The Boob Group: Judgment-Free Breastfeeding Support

It’s time to wean your baby, but how? Weaning from breastfeeding is one thing, but what about our pumping mamas out there? How do you wean when you’re primarily pumping for your baby? How long will it take? How do you know when you’re ready? And what are some of the challenges, both mentally and physically? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teen moms may face many challenges while caring for their babies, and as a result, most do not continue to breastfeed their babies after they leave the hospital. Today we'll talk with a young mom who is trying to change those statistics. What common concerns do most teens have about breastfeeding? And how can we help encourage them to make an educated choice on what's best for them and their new baby? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we're pregnant, we all hope for a healthy baby and a safe labor and delivery experience. And sometimes the best outcome for mom and baby is giving birth much sooner than expected. How does breastfeeding change as the parent of a preemie? What kind of support can you expect from the hospital? How can you maintain your milk supply even when your baby is too small to feed from the breast? And what are your options when it comes to donor milk? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As moms begin to pump, it's important to know how long their breast milk can stay fresh and reusable. How long will breast milk stay fresh in the fridge or freezer? Can you reuse breast milk that's already been poured into a bottle? Plus, the real story on shaking versus swirling your breast milk when heating it back up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are busy multi-tasking mamas, and many of us are breastfeeding and pumping for our babies on-the-go. So, what happens when you need some privacy when you’re out in public with your baby? What are public nursing or lactation rooms and how can they help? Are these area hurting or helping the breastfeeding/pumping cause? Today we’re talking about the importance of lactation rooms and legislation to support it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you expecting to have a cesarean or "belly birth" soon? Are you curious about how your surgery will impact your breastfeeding relationship with your new baby? Get the facts about breastfeeding after cesarean. How soon can you feed your baby? How important is skin to skin contact? And what do you need to know about babies who are unusually sleepy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to the overall health of your baby, you and your child's pediatrician need to be on the same page. So, how do you talk to your pediatrician about breastfeeding? How do you advocate for breastfeeding if your pediatrician is pushing alternatives, such as formula? And why are some pediatricians pushing for babies to eat solids prior to six months? Plus, the debate about tongue ties and lip ties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re pumping breast milk for your baby, you may need to pump on-the-go. What happens if you’re not near your usual pumping spots? How do you find a spot that’s private and has everything you need? How do you know if it’s a “safe” location to pump? And what are some tips for turning a “not-so-great” spot into something that works? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wraps, carriers, slings, Oh my! How does a new family decide which ones to use and which ones are best for breastfeeding? Are certain baby carriers more appropriate for certain ages? How do you master the art of breastfeeding while babywearing? And what do you do if your baby isn't into it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a baby dies from SIDS it is sad, scary, and unimaginable. Did you know breastfeeding your baby can actually reduce their risk? In this episode, we'll learn more about SIDS and its impact. And we'll discuss how feeding your baby from the breast or expressed breast milk in a bottle can help keep your baby as safe as possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding your breastfeeding mama tribe can be a crucial part of your breastfeeding journey. How can a mama find a tribe that's best for her? What are the benefits of a local tribe versus an online tribe? How can your tribe help you overcome common breastfeeding issues? Our panelists share how their mama tribes have helped them succeed in their breastfeeding goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're breastfeeding your baby and you interest in sex is all but gone. Where has your libido gone that helped you make that baby in the first place? What typically causes the loss of sex drive after having a baby, and what other options do you have for connecting with your partner when your levels are really low? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've tried everything, but your breastfeeding experience isn't turning out as planned. If plans A, B, and C fail... what's the next step? Learn how to recognize the signs early, get help and stay strong through the whole process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite every intention to breastfeed their babies, sometimes moms must look for alternatives, such as feeding their babies their expressed breast milk. What are the pros and cons for exclusively pumping? How can pumping impact a mother emotionally? Plus, how to choose the right parts to help make exclusive pumping work for you and your baby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Babies don't come with instruction manuals, so we must trust our own motherly intuition and experience to make the best decisions for our children. But, how can you trust your own "gut feeling" when everyone around you is offering their own opinion? Today our panelists share how understanding and using their own breastfeeding intuition and benefited them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breastfeeding a toddler is drastically different than breastfeeding a newborn. Just ask any mom whose baby has teeth or can specifically ask for the boob. So, what does nursing a toddler really look like? How often do most mothers nurse and for how long? How do you handle biting? And what about the awkward stares from strangers while breastfeeding in public? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a new mother begins to breastfeed her child, she spends much of her time focusing on bringing in her milk supply and getting the perfect latch. But sometimes a tight frenulum, or tongue-tie, greatly hinders this process. How do you know if your baby has this problem? What are your options for treating it? And how effective are these treatments? