Milk and Grace Lactation

06/12/2026

Being a neurodiverse IBCLC with neurodiverse family members (ADHD / autism) yes, yes and more yes 👏🏼 This includes babies who show early signs of sensory differences, which affect breastfeeding as well.

Many parents come to a lactation visit looking for one answer.

“My ni***es hurt.”
“My baby won’t latch.”
“My milk supply seems low.”
“My baby clicks at the breast.”
“My pumping hurts.”

And sometimes there is one clear answer.

But sometimes there isn’t.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that many breastfeeding families are medically complex, and the symptom we see on the surface is often only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

Many neurodivergent parents (those with ADHD, autism, or both) also have other diagnoses. Anxiety and depression are incredibly common. Many also report chronic pain, migraines, gastrointestinal issues, sleep disorders, sensory sensitivities, hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Raynaud phenomenon, vasospasm, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), and other conditions that affect daily life.

Researchers are still working to understand why these diagnoses seem to cluster together, but what we do know is that they often do.

This matters because all of these things can affect breastfeeding.

Let’s take ni**le pain as an example.

The traditional breastfeeding answer is often, “The latch is wrong.”

And sometimes that’s absolutely true.

A shallow latch, poor positioning, or a tongue tie can cause ni**le damage and significant pain.

But ni**le pain isn’t always that simple.

For some parents, the pain is caused or worsened by vasospasm, where blood vessels constrict and reduce blood flow to the ni**le. The ni**le may turn white, blue, or purple and hurt intensely after feeds.

For others, sensory processing differences may make normal breastfeeding sensations feel overwhelming or painful. What feels mildly uncomfortable to one person may feel unbearable to another.

For some hypermobile parents, the ni**le tissue itself may stretch and move differently during feeding or pumping, creating discomfort even when the latch looks good.

Certain medications used to manage ADHD, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, or other medical conditions can also affect breastfeeding experiences.

And sometimes several of these things are happening at the same time.

The baby may also bring their own pieces to the puzzle.

We are seeing growing evidence that connective tissue differences can run in families. Some families with hypermobility or EDS seem more likely to have babies with oral restrictions such as tongue ties. These babies may struggle to maintain suction, transfer milk efficiently, or latch deeply.

A shallow latch caused by a tongue tie may contribute to ni**le trauma.

That trauma may trigger vasospasm.

The parent may already have Raynaud phenomenon.

And the pain may feel even more intense because of sensory processing differences.

Suddenly, what looked like “just a tongue tie” is actually several factors interacting with each other.

This is why breastfeeding support should never be one-size-fits-all.

Not every parent with ADHD has hypermobility.

Not every hypermobile parent has POTS.

Not every baby with a tongue tie has a connective tissue disorder.

But when multiple symptoms seem connected, it’s worth stepping back and looking at the whole picture.

Breastfeeding doesn’t happen in isolation.

It happens in real families with unique nervous systems, medical histories, genetics, sensory experiences, and life circumstances.

Sometimes improving the latch solves the problem.

Sometimes treating vasospasm solves the problem.

Sometimes understanding sensory sensitivities changes everything.

And sometimes the answer isn’t one thing at all. It’s recognizing that several small factors have been contributing to a very big challenge.

If you’ve ever felt like your breastfeeding journey was more complicated than the books made it sound, you are not alone.

Some families are solving a simple puzzle.

Others are working on a 1,000-piece puzzle where every piece matters.

Both deserve support, understanding, and individualized care. ❤️

06/11/2026

I see so many families for feeding support because they were either pressured or told without informed consent to have an early induction.

🚨🚨 Breaking: New study highlights induction of labor patterns increased beyond 39 weeks into early term and even preterm gestations.

The summary is simply this: induction of labor before 39 weeks has been normalized rather than remaining rare and ONLY for clear medical indication.

Conclusion:
"Our study shows that labor induction expanded to gestational ages before 39 weeks, the limit of evidence-based support for nonmedical labor induction,4,7–10 with disproportionate and sustained growth at 37 to 38 weeks of gestation through 2024.

Randomized data supporting the benefits of nonmedically indicated labor inductions are limited to 39 weeks of gestation and beyond.3

This extension of labor inductions before 39 weeks of gestation is consistent with the normalization of deviance, whereby repeated acceptance of an intervention gradually erodes adherence to its original evidentiary boundaries.11,12

The highly linear growth (R2>0.99) at 37 and 38 weeks of gestation suggests that practices initially framed as exceptional have transitioned into a more routine pattern, occurring in the absence of supporting evidence.

Because natality data lack conclusive granular clinical detail, our findings are only suggestive regarding the inappropriateness of labor inductions when there is no medical or obstetrical indication before 39 weeks of gestation.

In addition, sustained acceleration through 2024 suggests that the practice patterns are distinct from temporary pandemic adjustments. These findings provide an empirical basis to re-examine current labor induction practices sanctioning labor inductions without medical or obstetrical indications at 39 weeks of gestation and caution against extending 39-week labor induction to earlier gestational ages in the absence of a documented medical or obstetrical indication."

What does this mean for parents and doulas? Ask questions. Why is induction being offered? What is the medical reason? What are the benefits and risks specific to ME?

It's also important to familiarize yourself with the birth culture and climate in your area as it can vary greatly.

👇🏽 Did you feel pressured into induction?

06/10/2026

The Bible has countless stories of the impossible becoming possible with God.

Moments with no food, no water, no way of escape, no hope, no future... TRANSFORMED!

When we take our motherhood and breastfeeding challenges to the foot of the cross, He meets us there.

Sometimes there is a breakthrough and things turn out just as we hoped. This is cause for celebration and He rejoices with us!

Sometimes there is the need to wait and trust. This is cause for prayer and the Word of God and He meets us while we wait.

Sometimes things do not turn out the way we had hoped. This is cause for grief and He draws near to us in our sorrow.

We are in a fallen world and sometimes our struggles don't make sense on this side of heaven. But we know that He has a good plan for those who are called according to His purpose.

God cares about you. He cares about the BIG things and he turns them into LITTLE things.

Reach out if you need a praying lactation consultant. I do virtual, home, and office visits.

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06/09/2026

How we give birth directly affects how lactation is established.

Whether within our control or outside of our control, birth interventions affect the establishment of exclusive breastfeeding.

This is so important to know so you can advocate for the birth you want and be prepared for the unexpected.

For example, some medications can make baby sleepy and they skip feeds.

Medications can also delay the transition of colostrum to copious milk.

IV fluids can artificially increase birth weight, resulting in what appears to be significant weight loss.

Suctioning can cause oral aversion.

Forceps and vacuums can bruise the head and make baby uncomfortable in certain breastfeeding positions.

Induction can lead to birth before a baby is developmentally ready to feed.

C-sections can lead to breathing issues at birth when fluid isn't fully evacuated from the lungs as it is in the birth canal.

And. So. Much. More.

However you decide to give birth or however your birth plays out, advocating for your breastfeeding goals is important.

If you need someone in your corner, an IBCLC can help inform you and prepare you for breastfeeding in a prenatal consultation.

We can also help you overcome initial challenges when you've had a birth that affects the initiation of breastfeeding.

Reach out for a consultation! Follow for more.

06/09/2026

Motherhood and all that comes with it is a process of death. Death to a self that will never again exist in the same way. Dying is painful and hard. It hits when you least expect it. It challenges preconceived thoughts you didn't know you had. It tests you. It breaks you. But we mothers press forward. We don't give up. We slow down to one moment at a time. We just try to get through today. We rebuild. We redefine. We reimagine. We challenge and question. We fight and advocate. Suddenly, we find ourselves fully embodied as new beings. We are renewed. Better than before. Inspiring. Wiser. More confident. We might get torn down, but we rise up. Motherhood changes us spiritually. Forever.

06/09/2026

To no fault of any individual woman, the heritage of breastfeeding has been lost.

In the mid 20th century, the ancient tradition of breastfeeding was all but eradicated and it wasn't by accident.

In the 1950s, formula was marketed as superior to breastmilk. This money making industry saw an opportunity and deceived women for profit. The rates of breastfeeding never recovered.

This was compounded by women returning to work far too soon and poor workplace support.

At the same time, birth was moved from home to hospital. This medicalization of birth further disrupted the establishment of exclusive breastfeeding.

Generational support was lost and ancestral wisdom unavailable. Early preventable and treatable challenges without guidance or familial support.

Today, the majority of women plan to breastfeed but find themselves without the support they need to meet their goals.

Breastfeeding is now the exception, the minority, and deeply misunderstood.

Women are not to blame for a societal and institutional failure. In many ways, this is a women and infant health crisis.

What history does your family have with breastfeeding?

06/07/2026

Early term infant feeding is something I am passionate about. Pictured here are my 37 week twins at less than 5 lbs.

37-38 week infants often appear full term without the skills of a full term baby. Feeding early term infants can be very challenging.

Many parents who desire to exclusively breastfeed need a proactive plan to ensure their baby can sustain the energy needed to feed frequently and effectively.

Additionally, milk supply needs to be protected if a parent uses donor milk or formula supplement due to delayed milk transition. Pumping may be necessary in the early weeks.

A transition plan is often an integral component to successfully breastfeeding early term infants.

If you know ahead of time that you will deliver early, seek an IBCLC to make a plan for birth. If you give birth unexpectedly, the sooner you reach out, the better.

06/05/2026

My twins were 6 months old when we were quarantined for Covid. I was a stay at home mom of 3 under 2. I had no worries of public opinion. I had always assumed I'd wean by 1. Then I extended that to 2 when I found out it's recommended scientifically. Pretty soon, they were turning 3 and we were still nursing a couple times a day. It felt completely natural without the stigma of a bottle feeding culture. They weaned before the age of 4 and the rest is history.

06/04/2026

There are a lot of ni**le creams on the market with steep prices. Coconut oil is a great option and can save you money. **lebalm **lecream

06/04/2026

This is a reflection on my own experience and what I often see in practice as an IBCLC. Our brain chemistry changes after trauma. Intuition, trust, confidence, and calm often replaced with hyper-vigilance, guilt, anxiety, and preoccupation. An IBCLC can walk alongside you on this journey. Furthermore, postpartum therapy has been shown to be very effective in healing and restoring mental health.