The Happy Mama Place

10/16/2025

🎆 BREAKING NEWS 🎆

I am hosting another breastfeeding class in Honesdale! Here are the details 👇

👶 November 19th 2025 6pm-8pm 👶

Click here to register, space is limited!!

https://www.hisawyer.com/owl-friends/schedules/activity-set/1665264?source=camps

10/03/2025

Join us for our New & Expectant Parent Circle on Saturday, October 4th at the Milford Branch of the Pike County Public Library.

🤰Connect with other parents, share experiences, ask questions, and find support in a welcoming space. Whether you’re preparing to welcome your little one or navigating the early months of parenthood, this group is for you!👶👶🏿

📅 Saturday, October 4th at 10:30am

📍 Pike County Public Library-Milford Branch

We hope to see you there! 💚💙💚💙

10/02/2025

📣 You Don’t Need Two Breasts to Breastfeed! 🤱

It’s a common misconception that you need both breasts to successfully breastfeed. In fact, many mothers can produce all the milk their babies need from just one breast!

This is especially remarkable when you consider mothers of twins, who often manage to breastfeed both babies at the same time using only one breast for each. ✨

The human body is incredibly adaptable. Each breast has the capability to produce milk, and with the right stimulation and demand, one breast can typically supply enough milk for your little one. 💡

Here are a few key points to consider: 🧐

✅ Lactation Flexibility: If one breast is more efficient at producing milk, you can focus on using that breast more frequently, ensuring your baby gets enough nourishment.

✅ Breastfeeding Twins: Many mothers of twins successfully breastfeed each baby from one breast at a time, allowing them to provide nourishment for both without the need for double the supply. This approach not only simplifies the process but also helps manage their milk production effectively.

✅ Avoiding Discomfort: Some mothers find it more comfortable to breastfeed from one breast, especially if they experience issues like engorgement or pain in one side. It’s perfectly acceptable to prioritize comfort while ensuring your baby receives the milk they need.

✅ Individual Experiences: Every breastfeeding journey is unique. While some mothers may need to alternate breasts or use both, many can thrive on using just one. Trust your body and listen to your baby’s cues.

Remember, the key to breastfeeding is finding what works best for you and your baby. Whether you have one breast or two, your ability to nourish your child is more than achievable! ❤️

10/02/2025

A 2024 case-control study published in the Asian Journal of Medicine and Health looked at 100 pregnant women (50 with preeclampsia and 50 healthy controls) DOI: 10.9734/ajmah/2024/v22i3990

The preeclampsia group was found to have lower serum ionized magnesium levels, and a cut-off of 0.7 mmol/L for serum ionized magnesium was used.

Women with serum ionized magnesium 0.7mmol/L.

The first thing I want to highlight (for all you practitioners out there running magnesium) is the measurements they used there, mmol/L. Here in the states, if you are using Labcorp, the measurements used for serum magnesium are mg/dL.

So 0.7 mmol/L = 1.7 mg/dL (which is actually within the NORMAL ranges found on LabCorp and Quest.

This was a small study, but multiple others have found similar results.

Wadhwani et al. (2022) found that women who developed preeclampsia had significantly lower magnesium in mid-pregnancy (18-22 weeks) compared to controls. This study looked at 324 women (216 without PE and 108 with PE). They collected samples at 11-14 weeks, 18-22 weeks, and 26-28 weeks, and tracked PE cases/risk.

Al-Behari (2002) identified a serum magnesium cut-off of

08/26/2025

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Michel Odent, a renowned and internationally recognized surgeon and advocate for the demedicalization of childbirth.

Odent wrote several key articles and publications on childbirth, lactation, and caring for pregnant and birthing people, including the first article applying the gate control theory of pain to childbirth. He was among the first advocates for water birth to support a more client-focused environment, with the goal of centering the birthing parent and their baby in the birth experience once more.

An example would be "Birth Under Water," one of his earlier publications from The Lancet in 1983. It reflects on what he and his team learned after the 100th baby was born after the use of water immersion in his hospital. The ideas shared set the stage for water birth to become more common and more widely accepted as an avenue for managing the intensity of labor and supporting birthing parents in coping through labor progression.

We welcome you to share the impact Odent's work and writings have had on your work as birth and lactation professionals, so we can remember and learn from his legacy of advocating for the rights and experiences of parents and babies.

Odent, M. (1983). Birth under water. The Lancet, 322(8365-8366), 1476-1477.

Photo: Xavier Caré / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA

06/22/2025

✨ Off to Venture X Bethlehem today to guide another HypnoBirthing class is one of my favorite parts of what I do.

Every parent deserves to feel calm, connected, and truly prepared for birth, mind, body, and baby. HypnoBirthing is just one way I help families build trust in themselves and welcome birth with more confidence and ease.

