This post is a note of thanks to all the wonderful families who have had me back for 2nd and 3rd babies, and who have referred me on to their families and friends! I have had a streak of these over the last few months, and I greatly appreciate seeing these beautiful growing families again, and getting to know those in your networks. This is essential for a small business such as 4th Trimester Baby to grow, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Bodywork! I have had the pleasure of chatting with some wonderful chiropractors who work with babies, and have learned a lot about how beneficial this can be for a variety of reasons! "Tension" is one of the most common things I observe in babies who are struggling to latch at breast. Sometimes it shows up in neck and shoulders, sometimes in hips, sometimes assymetries in head shape, face, ability to turn head left and right easily, use of arms and legs, and more! Birth is

Low Milk Supply: Digging a little deeper... Unfortunately, I have met with many families recently struggling with low milk supply. I always start with back to basics...milk removal 8+ times per 24 hrs by baby and/or pump, maybe an herbal supplement for a boost. But many families end up needing to dig a little deeper, checking in with their providers about bloodwork or possible medications. A few of the conditions that come up that may require some extra TLC are things like

Starting Solids Somewhere around the middle of the first year, babies embark on the adventure of starting solids! While it may be awhile before your little one is as skilled as the kiddo in this picture, it does happen! I am a big proponent of waiting until baby is truly ready, with skills like sitting up on their own, and then allowing them to lead the show, stopping when they are done just as we have with breastfeeding! An old La Leche League quote is "Food is fun until y

Co-Bathing! I want to draw attention to a useful technique for getting baby back to breast after a disruption, like a baby who has gotten used to too many bottles. Take a warm, relaxing bath WITH your baby! Here is a great article from La Leche League detailing how to "re-birth" and restart breastfeeding when things have gone off course... https://llli.org/news/co-bathing-a-useful-technique-to-restart-breastfeeding/

The Power of a Prenatal I love to see families for prenatal visits! Why? Because we can talk through preparing for the birth experience, what to expect in the early hours and days, latch and positioning tips, even a little bit about pumping and bottle introduction for the future! It is so helpful for families to build their toolboxes during this time, and feel empowered and educated, especially in not-always-breastfeeding-friendly birth environments. Once we've established

Why an image of someone doing a plank?! What can that possibly have to do with breastfeeding my baby? I am CONSTANTLY discussing the importance of stability and alignment when considering positioning of both parent and baby while breastfeeding. You will hear me say... "Relax your back and shoulders" "Tuck-in baby and lean back" "Ear, shoulder, hip alignment" "Tummy to tummy, chest to chest" "Have baby give you a hug" My goals here? Stability for baby, supported by your bo

I see many families who are "triple feeding" - baby to breast, pumping, bottlefeeding - for various reasons such as low milk supply or oral restrictions. While this strategy can and should be a temporary measure while we work toward the root of the problem, it can still be exhausting and time-consuming. Recently, I have found myself with families brainstorming time-saving measures for this situation! Here are a couple of examples... Latch baby and pump at the same time - if b