LALactation

06/18/2026

“When will my period come back after having a baby?”

The truth is: there is a huge range of normal.

Some parents see their period return just a few weeks after birth, while others may not see it for months or even years. Factors such as how often your baby feeds, whether you’re pumping, introducing bottles or solids, overnight sleep stretches, and your own individual hormone levels can all influence when ovulation and menstruation return.

Historically, breastfeeding helped delay the return of fertility and periods. However, this was most effective when very specific conditions were met: baby was exclusively breastfeeding, feeding frequently day and night, receiving little to no supplementation, and typically under 6 months of age. This is known as the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM), and strict guidelines must be followed for it to be effective.

Even then, every body is different. Some exclusively breastfeeding parents get their period back at 8 weeks postpartum, while others may not see it return until long after their baby’s first birthday or even until baby is full weaned!!

A returning period doesn’t mean your milk is “drying up,” and the absence of a period doesn’t guarantee you can’t get pregnant. Your body has its own timeline, and there is a wide range of normal after birth.

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

Tummy time is one of the first ways babies build the strength they need for everything that comes later: rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, and eventually walking.

But here’s the good news: tummy time does NOT have to mean placing a screaming baby flat on the floor and hoping for the best.

For many newborns and young babies, tummy time can be done on your chest while you recline, across your lap, or supported on a nursing pillow. These positions still allow baby to practice lifting their head, strengthening their neck, shoulders, back, and core muscles while feeling safe and connected to you.

Think of tummy time as “time spent working against gravity” rather than a specific location. Every time your baby lifts their head to look at your face, pushes up through their arms, or works those tiny trunk muscles, they’re building strength.

If your baby hates floor tummy time, start where they’re successful. Short sessions throughout the day often work better than one long session. A minute here, a few minutes there. Every opportunity adds up.

The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is helping your baby develop the strength and coordination their growing body needs, one little head lift at a time. 💪👶

06/18/2026

On June 12, 2026, the FDA and CDC notified Nara Organics of a possible link between their Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula and three reported cases of infant botulism in infants from California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. In response, Nara has voluntarily recalled all cans of its powdered infant formula while the investigation continues. The formula was sold nationwide through Target, Target.com, and Nara.com.

First, take a deep breath.

At this time, investigators have identified an epidemiologic link between the recalled formula and the reported illnesses, but testing of formula samples is still ongoing. If your baby has been consuming Nara formula and appears healthy, there is no reason to panic. However, it is important to stop using the recalled product immediately and monitor your baby closely.

Infant botulism occurs when Clostridium botulinum bacteria produce a toxin that affects the nervous system. Symptoms can develop gradually and may include:

• Constipation (often one of the earliest signs)
• Poor feeding or difficulty sucking
• Weak cry
• Excessive sleepiness
• Decreased facial expression
• Drooping eyelids
• Reduced muscle tone (“floppy baby”)
• Trouble swallowing
• Breathing difficulties

Seek immediate medical attention if your baby develops any of these symptoms, especially poor feeding, unusual weakness, difficulty breathing, or a sudden decrease in alertness.

According to Nara’s recall recommendations:

• Stop using recalled Nara formula immediately.
• Contact Nara or your retailer regarding refunds and replacement options.
• Contact your pediatrician if your baby has consumed the formula and you have any concerns.
• Seek urgent medical care if symptoms consistent with infant botulism develop.

Because this is a recall, do NOT continue using recalled formula solely for the purpose of transitioning. If recalled formula is the only formula available, discuss options with your pediatrician. Most healthy infants can safely switch directly to another standard infant formula.

Please share and repost so families can be aware

06/17/2026

PSA FOR SPECTRA PUMP USERS 🚨

If your Spectra pump suddenly seems weaker, isn’t emptying you as well as it used to, or your output has unexpectedly dropped, check your backflow protectors before assuming your milk supply has changed.

Most parents know that pump parts wear out over time and need replacement. What many don’t realize is that not all replacement parts are created equal.

The original Spectra backflow protectors are designed to work with the pump’s specific vacuum system. Lately, I’ve been seeing more parents receive aftermarket replacement parts through insurance companies or purchase generic versions online. While they may look similar at first glance, some of these backflow protectors can significantly affect pump performance and suction.

One of the easiest ways to spot the difference is to look at the back side of the hard plastic housing.

✅ Original-style Spectra backflow protectors have a shorter, “stubby” connection on the back.

⚠️ Many aftermarket versions taper down into two different sizes and have a longer, more narrowed appearance.

That seemingly small design difference can change how efficiently the pump generates and maintains suction.

If you’ve noticed:
• Lower pump output
• Longer pumping sessions
• Breasts not feeling fully drained
• Needing to increase suction settings
• A pump that suddenly feels “different”

Take a look at your backflow protectors before panicking about your supply.

