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Ollio Lactation In-home lactation support for Calgary moms. Empowering families to feed with confidence.

World Breastfeeding Week cookies for NICU staff.(They’re anatomical breasts, but flowers, so not to offend). See if you ...
04/08/2026

World Breastfeeding Week cookies for NICU staff.

(They’re anatomical breasts, but flowers, so not to offend). See if you can spot the ni**le, ducts, alveoli, lobes, and adipose tissue.

Fun fact, I got into making sugar cookies because I was dairy free for 5 years while breastfeeding. All the treats we could buy were vegan which I couldn’t stand so I decided I’d make our own treats.

The Medela Sonata is a solid choice for a primary pump.It has a fast cycle speed that’s most similar to the Medela Symph...
16/07/2026

The Medela Sonata is a solid choice for a primary pump.

It has a fast cycle speed that’s most similar to the Medela Symphony (compared to most other pumps). So, if you’re struggling with your letdown despite having a well-fitting fl**ge, and you’ve previously used the Symphony religiously, this is going to be the closest thing.

If you’re wondering whether you should choose the Sonata or the Spectra, the answer depends.

If you haven’t been pumping long-term and you’re purchasing a pump to start your journey, the Spectra is my choice, hands down.

Why choose the Spectra instead?

✨You can customize both the cycle speed and the suction strength.
✨It has proven durability and often lasts through a second or even third baby.
✨Finding replacement parts is a breeze

However, if the Sonata is significantly cheaper than the Spectra and cost is an important factor, it’s still a solid option.

My favourite primary pumps land the sonata in third place:
1. Medela Symphony
2. Spectra
3. Medela Sonata
4. Baby Buddha

As a side note, the Medela Pump In Style is one of my absolute least favourite pumps and shouldn’t even be considered IMO.

Struggling with a slow letdown or feeling like pumping just isn’t working for you?

Book a pumping consult through the link in my bio to get started pumping more milk, faster.

Why did no one warn me about the second night?Before your milk comes in and you get into an every 2-3 hours schedule, yo...
09/07/2026

Why did no one warn me about the second night?

Before your milk comes in and you get into an every 2-3 hours schedule, your baby has a very important job to do.

In the first couple days postpartum your baby is putting in their order. They eat around the clock to drive up your milk supply, so that when you wake up on day 3/4 your breasts are boomin. (Check out my posts on managing engorgement I.e. mastitis for more on that).

If we can prepare our home, and food, and support system to know we are going to be focused on feeding and resting exclusively in those first couple days, and we know this is normal, we are much more likely to survive the dreaded second night.

I promise you, it’s normal, your baby is doing their job. Watch for your minimum amount of pees and poops (it’s the same as their days of life), offer breast compression and drops of milk you collect between sessions or antenatally to get them to eat longer, and monitor for breast fullness by day 4.

Excited to be presenting at Parent’s Night Out with Birthing Magazine Whether you’re pregnant and planning to pump even ...
25/06/2026

Excited to be presenting at Parent’s Night Out with Birthing Magazine

Whether you’re pregnant and planning to pump even occasionally, already pumping and looking to optimize your experience, or hoping to support and protect your milk supply, this session is for you.

We’ll cover practical, evidence-based strategies to help you pump more comfortably and efficiently, no matter where you are in your feeding journey.

I’d love to see you there! Register using the link.

As a Registered Nursed I am governed by the CRNA (College of Registered Nurses of Alberta).This governing body clearly s...
23/06/2026

As a Registered Nursed I am governed by the CRNA (College of Registered Nurses of Alberta).

This governing body clearly states in their Self-Employed Practice: Practice Advice for Registered Nurses document that as a Registered Nurse I “must not
✨offer discounts, coupons or promotional deals for your services; or
✨include endorsements or testimonials regarding your services or products”

I know what you’re thinking, but everyone post reviews.

Just because someone else is doing it, doesn’t mean they should be.

I want you to know that I am a trusted source of evidence-informed care. That when you come to me, you are seek professional support with feeding from a health care professional that has oversite. I am not just doing whatever I want and promoting the latest instagram trend. I am here to educate, inform, and support.