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With so much controversy over breastfeeding in public, how can a new mom feel comfortable feeding her baby when she's not behind closed doors? What are some effective ways to deal with the criticism? And what really concerns breastfeeding moms when they encounter this situation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know the way you become pregnant can impact your overall breastfeeding success? An Australian study suggests mothers who become pregnant through IVF (in-vitro fertilization) may experience more challenges when trying to nurse their babies. What are some of the challenges mothers face when breastfeeding after IVF? And what can determined moms do to improve their overall experience? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you need to spend extended time away from your baby, you’ll probably need to pump. But before you purchase your breast pump, it’s important to know more about its functionality. How exactly does a breast pump work? What are the key parts and features? What’s optional? And what happens when part of your pump needs replaced? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when life throws you a curveball and you’re unable to breastfeed? What? Is that even possible? Weren’t our bodies designed to nourish our babies? If you’re a mom struggling with not being able to breastfeed your baby- you’re not alone. And sometimes you just need to let go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are many decisions a pregnant woman makes about the birth of her child, yet it is the hospital she chooses that can directly impact her breastfeeding relationship. Why are some hospitals not as supportive of a woman's breastfeeding goals? What steps can you take to ensure you don't get booby-trapped? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re a new breastfeeding mom, you may have some initial discomfort. You may need to adjust your baby’s latch, or perhaps the baby’s overall position isn’t quite working out. But, in general, breastfeeding should never be painful. So, what about moms who experience persistent pain while breastfeeding? How do we explain that, and how do we figure out the problem? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With so much controversy over breastfeeding in public, how can a new mom feel comfortable feeding her baby when she's not behind closed doors? What are some effective ways to deal with the criticism? And what really concerns breastfeeding moms when they encounter this situation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Going back to work after having your baby may seem daunting, but having support from your employer and colleagues definitely helps. How do you approach your employer about your pumping needs? Should you give your colleagues a “heads up” about what your schedule will be like when you return to work? And what do you do if things just aren’t working out as planned once you’re back at work? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Babies cry. That’s how they communicate with us. But some babies cry a lot more than others. For breastfed babies, one possible answer could be food sensitivities given through the breast milk. So, how do you know if your baby has food sensitivities? And how can you figure out which foods are causing the problem? Today our moms share their experience with elimination diets designed to help baby (and mom) feel better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re moms and we all want what’s best for our babies, right? If we truly believe that, then why aren’t we more supportive of one another? We can’t possibly know all the reasons behind a mom’s decision to feed her baby- whether it’s by breastfeeding, pumping, milk sharing, or formula feeding. And still we end up judging one another, unfairly. So, how can we change this? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life can be hectic as a working mom- juggling your job, family and your sanity! But what about food? Food seems like such a big part of our sanity. Sometimes we eat our emotions away when we are stressed out. So, as breastfeeding and pumping moms, how do we balance what we eat? What are some key ingredients you can quickly add to each meal to give you strength and help with milk supply? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a single mom and breastfeeding or pumping for your baby? How do you have time to manage it all? If you’re sharing custody of your child, how do you handle time away so you don’t experience a drop in milk supply? How do you manage the stress of being a single parent? Today single moms share their experience to help other moms going through the same thing. We’re supporting one another. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sexuality and Breastfeeding. Those two words are usually used in the same sentence. But being a breastfeeding mom doesn't make you a celibate woman. In fact, your new curves may even give you more confidence and make you feel more sexual. What is western society's attitude toward sex and the breast? How has it impacted women in America? And is there any hope for change? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breastfeeding your first baby didn’t turn out exactly how you had planned and you ended up formula-feeding. Or perhaps that was the plan all along. But you want things to be different with your second child. This time, your plan is to breastfeed your baby for as long as possible. It’s easy to say, but how difficult is this transition? And what tips can help you along the way? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All breastfeeding and pumping mothers need support. But sometimes there are barriers, usually for women of color. Some of these barriers include inaccurate stereotypes, lack of resources and less opportunity to work with specialists of color, who can better relate to their situation. So, what does this racial divide mean for the lactation community? Today we’re exploring some of the big issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You are passionate about giving your baby breast milk... but your partner? Ah, not so much. We know how important partner support is for breastfeeding and pumping moms, so what do you do when that support isn’t there? Do you stand on your soapbox and preach about all the benefits of breast milk? Or do you just let it go and “hopefully” find support elsewhere? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your breasts are swollen, red and tender- you may have an infection known as mastitis. What are the common symptoms and ways to treat it? Should you continue to breastfeed your baby? What are the risks? And if it's not mastitis, then what's causing that painful lump? