KATIE CLARK

Where are my moms pregnant with their second?! Or who just made the transition?! I worried a lot about the transition from having one kid to two - but honestly, it was loads easier than my first. And 2-3 was a breeze (my kids are 3.5-4 years apart though, which may have been part of it). My goal here at The Breastfeeding Mama is to support moms at any point in their breastfeeding journey - and I love my second (and third, and fourth, etc) mamas. I find that many of you had issues with your first and want a different journey this time, and I’m your gal for that! I love helping moms figure out what happened last time and how we can make things a little different this time - and also help you make that transition to more little ones a little easier :) Sound like something you might need? Just comment “second time” and I’ll send you my favorite tip for having another child - and how I can help you make breastfeeding easier this time around!

We went to Glenwood Sorings in April of 2023 and took advantage of the non-peak season pricing at @glenwoodcaverns Adventure Park! Not everything was open - but we had a blast! There wasn’t as many activities for younger children (like my then 3-year-old), but we still had a great time. It’s such a unique amusement park - and if you like thrilling adventures, you don’t want to miss this one! Even the Gondola ride up is pretty awesome! Have you been here? Let me know in the comments! We are trying to post more of our travel adventures and tips, so be sure to follow along for more if you like that kind of thing!

⭐️ This week, I am offering 5 deserving families free access to “Fuss-Free First Year”. This included all my classes, community support and much, much more. I will be choosing this via application, so if you’re interested, send me a DM, and I will send you the application. ⭐️ Happy World Breastfeeding Week! While I advocate and celebrate breastfeeding 365 days a year - it’s always nice to have extra reason to do so. This year’s theme is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.” I think it’s so important for new moms and their families to be able to access quality breastfeeding support. Every mom deserves to breastfeed if she wants to and to be able to continue for as long as she and her baby wants. I try to provide plenty of free information through this page and my blog, and I also offer “pay what you can” consults for those who are unable to pay my regular fees and are on state Medicaid insurance. One of the best things you can do to spread breastfeeding support is to help those around you. Breastfeeding becomes normalized by being seen and talked about. Help the moms around you find quality care and lend a listening ear. Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

Experiencing pain or low milk output while pumping? It might be due to an incorrect flange size. Many moms unknowingly pump with the wrong size, leading to discomfort and less milk. Sadly, some of this comes from older/outdated advice (which is often still taught in lactation programs). Over the past few years, the thoughts concerning flange fitting have switched from “bigger is better” to “let’s get you closer to your actual nipple size.” Frequently in my practice I see moms go from “I think it feels fine” to “oh wow, I didn’t realize it was supposed to fit like this!” Need some help getting started? Comment “flange help” for my free printable ruler and a few other resources you might find helpful! What do you think your flange size is? Comment below!

Can you relate?! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This is why I send all our mama’s care plans after appointments because #newmombrain is fo real! 💆‍♀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I love when I see new moms taking notes - sometimes it’s helpful for retention. But a written care plan with videos, links, and an overview of what we talked about is such an important part of your visit! I typically have one of my fantastic IBCLC mentees developing the care plan as I conduct the visit and focus on you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Need help navigating your breastfeeding journey? Just comment “get help” and I’ll send you some resources!

I’m not sure why we still have providers saying tongue ties aren’t real - and that they don’t impact feeding (or even if they are real, the impact is minimal) - but here we are! ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ I see families on a regular basis who are struggling majorly with breastfeeding. We can work on positioning, focus on releasing tension, and use other compensations to overcome certain situations - but there are some situations where a release is necessary. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ I get it - some releases are not done correctly. Many families aren’t given pre and post op rehabilitation support. These babies tend to have poorer results - and I’m sure the providers that see the aftermath of these feel it shows it’s not worth doing it. I get frustrated by these situations, too! There are providers who say they understand ties but really don’t, and this does as much damage as denying they exist. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ Recognition and diagnose of ties has increased a lot in recent years. It can feel like “everyone has a tie”. It’s important to remember that the presence of a frenulum (whether it’s in the lip, tongue or cheeks) doesn’t mean there’s a problem - which is why a functional assessment is so important! We need to see what the baby is doing with their mouth and how effective they are at feeding. Sometimes a latch can look good at a glance - but when you truly watch (and listen) you see it’s not. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ And yes - tongue ties can (and frequently do) impact bottle feeding ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ It can be tricky to navigate! That’s why I put together my tongue tie guide as a place to start. Just comment “TTGuide” and I’ll send it over for free.

Experimenting with different positions can improve your comfort and your baby’s feeding effectiveness. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There’s not one position that works perfectly for every mom and baby - it can depend so much on your anatomy, how your baby feeds and your personal presences! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👶 Do you have a preferred breastfeeding position? Share it in the comments! 👇 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Need help with latching? Comment “latch guide” for my free pain free latching guide!

⭐️ Comment TTGuide to get a copy of my free guide to navigating tongue ties! ⭐️ This may seem a bit dramatic - but it’s what I personally experienced and many families I’ve worked with have described when they’ve asked a provider about possible oral restrictions. When I’m noticing symptoms of oral dysfunction in mom and baby, I will always ask if anyone has done an assessment - which then is followed up with, “and what did the assessment look like?” It’s so important to realize that oral assessments go far deeper than just the appearance and basic function of the tongue. We need to see what the tongue is doing, how it’s moving and working with the other parts of your mouth, and recognize any tension or compensations that may be going on. As an IBCLC, I can’t diagnose, but I can observe signs that something isn’t quite right. We can work on positioning and feeding techniques, as well as basic exercises and skills, and I can provide you with referrals of what to do next. Oral restrictions can be complicated to navigate - and there is no one size fits all approach. But having an appropriate functional exam so important! Head to my stories to get an idea of what an oral assessment might look like.

⭐️ Comment “blog” to read about more exercise and breastfeeding myths ⭐️ Did you know that staying active shouldn’t jeopardize your milk supply? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s a common misconception that exercise might reduce it, but the truth is a bit more encouraging. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As long as you’re eating well and keeping hydrated and not overdoing it, your body can handle both the demands of breastfeeding and regular exercise. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Your body uses about 500 extra calories a day to produce breast milk, so just make sure to adjust your calorie intake when you work out. This balance ensures that both you and your baby remain healthy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Stay active, eat right, and keep nursing!

⭐️ Comment “milk supply help” to see my resources for helping you manage your supply! Milk supply can be tricky - and figuring out what’s going on often rages some investigative work. These issues are some of the most common I see as I work through supply issues with the moms I work with. It’s always nice when it’s a quick fix (though often it’s more than that). Have you struggled with any of these? Let me know in the comments!

I don’t know about you, but I majorly struggle when it comes to lunch. I’m not a big leftovers person, and far too often I resort to just snacking throughout the afternoon - which really isn’t a great idea! Recently, I rediscovered how convenient and protein-packed frozen meals can be. There is such a huge variety for just about every food preference and dietary need out there, which makes it easier than ever to stock up on frozen meals for those times when lunch feels less likely to happen. I’ve really enjoyed trying out some different brands and types of frozen meals this summer. It’s been a really busy summer - starting with surgery then various family vacations and activites (among all the business that life usually brings), so when I’m in a pinch, they come in handy! If you’re like me and just looking for an easier way to get a meal on the table this summer, check out some of these tasty meals. There’s really something for everyone! @birdseyevegetables @realchefboyardee @evolfoods @healthychoicebrand @mariecallenders_ #SummerEZMealsBBxx #ad

In the journey of motherhood, feeling heard and understood is priceless. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Hannah, hearing that our time together brought you clarity and support when you needed it most truly warms my heart. 💖 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Every mom deserves to feel empowered and equipped with knowledge, especially during those overwhelming early days. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you’re seeking guidance and a supportive community as you navigate the first year of breastfeeding, comment “Get Help” to learn about the options I have for you. Let’s make your breastfeeding journey a confident and informed one!