Want a pump that can do it all?This pump can be your primary pump, your portable pump, your hands-free pump, your “just ...
18/06/2026

Want a pump that can do it all?

This pump can be your primary pump, your portable pump, your hands-free pump, your “just in case” pump, your “I’m pumping for multiples” pump, or your “This is my third baby and I don’t have time to sit plugged into a wall” pump.

It’s the strongest portable pump on the market and the only portable pump I’d trust to build and maintain a milk supply.

The BabyBuddha is small, lightweight, and comes with inserts and accurate sizing instructions unlike any other pump company on the market (although I still strongly recommend investing in properly fitted fl**ges and an adapter).

They also offer collection cups if you’re set on pumping hands-free occasionally. However, effective milk removal is heavily dependent on a well-fitting fl**ge, and in most cases, you’ll get better output using traditional fl**ges rather than cups.

That said, pumps are not one-size-fits-all.

The BabyBuddha has very strong suction and for some moms it may be too strong.

✨The good news? You can now try the BabyBuddha during a prenatal consultation or pumping assessments with Ollio Lactation and see if it’s a good fit for you.✨



*𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘮𝘱. 𝘔𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘬 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘬 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.*

“I had no idea this was going to be so hard.”This is one of the most common things I hear from new moms. One of the bigg...
02/06/2026

“I had no idea this was going to be so hard.”

This is one of the most common things I hear from new moms. One of the biggest challenges in the first few months is figuring out why your baby is fussing. Are they hungry? Tired? Overstimulated? Needing comfort?

Learning the difference between hunger cues and sleep cues can completely change your postpartum experience. A baby who is just starting to get tired and showing early cues is much easier to settle than a baby who is already overtired and exhausted.

This list works from early to late cues, from top to bottom. Notice how crying is a late cue for both? We want to catch them before the crying and fussing if we want to stand any chance of getting them to latch easily or fall asleep quickly.

When your baby is fussing, ask yourself:
1. When was their last feed?
2. When was their last nap?
3. What cues are they showing?

For newborns (the first month of life):
✨If it’s been about 1.5–3 hours since their last feed, they may be hungry. Always rule out hunger first. Pop them on the b**b. Maybe they even fall asleep there and you knock out two birds with one stone.
✨If they’ve been awake for 45–60 minutes, they’re likely ready for a nap.

As your baby grows, these cues change.
A common example of this that parents confuse as a hunger cue is hands in the mouth.

For a newborn, this is a hunger cue. But by 2–3 months, babies discover their hands and spend a lot of time exploring them. At that age, hands in the mouth alone is no longer a reliable sign of hunger.

Let me say that again:
✨ Hands in their mouth at 3 months old is not automatically a hunger cue.

While wake windows are helpful, I don’t wan’t them to rule your life. It is far more important that you learn your baby’s individual cues. The sooner you can learn your babies cues and ditch that mom math that I know you’re doing, the more enjoyable your postpartum experience will be.

Save this post for when you’re asking yourself, “Is my baby hungry?”

Your baby refusing the breast does not automatically mean they’re weaning. Knowing the difference between a nursing stri...
26/05/2026

Your baby refusing the breast does not automatically mean they’re weaning.

Knowing the difference between a nursing strike, low milk supply, and self-weaning can feel confusing. Nursing strikes often happen suddenly and alongside common triggers like illness, teething, distraction, or changes in routine.

Low milk supply tends to come on more gradually and may include signs like:
✨impatience at the breast
✨difficulty settling after feeds
✨wanting to feed more often consistently
✨decreased diaper output

Self-weaning, on the other hand, typically happens around 3.5 years of age.

During a nursing strike, you need to protect your milk. If baby isn’t emptying the breast as well as usual, pumping for a couple of days as needed will prevent engorgement and a drop in supply.

Most importantly, follow your baby’s lead with feeds. Just like we eat less and sleep more when we feel sick or get busy with a project and forget to eat, so can your baby. The good news is that nursing strikes occur once baby is older and able to hold their own. They’re not the same tiny newborn that had to eat every 2-3 hours always.
✨offer smaller, more frequent feeds
✨feed in a calm, quiet environment
✨try different positions
✨provide pain relief when indicated

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