Of course, membranes can stretch and wear out as well, so regular replacement is still important. But if you’re replacing parts, try to use the manufacturer-recommended versions whenever possible.

Sometimes the problem isn’t your body.

Sometimes it’s a piece of plastic.

06/17/2026

PSA FOR SPECTRA PUMP USERS 🚨

If your Spectra pump suddenly seems weaker, isn’t emptying you as well as it used to, or your output has unexpectedly dropped, check your backflow protectors before assuming your milk supply has changed.

Most parents know that pump parts wear out over time and need replacement. What many don’t realize is that not all replacement parts are created equal.

The original Spectra backflow protectors are designed to work with the pump’s specific vacuum system. Lately, I’ve been seeing more parents receive aftermarket replacement parts through insurance companies or purchase generic versions online. While they may look similar at first glance, some of these backflow protectors can significantly affect pump performance and suction.

One of the easiest ways to spot the difference is to look at the back side of the hard plastic housing.

✅ Original-style Spectra backflow protectors have a shorter, “stubby” connection on the back.

⚠️ Many aftermarket versions taper down into two different sizes and have a longer, more narrowed appearance.

That seemingly small design difference can change how efficiently the pump generates and maintains suction.

If you’ve noticed:
• Lower pump output
• Longer pumping sessions
• Breasts not feeling fully drained
• Needing to increase suction settings
• A pump that suddenly feels “different”

Take a look at your backflow protectors before panicking about your supply.

Of course, membranes can stretch and wear out as well, so regular replacement is still important. But if you’re replacing parts, try to use the manufacturer-recommended versions whenever possible.

Sometimes the problem isn’t your body.

Sometimes it’s a piece of plastic.

06/17/2026

Have you ever found yourself doing bicycle legs, tummy massages, squats, bouncing on a yoga ball, carrying your baby in a weird football hold, and wondering why such a tiny human needs so much help to fart?

The answer is that newborns are still learning how to use their bodies.

Passing gas and stool seems simple to us because we do it automatically. For a young baby, especially between birth and 4 months, it is actually a complex coordination of muscles, pressure changes, and nervous system communication. They have to learn how to increase pressure in their abdomen while simultaneously relaxing their pelvic floor and a**l sphincter. Unfortunately, babies are not born knowing how to do this.

Instead, many babies accidentally do the opposite. They bear down, turn red, grunt, strain, and tighten everything at the same time. Imagine trying to p**p while clenching every muscle in your bottom. It doesn’t work very well.

This is why a healthy baby can seem absolutely miserable while trying to pass gas or stool.

Parents often worry that this means their baby is constipated, but true constipation in young babies is not very common. Constipation refers to hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass. Many breastfed babies have soft stools yet still struggle because the challenge isn’t the stool itself but coordinating the muscles needed to get it out.

Gas can be difficult too.

Babies spend much of their day eating, and eating naturally introduces some air into the digestive tract. As milk moves through the intestines, normal digestion also creates gas. Their immature digestive systems are constantly learning how to move that gas along efficiently. Sometimes it gets trapped, creating pressure and discomfort until they can work it out.

The good news is that most babies eventually figure this out with time and development.

In the meantime, there are a few gentle strategies that can help:

👶 Bicycle legs
Slowly moving your baby’s legs in a bicycling motion can help create movement through the intestines and encourage trapped gas to move along.

👶 Knees-to-tummy
Gently bringing both knees toward the belly can increase abdominal pressure and help gas work its way out.

👶 Tummy massage
A gentle clockwise massage follows the natural direction of the large intestine and may help move gas and stool through the digestive tract.

👶 Tummy time
Supervised tummy time provides gentle pressure on the abdomen and can help babies move gas while also strengthening important muscles.

👶 Babywearing
The upright position, movement, and gentle pressure from being carried often help babies pass gas more comfortably.

👶 Squats and supported sitting
Holding babies in positions where their hips are flexed can sometimes make it easier for them to coordinate a bowel movement.

👶 Movement
Walking, rocking, bouncing, dancing, and simply changing positions can all help stimulate the digestive tract.

Most importantly, remember that grunting, straining, turning red, and looking frustrated are often part of the normal learning process. Your baby isn’t failing to p**p. They’re practicing.

Just like learning to lift their head, roll over, crawl, and walk, learning how to coordinate the muscles needed to pass gas and stool is another developmental skill. It’s not always pretty, but eventually they get the hang of it.

Until then, sometimes your job is simply to be their supportive digestive coach cheering them through the world’s tiniest workout.

**p

06/16/2026

Do you feel hot, sticky, sweaty, sopping wet, and maybe just a little stinky these days?

Welcome to motherhood 😅

The good news? It does get better.

The even more interesting news? There is actually a biological reason for all that leaking, sweating, and the mysterious postpartum body odor that seems to arrive out of nowhere.

