Benzie-Leelanau WIC Breastfeeding Support

22/01/2026

This is "Breastfeeding Positions: 5 comfortable ways to feed your baby" by wichealth on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

22/01/2026

It is normal for the breasts to feel softer or even “empty” around 6 weeks into nursing.
Lots of women start to doubt their supply around this time because if they were pumping they will likely notice a decrease and if exclusively breastfeeding will notice that their breast are softer and “less full”.

But this doesn’t mean that your supply has diminished or “dried up”. It means that your baby and body have regulated your supply and you are no longer making excess milk. And it doesn’t mean you need to supplement.

It’s hard not to have a measurement of have much baby is drinking but here are some indications that baby is thriving and getting enough.

👉Hearing swallowing while nursing.
👉Baby has at least 3 yellow bowel movements a day.
👉Baby has 6+ wet diapers a day.
👉Steady weight gain on their own individual curve. (whether that’s the 2nd percentile or 90th)
👉Baby is content between feedings.
👉 Baby is alert, active and meeting developmental milestones.

Shared from Traverse City Lactation Company

21/01/2026

"Newborn feeding cues" refer to the physical signs a baby displays to indicate they are hungry and need to be fed, such as lip smacking, rooting (turning their head towards a ni**le), sucking on hands, mouth opening, or becoming restless, with crying usually being considered a late sign of hunger that indicates they are very hungry and may need calming before feeding.

20/01/2026

19/01/2026

"How Lactation Works" by the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers.

Expecting a baby? - Find out how your milk making Superpower works!Check out our fab new video explaining all about how lactation works.See www.abm.me.uk for...

19/01/2026

Did you know that the content of your breast milk changes during a feeding, throughout the day, and over time to meet your baby’s nutritional needs? Isn't that amazing?!

16/01/2026

The Baby Pantry at St. Philip's Episcopal Church-Beulah, MI is open on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. Their next pantry day is tomorrow, January 17th, from 10-3pm.

Curbside Pick-up Order Form: https://stphilipsbeulah.org/curbside-pick-up-order-form/

15/01/2026

Meet FIL, the "Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation."

For more info on FIL and how it can impact your milk supply, visit: https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/basics/milkproduction/

Photo credit 📷 Moomysmilk

14/01/2026

Your body literally changes your breast milk when you’re sick.

Read that again.

This isn’t a filter.
This isn’t lighting.
This isn’t “old milk vs fresh milk."

This is your immune system getting a memo and responding in real time.

When you’re sick, your body adjusts the composition of your milk
More antibodies
Different immune cells
Different color
Different purpose

Your baby’s saliva sends signals.
Your body listens.
And your milk adapts.

It’s living. It’s responsive. It’s intelligent.

This is proof that breast milk isn’t just food.
It’s medicine.
It’s protection.
It’s communication.

Your body doesn’t just feed your baby
It protects them.
Custom made. On demand.

And somehow people still call this “just milk.”

Source: Breastfeeding Mama Talk

12/01/2026

Anatomy Unveiled: Structures and Functions Within the Lactating Breast

Mammary Glands:
In a lactating breast, the mammary gland is a complex structure dedicated to producing milk. Hormonal changes during lactation prompt these glands to create and release milk, providing essential nourishment for your baby.

Blood Vessels:
Blood vessels within the breast play a crucial role in supporting breastmilk production, delivering nutrients and oxygen to the mammary glands, essential for making breastmilk.

Fat, Ligaments & Connective Tissue:
Ligaments and connective tissue in the lactating breast offer crucial support, maintaining breast structure during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They aid in supporting milk-producing structures and facilitating milk flow.

Ni**le and Ar**la:
The ni**le, a prominent projection at the center of the breast, is the primary outlet for milk during breastteeding. Surrounding the ni**le is the ar**la, the pigmented skin area housing Montgomery glands. These glands produce oils that act as a natural lubricant and protect the ni**le from dryness or irritation while nursing.

Lobules and Alveoli:
Clusters of lobules, resembling grape-like structures, house alveoli, the microscopic sacs responsible for milk synthesis.

Milk Ducts:
The milk ducts play a crucial role in the delivery of milk. They are a network of tubes within the breast that transport milk from the lobules (where the milk is produced) to the ni**le during breastfeeding.

Initiation of Breastfeeding:
When a baby latches onto the breast, tactile stimulation triggers sensory nerves in the ni**le, sending signals to the brain, particularly the hypothalamus.

Milk Ejection and Production:
When oxytocin is released, it triggers the contraction of myoepithelial cells encircling the alveoli. This contraction initiates the let-down reflex, a vital mechanism that propels milk from the alveoli into the ducts, making it available for the baby to nurse. Meanwhile, prolactin plays a crucial role in milk production, stimulating alveolar cells within the mammary glands, guiding them to produce both colostrum. This hormone supports the continuous creation of milk.

Source: Milky Goodness

08/01/2026

Beware of the formula b***y trap!