If you’ve ever wondered how to prepare for birth in a way that feels peaceful and empowering, I’m always here to chat. 💕

📍 Bethlehem, PA
📆 Sundays at Venture X

06/15/2025

✨ Why I always recommend learning about breastfeeding before your baby arrives…

Too often, families assume they’ll just “figure it out” once baby is here. But those precious first hours — the golden hour — are meant for bonding, resting, and soaking in your baby, not for feeling stressed or confused about latching and feeding.

Unfortunately, not every hospital has a lactation consultant on staff, and even when they do, the support is often limited — and sometimes the advice given isn’t based on the best evidence. For example, nurses may recommend pumping your colostrum instead of hand-expressing or latching baby directly, or they’ll tell new moms to start pumping because “your milk isn’t in yet and baby isn’t getting enough.” But early pumping in those first 6 weeks can create an oversupply, which can be very uncomfortable and hard to manage later on. Knowing how to latch well and trust your body’s natural process can make all the difference.

This is exactly why I recommend Brittany at Kimble Lactation Support to all my clients for in-home visits when extra support is needed. I hear story after story about how helpful, caring, and absolutely wonderful she is.

I’m so excited she’s now offering prenatal breastfeeding classes — because learning ahead of time means fewer worries during that sacred golden hour. When you have the skills and confidence before birth, you can focus on what truly matters: bonding with your baby.

✨ More than a doula — I prepare you for it all.
This class is officially on my doula recommendation list — and it should be on your birth prep list too.

📧 In-person and virtual options available!
For details or to register, email brittany@kimblelactation.com

I’m so excited to announce I’m am offering a Prenatal Breastfeeding Class!!!

✨Virtual or in person options
✨Come learn all the things you need to know to successfully feed your baby
✨Come learn in a judgement free and supportive environment, where you will feel empowered to feed your baby confidently!
✨email me directly brittany@kimblelactation.com for more info or to register

06/13/2025

🌿She Found the Four-Leaf Clover… On Day Four of Labor
—and in that moment, something shifted.

All pregnancy long, they searched.
On every walk, they looked—hoping to find a sign. A quiet reassurance. A little magic.

On day four of labor, in the thick of it all…
they finally found it.

This was a birth that stretched across five days—
five days of breath, strength, fear, and release.
She didn’t just cope through it.
She met it. Fully. Without medication. Without giving up.

She left the hospital she was supposed to birth in.
After how she was treated, she walked out of triage and said:
"I never want to go back there."
She never did.

Instead, she was welcomed into care that saw her.
A chiropractor—who had never met her before—opened his doors, his hands, and his heart.
Not the first laboring mother I’ve sent there.
And once again, they rose to the moment.

The staff made her laugh.
She felt safe. Held. Heard.
After an adjustment, she described feeling a pull upward… and then release.
Her body began to open. Her labor deepened.
She found her rhythm again.

Through all five days, she leaned on her HypnoBirthing tools.
Every surge met with breath. Every decision met with presence.
She stayed grounded.
Even when things got hard—especially then.

Her partner watched in awe.
He said, "I've never seen this kind of strength in her."
They’ve known each other for years. But this was different.

This was transformation.
This was birth.

Not every story ends the way we imagine.
But when a mother walks away proud of how she showed up, how she was supported, and how deeply she trusted herself—
That’s still a powerful birth.

✨More than just a doula: Full-circle birth support from pregnancy through postpartum.✨

If you’re expecting and want to feel supported, seen, and fully prepared for birth—I’m here.
📞 Call 570-212-9520 or fill out the contact form at thehappymamaplace.com

06/11/2025

"The Placenta: An Organ Created for the Baby—That Can Still Support You."

The placenta is the only temporary organ your body creates—and it’s created entirely for your baby.

It delivers oxygen and nutrients… removes waste… produces hormones… and even acts as part of their immune defense.

But after birth, this incredible organ doesn’t have to be discarded.

✨ For many families, the placenta becomes part of their postpartum healing.

Encapsulation may support mood, energy, and milk supply.

Tinctures can extend hormone support for months (even years).

Smoothies offer a nutrient-rich option in the hours after birth.

Infused balms soothe sore skin with your body’s own regenerative power.

Your placenta gave everything to your baby. Now, it can help give something back to you.

If you're not sure where to start—I'm here to guide you.

📍 Serving Northeast PA + Lehigh Valley
🌐 thehappymamaplace.com
📞 570-299-9246

06/04/2025

What does birth photography really look like?
It’s not just the baby being born.
It’s the quiet support of a partner’s kiss.
The calm presence of a doula’s hands.
Even the dog curled at the foot of the bed, holding space in their own way.
Birth is powerful, sacred, and deeply personal. Every story is worth remembering in its fullness.
If you're curious about having your birth journey documented in a way that feels honest, respectful, and artfully told, I’d love to talk.

📷 Now booking 2025 due dates.

📍 Serving families in Wilkes-Barre