Dr. Jen 4 Kids: Breastfeeding Medicine

08/07/2026

I’m proud to be in the first group of physicians to be board-certified in Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine.

Interest in breastfeeding medicine is growing as more women enter the physician workforce.

05/06/2026

Had a lovely a time at the Breastfeeding Learning Collaborative in Montana. It was the second time I was asked to speak at this conference and I hope it’s not the last. I enjoyed seeing friends and meeting new ones and the weather was nice enough that I got to see some sights in a beautiful part of the world.

04/16/2026

I spent the weekend with the energetic and dedicated physicians who make up the AAP Section on Breastfeeding Executive Committee. I am happy to share that, after many years a member of that team, I have been elected to take over as Chair in the fall. We have policy statements in the pipeline, are working on advocacy for breastfeeding families, and are working on all sorts of educational offerings, so we will be busy!

01/13/2026

This is an interesting article looking at risk factors for peanut allergy and finding that partial colostrum feeding is associated with an increased risk of peanut allergy. There is other research showing that introduction of cow's milk protein in the first days is associated with increased risk of cow's milk allergy including anaphylaxis. Now this study also shows an increased risk of peanut allergy.

This study investigates whether partial colostrum feeding (PCF) due to formula supplements in the first 3 days increases the risk of food allergy beyond cow's milk. PCF infants showed increased risk ...

10/23/2025

Important new Cochrane review. Well worth reading each recommendation.

👶 Skin-to-skin contact involves placing the naked newborn on the mother’s uncovered chest immediately after birth. This simple practice helps babies adapt to life outside the womb, keeping them warm, reducing stress and crying, and supporting vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.

New Cochrane evidence confirms what many already practice: immediate skin-to-skin contact between newborns and their mothers gives babies a better start in life.

Babies held skin-to-skin within the first hour after birth are more likely to:

🩵 Breastfeed exclusively
🩵 Maintain healthy body temperature and blood sugar
🩵 Breathe and adapt better outside the womb

Importantly, the evidence is now so strong that researchers argue it’s no longer ethical to conduct studies that separate mothers and babies after birth.

“Withholding skin-to-skin contact would now be considered unethical, as there is enough evidence to show that the practice improves newborn health and survival,” says Karin Cadwell, senior author and Executive Director and Lead Faculty of
Healthy Children Project Center for Breastfeeding.

Read more on our website: https://www.cochrane.org/about-us/news/strong-evidence-supports-skin-skin-contact-after-birth-standard-care

08/15/2025

Looking forward to spending the day with the Southern Oregon Lactation Association on October 17th!

03/28/2025

I am going to be speaking in Iowa at their annual breastfeeding conference in May!

Email from UnityPoint Health Register now! 35th Annual Iowa Breastfeeding Conference Wednesday, May 14 & Thursday, May 15 FFA Enrichment Center DMACC Ankeny Campus 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy Ankeny,

03/28/2025

I am going to be in Atlanta at Emory University on April 15!

Emory University is pleased to offer a dynamic and engaging conference on breastfeeding in collaboration with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, hospitals across the region, and partners from community organizations. The conference is known for bringing in national speakers and local experts for a ...

03/21/2025

On World Down Syndrome Day, I'd like to share one of my favorite parent resources for breastfeeding a baby with Trisomy 21. Thank you, Julia's Way, for this video!

02/25/2025

I'm presenting some info on interpreting weight loss and growth curves!

How much weight is too much for a newborn to lose? What do we need to consider when a child starts decreasing percentiles for weight? What do changes in the growth curves mean for breastfeeding infants and children? Dr Jenny Thomas () will share factors that may cause changes in growth percentiles over the first years of life and when we need to intervene.
Learn more at our upcoming online conference: Empowering Breastfeeding: science and support, online from March 5. Register at iLactation.com or linkinbio.
(This talk was also part of our Connect • Nourish • Thrive conference - it was so well-received we are including it again!)