Carrie Benson

08/07/2025

Breastmilk storage, simplified. 🍼

1️⃣ Freshly pumped?
Use or refrigerate within 4 hours.

2️⃣ In the fridge?
Use within 4 days.

3️⃣ In the freezer?
Good for up to 6 months.

💡 Tip: Store in small amounts (2–4 oz) to avoid waste.
❌ Never refreeze thawed milk.
❌ Don’t microwave.
✅ Swirl gently to mix.

Need backup?
Pacify doulas + lactation consultants are just a visit away.
Download the app and get support when it matters most.

📖 Source: CDC – How to Store and Thaw Breast Milk
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm

08/05/2025

Breastfeeding is a lot of work and worth celebrating! 🥳🥳🥳

Babies are fed in many different ways for many different reasons. It's great that we have options to nourish our babies.

This week, we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week! Breast/chestfeeding can mean many different things to different people- at the breast/chest, pumping, hand expressing and with a spoon or through a tube, along with formula, a combination of different methods, etc.

We celebrate for many reasons. Here are a few:

🟠Breastfeeding saves lives where the water isn't safe to drink & during natural disasters

🟠Breast/chest milk is truly a wonder of nature because it changes as baby's needs change

🟠Breast/chest milk supports the immune system

🟠It isn't widely recognized as work, yet it is a full-time job

🟠To provide awareness as many people still view breast/chestfeeding as indecent exposure

🟠It is way more than just a means to feed a baby! It can decrease the likelihood of postpartum depression, increase bonding, provide comfort, & more!

08/01/2025

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605 Issue UpdatesLifestyleSioux Falls Selah Space // A Gentle Place to Heal Written by Maddilynn Kallsen + Photos by Kayla Johnson and John Snyder August 1, 2025 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail There’s a hub of collaborative, holistic wellness in Sioux Falls, creating space for women to he...

07/31/2025

Feet up the wall is a gentle yoga pose you can do early postpartum to help with things like:

Circulation
Stress and Anxiety
Muscle tension
Nervous system regulation
Sleep

You can even do this in bed! 😊

07/29/2025

It's okay to not be okay, but you should seek help if you aren't okay.

This looks different for everyone and every situation on what kind of help you should seek, but start with what sounds like the most fitting help for your situation.

It could look like:
Reaching out to a friend/family
Working with a therapist
Working with some type of holistic practitioner
Hiring a postpartum doula
Taking medication
Taking herbs
Using aromatherapy
Journaling
Spending time in nature
Etc

And know that 988 is there if you need to talk to or text someone.

07/28/2025

South Dakota scored a D. We can do better and I hope my services can contribute to improving our score! 🧡

https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/07/14/states-maternal-mental-health-efforts-show-improvement-as-need-for-support-grows-especially-in-rural-areas/?emci=3fbcb5b4-d263-f011-8dc9-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=871a409c-1164-f011-8dc9-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=8680536&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwL0zA5jbGNrAvTMBmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEex42udob90kyWxvz6SAWl5NMWhLUxsO3D7a_j2g9fbd0jNvqw3-AgCyNcaYk_aem_jGgsuzFzzLlKzXBn2qd1ww

The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health recently released state-by-state maternal mental health report cards that provide a snapshot of state progress addressing maternal mental health. Using …

07/24/2025

Having support really is healing and good for our health. 🧡

07/23/2025

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07/21/2025

I know I'm behind on this trend, but I'm sharing it anyway 😊

🚫You don't have to wait for breastmilk to come in- please do not wait to breastfeed until your mature, white milk comes in! That early, thick, golden colostrum is so beneficial for your baby! That's what they need right away. It's not a flaw.

🚫Cosleeping is never safe- this is so not the case! It's definitely not for everyone, but for some people, it's life-saving and mental health-saving! Check out Le Leche's Safe Sleep 7.

🚫You are strong, so you don't need support- we all need support! Having a good support system helps make the poatpartum adjustment smoother. Early postpartum, you are doing and going through a lot! Your body is producing milk, you are learning how to feed a baby, you are bleeding, you have the biggest hormonal change that a person can have, your sleep is interrupted, you are learning to be a mom to your new baby, and more! You are not meant to do this alone!

🚫Postpartum is 6-12 weeks- you may have your postpartum visit with your doctor at 6 weeks and get cleared for activities, you may go back to work within this time frame, and it may be considered the 4th Trimester, but postpartum healing takes longer than 6-12 weeks.