHT!

These are just a handful of examples but know that if the bottle has a similar appearance to these, I would probably be including them in this list.

Why do I feel this way??

🚫 Concerns with these Bottles

1. Flow rate is too fast
Despite being labeled "slow flow," these ni***es are known to release milk faster than other brands, even for newborn sizes.
This can lead to overfeeding, coughing, gagging, or babies developing a preference for the bottle over the breast due to easier flow.

2. On the opposite side, the rate is nearly impossible to remove milk from. (Looking at you, Avent.)
Because of how hard it is to remove milk from, babies actually have to bite on the ni**le to remove milk and that is not a theme we want a baby to think is required of removing milk from the breast.

3. Ni**le shape isn’t truly breast-like
Though marketed as “closer to nature,” the short, wide ni**le base doesn’t mimic how a baby latches deeply on the breast.
Babies may start ni**le feeding (latching only to the tip), which can cause:
Shallow latch habits
Increased air intake and gassiness
Confusion or frustration at the breast

4. Poor pacing control
The shape and flow make it harder to practice paced bottle feeding, where the baby controls the flow similar to breastfeeding.
This can interfere with breastfeeding success or lead to early weaning if bottle-feeding becomes easier.

5. Hard to tell if baby is actively feeding
The design makes it tricky to see jaw movement and milk transfer, which is key when tracking intake — especially for preemies, slow gainers, or combo-fed babies.

✅ Bottles Often Preferred by Lactation Consultants:
Instead of these, many lactation consultants recommend bottles that promote better oral mechanics and feeding flow, such as:

Evenflo Balance+
Lansinoh
Pigeon
Nuk Perfect Match
Dr. Brown's Narrow

These tend to support better latch, flow control, and transitions between breast and bottle.

Did you previously fall for this marketing?? I know I did.

🍼 Anybody know between these 3 bottles which one I would be less likely to recommend? I don't mean to pick on just this ...
08/13/2025

🍼 Anybody know between these 3 bottles which one I would be less likely to recommend?

I don't mean to pick on just this one bottle. There are many that would fit in this same category. Why wouldn't I recommend them?

🛡️ Ni**le Shields: Helpful Tool, Not a Long-Term FixNi**le shields can be a great short-term tool to help babies latch a...
08/13/2025

🛡️ Ni**le Shields: Helpful Tool, Not a Long-Term Fix

Ni**le shields can be a great short-term tool to help babies latch and feed — especially in cases of flat or inverted ni***es, latch challenges, or premature infants. When used correctly, they can make breastfeeding possible when it might otherwise feel impossible. 💪

BUT… using a ni**le shield isn’t a "set it and forget it" solution. And I feel it important to mention that I RARELY see a situation where I would recommend one in the first 24 hours of life.

👀 If you're using a shield:

Baby's milk transfer should be monitored closely
Weight gain and diaper output need to be tracked
Milk supply should be protected
Regular follow-up with a lactation consultant is essential

Ni**le shields can be part of your journey — not the whole story. A lactation consultant can help:
✔️ Ensure proper positioning
✔️ Troubleshoot latch and supply concerns
✔️ Help you wean off the shield if/when ready
✔️ Make sure your baby is getting enough milk

With the right support, shields can be a bridge — not a barrier — to confident, comfortable breastfeeding. 🫶

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Osceola, WI
54020

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+17154973593

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