Tree of Life Birth & Lactation Services

12/11/2024

Is your pump not removing milk well or is pumping painful? Consider a smaller fl**ge size.
A recent study looked at the pump comfort and milk volume output for 36 individuals who pumped with both a smaller fl**ge as well as the "standard fl**ge" size, recommended by the pump manufacturer. This was a cross-over study, meaning that during the study each participant in the study used both the smaller and standard fl**ges.
Measurement method for the 36 participants involved measuring the tip of the ni**le and then trialing that size and 1 to 2 sizes above and below the size of the ni**le tip, while identifying the most comfortable size with the most milk sprays. The "standard-fit fl**ges" per the pump manufacturer instructions ranged from 21 to 28 mm fl**ges.
Study design:
Each participant pumped for 1 week, at least 3 times during this week, with both the smaller fit and standard fit fl**ges. Participants were randomized to start with either the standard fit or smaller fit fl**ges.
Results:
~ The two most common sizes used for this smaller-fit fl**ge in the study cohort were 15mm and 17mm fl**ges.
~All smaller fit fl**ges were less than 21mm.
~The average milk production for pumping sessions using the standard fl**ges was 138mL (approx 4.6oz) while the average milk production for pumping sessions using the smaller fl**ges was 153mL (approx 5.1oz).
~The average comfort rating for the standard fl**ge was 3.3/5, while the average comfort rating for the smaller fl**ge was 4.5/5.
Summary:
This study while small supports consideration of the use of smaller fl**ges than those typically offered by pump manufacturers for lactating parents. It also reinforces the importance of patients being fitted for a pump, which we are happy to do at Breastfeeding Medicine of Northeast Ohio!
For the full study: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08903344241296036 -08903344241296036

11/24/2023

Wishing you a Grateful Day

11/20/2023

Elective induction around a holiday is for convenience, but not yours.

With Thanksgiving & Christmas coming up, loads of unnecessary inductions and c-sections are about to happen.

Every year there is a HUGE decrease in births on (and around)...

🔆 Christmas
🔆 New Year’s Eve/Day
🔆 Easter (changes yearly - first Sunday after the full moon in April)
🔆 Memorial Day (changes yearly - last Monday in May in the US)
🔆 Independence Day (4th of July in the US)
🔆 Thanksgiving (changes yearly - last Thursday in November)

And it’s not just the United States - it's everywhere.

How could it be that all of these holidays have lower birth rates year after year?

It’s not a coincidence - it’s about convenience.

And not YOUR convenience. The convenience of providers.

No one wants to work on holidays, and hospital birth providers have a way to make sure (for the most part) that they don’t have to.

Inductions & c-sections are rarely scheduled ON holidays, but they ARE frequently scheduled in the days leading up to, or just after, a holiday.

If you are due around a holiday, and your provider suggests an induction or c-section, it’s a good idea to question why (remember that you always have the right to decline). If there is NOT a legitimate medical reason, they may be more concerned with being home in time for a holiday dinner than your well being.

For more info and references on this topic, check out my FREE holiday births handout on my website (birthuprising.com/resources).

02/06/2023

These. Are. Not. Informed. Consent.

“🤎🤍🅸🅽🅵🅾🆁🅼🅴🅳 🅲🅾🅽🆂🅴🅽🆃🤍🤎

Being educated and knowledgeable is absolutely vital ; informed consent and informed refusal are both so important in a birth setting.

Informed consent is NOT telling you what is going to happen, it is INFORMING you on the benefits and risks of your choices and letting you make an informed decision.

There are topics that need to be discussed and researched before you give birth, that way you are aware of everything that is going on and educated on the choices that may be presented to you.

"Well how do I do that?"
🤎Hire a doula
🤎Take a birth education class

You have choices; you have options. “✨

11/04/2022

I'm excited to continue as an Evidence Based Birth instructor for another year!

08/03/2022

Happy World Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Week! I’ve *conservatively* spent over 15,000(!) hours nursing my five bio babies over 11.5 years including 3 that were tandem! I’ve also been an LLL Leader for nearly 12 years, and an IBCLC since 2021. I love nursing my littles, and helping folks on their human-milk feeding journeys whether directly from their body, pumping, donor, supplemented, one-eleventybillion hours, whatever works!

07/25/2022

Informed consent is a huge component to having the birth you desire, whatever that looks like for you. You deserve evidence based care.

Informed consent never looks or sounds like something already in motion. Huge red flag. True informed consent takes hold of the concepts of a conversation. One that explains risks and benefits, leaves room for questions and time to consider, and then the decision is up to the client. With the choice of No being a full one.
What have you experienced?

06/01/2022

Please consider helping Every Baby Eats. We’re offering low cost and free lactation classes to pregnant families and relactation classes to those with babies 8 weeks and younger.

Every Baby Eats-- www.everybabyeats.com--brings together infant feeding experts to teach pregnant peo… Kristin Cavuto needs your support for Every Baby Eats!

05/24/2022

05/17/2022

New statement available from USLCA. Navigating the US Formula Shortage: A Safe Approachhttps://uslca.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Navigating-the-US-Formula-Shortage.pdf

05/16/2022

04/18/2022

A blessed day to all my Non Binary and Gender Expansive Parents out there! You are worthy of recognition and flowers! Your journey in parenthood is valid!

Image says “Happy Non Binary Parent’s Day!” in large white letters on orange. In the background is a blue floral design.- Shout out to Brea Kenzy for the ID.