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New moms can sometimes feel overwhelmed when it comes to breastfeeding their babies. We're continuing our series on focused on empowering and educating moms with a look at what typically happens during first 2-6 months postpartum. How often are babies typically feeding during this time? How common are distractions and how can you overcome them? Plus, great tips on pumping, nursing in public and breastfeeding throughout the night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breastfeeding can look a lot different for adoptive parents. So, what are your options? Did you know you can induce lactation and breastfeed your baby without giving birth? Can you get a full milk supply? And what different ways can you help supplement? Today you’ll hear from two moms who induced lactation for their own adopted children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you feel pressure to breastfeed your baby? Sometime we do this to ourselves because we were either raised in an environment supportive of breastfeeding or perhaps it wasn’t supportive of breastfeeding- and we want to change that. And sometimes the pressure comes from other sources. Regardless, it can result in a lot of guilt when things don’t work out the way you had planned. So, what do you do with all this guilt? How do you process it? And how do you overcome it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s no denying the special bond felt between moms and baby while breastfeeding. So, it’s only natural moms would want to preserve that moment for as long as possible. Perhaps that’s why breastfeeding photos are becoming more and more popular. Should you take some selfies, or should you hire a professional photographer? How do you get the best photos? And then what do you do with the photos? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine being able to breastfeed without birthing your baby. It's possible! Hope Lien successfully induced lactation so she could breastfeed her adopted daughter immediately after she was born. Learn more about how Hope prepared her body to make milk for her child. You'll also hear the amazing story of how Hope and the birth mother worked together in the hospital to provide the very best nutrition for baby Estelle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you breastfeeding and planning to pump when you return to work? Or perhaps you plan to pump to help protect your milk supply? There are many different ways pumping can help you with your breastfeeding goals. Today we'll learn more about the various type of pumps available and how you can utilize them to provide your baby with breast milk for as long as possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here in the United States, we have laws that help protect breastfeeding and pumping moms, such as the right to nurse your baby in public. But many of these laws are determined by the individual states. So, what exactly are your rights? How do you learn about these laws? And why do we need even laws that determine how and when we can feed our babies? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breastfeeding is a commitment that can be challenging at times. And sometimes the smallest gesture of kindness or complementary words can help build up a breastfeeding mom’s confidence and keep her nursing for as long as possible. What can you do to support the breastfeeding mom in your life? We have some great ideas for partners, family, and friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breastfeeding isn't always simple. And that’s when we turn to the professionals: lactation educators, counselors, and consultants who can help overcome issues that come our way. So, what are some of the most common questions we ask these professionals? And what are the answers to those questions? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most states in the U.S. have laws that protect breastfeeding mothers, allowing them to nurse their babies in public. But that doesn’t mean the laws are always upheld and the result can be devastating to a mom who simply needs to feed her baby. Organizing a nurse-in is one way to raise awareness about these discrepancies and to encourage change. So, what exactly happens during a nurse-in? How are they organized? And do they really make a difference? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're about to have a baby, you may have a lot of questions about breastfeeding your newborn, especially within the first couple of months. What are a baby's typical sleep patterns during this time? How much weight should they be gaining? What should you know about introducing a bottle for the first time? Plus, tips for surviving the witching hour and other fussy times. Today, we're continuing our series focused on brand new moms as they begin their breastfeeding journeys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know breast milk provides amazing nutrition and antibodies for our babies. But, did you know breast milk can be applied topically as well? That's right, it can even be used as a medicine to treat sores, cuts, infections and more! Today we're learning about the properties of our breast milk that make it so unique, as well as the many ways you can use it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many breastfeeding moms are going back to work and sending their babies to daycare. So, how much breast milk should you send? And what happens if your baby doesn't use all of that milk? Should you talk to your daycare about handling breast milk? And how can you protect your milk supply while you're away from your baby? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breast milk alone may not provide all the vitamins a growing baby needs. Sometimes pediatricians will recommend additional Vitamin D and iron. Why are these vitamins being recommended and what kind of effect does it have on mother and baby? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know breast milk is best for our babies, but how exactly does it help and protect their immune systems? What immune disorders are specifically impacted by our infant's nutrition? And what makes breast milk so powerful that some cultures consider it "white blood"? Today we're learning why mother's milk is widely known as the perfect food for your baby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All breastfeeding and pumping moms need support. And many times, you can find mom-to-mom support through social media groups and forums where help is available 24/7. But what do you need to know before joining these groups? What can you expect to gain from being part of them? And what are the basic dos and don’ts when it comes to advising other moms? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices