I write this post in hopes that it provides information parents need to minimize the risk to their infants if they are struggling with addiction.

And if you're reading this as one of the parents who want to human milk feed but struggle with maintaining consistent sobriety to reach your breastfeeding goals, please do reach out. There are people out there, like myself, that are more than willing to provide judgment-free support and can help you, in conjunction with your health care team, ensure the safety of your baby and your breast health at any stage of your journey. 

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The odds are high that you too only have two nipples and two breasts.

But a small population of my readers will have been blessed with more "junk in the proverbial boob trunk" (ignore me!) and will have at least one extra breast feature somewhere on their body.  

Whether you have two or more breasts or none at all, I am so happy that you've taken the time to join me in talking about this interesting but not oft-discussed topic.

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Normally, I would know nothing about a new ABC TV show ( I don't have cable), and I most certainly would not remember the premiere date even had I watched it. 

But the September 26th episode titled "Coming Home" sparked such outrage in the lactation community that not even 24 hours later, lactation consultants were writing letters to ABC to voice their outrage of how they portrayed lactation support.

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Woah, I get it!

It's a bit presumptuous to assume that you should care that I passed the exam to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

But by becoming an IBCLC I can offer a wide range of support and services that benefit you whether your breastfeeding or not!

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"Dear Shondra,

I had my baby three days ago, and my milk finally came in. In the hospital, I didn't pump at all, except for the little I hand expressed for his jaundice. The doctor said that his jaundice is improving and that he's already starting to gain weight, but my breasts still feel extremely full after he eats. I've decided to start pumping, but if I'm breastfeeding on demand, for how long should I pump?"

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"Dear Shondra

I am due next month and have decided that I don't want to breastfeed. If I can, I would like to pump exclusively, but I've heard that it's not as effective as a baby. There's a lot of information on how often to pump, yet I'm still on sure for how long I should pump to make it as good as a baby?"

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I'm here to answer the most common questions regarding flange sizing!

How do I know my flange size? What happens if flanges are too big? What is the smallest flange size?

Get the answers to these questions and more + check out my favorite flange sizing video!

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Dear Shondra,

A couple of days ago, I noticed a slimy substance (pic below, left) hanging in my pump. Upon further inspection, I noticed a huge piece in my milk, which shrunk as I moved it around. Since then, every time I pump my right breast, the milk from that breast gets clumpy while sitting in the bottle (pic below, right). Why is my breast milk clumpy? Is this fat or something else?

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Despite being unable to partake in the political discussions or family drama that inevitably take place every time your family gets together, and thus dampens the holiday-cheer, your baby too may find this season incredibly overwhelming.

As a result, your baby, who up 'till now has breastfed without a problem, may have started to seem incredibly fussy at the breast. Or worse, they may be completely refusing to nurse at all. ..

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Serratia Marcescens is a common, generally benign, opportunistic bacteria that can be found anywhere from soap dishes to floors both at home or in the hospital setting. A bright pink color often accompanies an S. Marcescens colonization. In today’s post we explore 5 mysterious cases of Neon Pink milk and discuss the risks and treatments of this common pathogen….

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Dear Shondra, I've got a question regarding whether or not I should wake my newborn up to eat. My son is three weeks old and breastfeeds for 20-40 hours every 3-4 hours during the day. We also offer a bottle of expressed milk once at night so that my husband can take over a feeding session, and I can rest. In total, he's at the breast 5-6x per day.

Like you, many parents look forward to the day they can stop worrying about waking their newborns and feed on demand. Often, though, similarly to what it sounds like you might be dealing with, along with the anticipation of cue-based feeding comes anxiety about whether or not it's okay to start following their baby's lead. ..

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A major argument made by Fed Is Best (FIB) is that parents are not told the risks associated with breastfeeding, especially with regards to insufficient intake of human milk.

I want to create a message that spreads far and wide- one that parents, professionals, and clinicians may find helpful - and that takes an honest view of the associated risks of exclusive breastfeeding. 

More importantly, I want to touch on risk-reducing measures that can be utilized….

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I'm just going start explosive, create a whole sh*t storm and say it...

No doula program provides adequate training on breastfeeding support.

Now I'm not saying that there aren't FANTASTIC doula training programs out there, nor am I saying that the breastfeeding training they do provide is bad. Yet, even with the most thorough labor or postpartum doula program, there's no way even a months-long doula course can adequately prepare doulas for providing high-quality breastfeeding support….

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The past few days, many mainstream news stations have restarted coverage on a tragic situation at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania, where three premature babies died, and five other preemies became ill after coming into contact with Pseudomonas bacterium.

 Despite no other additional details or updates in the 4 weeks since the story broke - the number of ill babies, the bacterium that caused the illness, and the precautions taken after remain the same- the headlines have skewed from unbiased reporting to sensationalism and fear-mongering…

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As my post (This is why the lactation industry will never win against Fed is Best) continues to gain traction, it's inevitable that those who support FiB or those who have had been helped and served by them will start to voice their contention with the post.

I anticipated this when I wrote the post, but now that I’m getting more views it’s important that I am clear on my stance regarding both the Fed is Best Organization (FiB) and the lactation community as a whole. ..

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Want to know what grinds my gears?

I mean REALLY annoys me to the core?

When parents seek lactation support for painful breastfeeding, long breastfeeding times, or because their baby is gaining slowly and providers, including lactation professionals, 1) don't observe a feeding session (breast or bottle) or 2) ONLY watch a feeding session. 

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I remember the day my son was born.

He was born on May 8th, 2015 at 8:26am weighing 6 lbs 1 oz and measuring 18 ¾ inches long. For the majority of my pregnancy, everything was great -baby and I were both as healthy can be. Towards the end of the pregnancy, however, our doctor informed us that there was possibly an issue with his growth, and as a result, we planned a Cesarean birth. ..

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Here's something that most people won't tell you:

Breastfeeding may be the hardest thing you ever do.

Or at the very least, harder than you can ever have imagined it being…

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recently stumbled upon a Huffpost article that poses the question of whether or not tongue-ties are over diagnosed.

It's a valid question and a relevant concern to many parents who experience pain with breastfeeding or whose babies may struggle with feeding regardless of the method.

As a lactation professional who not only deals with all types of infant feeding but has extensive experience supporting families whose babies are tied, I figured I would give my input on the subject. ..

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