Human babies are born incredibly immature compared to many other mammals. Not all of their senses are fully developed at birth. In fact, if they arrived with adult-level sensory processing, the transition from the womb to the outside world would likely be overwhelming.

Their vision is blurry. They have very limited depth perception. Bright lights can be startling. The world is huge, loud, and unfamiliar.

But one sense is remarkably well developed from the very beginning:

Their sense of smell.

Long before your baby was born, they were already learning who you are through scent.

Throughout pregnancy, your amniotic fluid constantly changed based on what you ate, what you drank, your hormones, and your unique body chemistry. Your baby spent months surrounded by those familiar smells. They learned them. They associated them with safety, comfort, nourishment, and life itself.

Then postpartum arrives, and suddenly you seem to be leaking from every pore.

Sweat? Yep.

Milk? Probably.

Tears? Maybe those too.

And it turns out much of that is serving a purpose.

Researchers believe the increased postpartum sweating and body odor help create scent cues that orient your baby back to you. Your baby can recognize your unique smell and distinguish it from other people. Those familiar scents help reassure them that they are with their birth parent, their safe place, their home base in this big new world.

Ever notice that your baby starts rooting frantically the moment they are placed skin-to-skin on your chest?

Sometimes they’re hungry.

Sometimes they’re not.

Your scent alone can trigger feeding behaviors because your smell is closely associated with nourishment.

And then there’s one of my favorite weird human body facts:

Those little bumps around your ar**la? They’re called Montgomery glands.

They secrete an oily substance that helps protect and moisturize the ni**le, but that’s not all. The scent of those secretions is remarkably similar to amniotic fluid. Scientists believe this helps newborns locate the breast and find their way to feeding after birth.

Your body is literally giving your baby directions.

How amazing is that?

This is one reason many lactation professionals encourage skin-to-skin contact and suggest avoiding heavily scented lotions, perfumes, body washes, or deodorants in the early days when possible. Showering is absolutely normal and encouraged, but sometimes strong artificial fragrances can mask the scent cues your baby naturally recognizes and finds comforting.

I know postpartum body odor isn’t exactly anyone’s favorite part of motherhood.

Many mothers tell me they don’t feel like themselves. They wonder why they’re sweating through shirts, waking up drenched at night, or suddenly smelling different than they ever have before.

Your body isn’t betraying you.

It’s communicating.

It’s helping your baby navigate a brand-new world.

So while you may find your postpartum scent less than glamorous, remember this:

To your baby, that smell is familiar.

It’s comforting.

It’s reassuring.

It means food is nearby.

It means safety is nearby.

It means the person they have known longer than anyone else is holding them.

To your baby, your scent doesn’t smell bad.

It smells like home. ❤️

06/15/2026

Those tiny newborn hands are doing much more than most people realize.

While baby mittens can seem helpful for preventing scratches, I encourage parents to remove them during feeding whenever possible. A baby’s hands are actually an important part of the feeding process from the very beginning.

Before birth, babies spend months bringing their hands to their mouth. This hand-to-mouth connection is one of the earliest feeding behaviors they develop in the womb. After birth, they continue to use their hands as valuable tools during breastfeeding and bottle feeding.

At the breast, babies often use their hands to:
🖐️ Explore and locate the breast
🖐️ Help orient themselves toward the ni**le
🖐️ Stabilize their position while latching
🖐️ Touch and stimulate the ni**le making it easier to latch to (touch everts the ni**le)
🖐️ Knead, massage, and pat the breast during feeding

Many parents notice their baby rhythmically pressing, kneading, or stroking the breast while nursing. This isn’t random movement. These actions are thought to help stimulate milk flow and may support the release of oxytocin, the hormone responsible for milk ejection (letdown).

Babies also use their hands as sensory guides. They gather information about temperature, texture, position, and proximity to help coordinate feeding. When a baby’s hands are covered, they lose access to some of this important sensory input.

As babies grow, their hand behaviors continue to evolve.

Around 3-6 months, many babies become fascinated with touching the breast, playing with clothing, holding onto a parent’s shirt, or gently resting a hand on the breast while nursing. Some babies begin holding a toy, blanket, or lovey during feeds.

Older babies and toddlers often continue to use their hands for regulation and connection. They may stroke the breast, twirl hair, hold a parent’s hand, rub a favorite blanket, or explore the environment while nursing. These behaviors are part of normal sensory development and often help children organize themselves during feeding.

Those busy little hands are not a distraction from feeding, they are part of feeding.

Of course, if your newborn has scratched themselves, you don’t need to throw the mittens away forever. Keeping nails trimmed or using fold-over sleeve cuffs can be helpful alternatives. But when feeding, giving babies access to their hands allows them to use one of the tools nature gave them to support feeding, regulation, and connection.

The next time your baby reaches for the breast, kneads your skin, or places a tiny hand against you while nursing, remember: they’re not just eating. They’re actively participating in the feeding process.