MysticalCaves&Milkiways

07/07/2026

Celebrating that sometimes breastfeed goes super well…and if it doesn’t. Don’t worry! I got you.

07/06/2026

So many pieces it gets so confusing. Doesn’t it??

Pump fl**ge inserts have gotten a lot of attention lately, but like many things in lactation, they’re a tool, not a universal solution.

A little history…

For many years, most breast pumps only came with 24 mm and 28 mm hard plastic fl**ges. If your ni***es were smaller (which the majority are!), there weren’t many options. Silicone fl**ge inserts became an affordable way to reduce the tunnel size without having to replace the entire fl**ge. They helped thousands of parents get a more comfortable fit when smaller hard plastic fl**ges simply didn’t exist.

Fast forward to today, and the market has changed dramatically.

Many companies now make hard plastic fl**ges in much smaller sizes. Emerging research and clinical experience, including the work of Jeanette Frem and the FITS (Fl**ge Individualized Trial and Selection) Protocol, suggest that many pumping moms achieve better milk removal and ni**le movement with a correctly fitted hard plastic fl**ge rather than relying on a silicone insert.

That doesn’t mean inserts are “bad.”

They still have an important place.

Inserts are often essential for wearable pumps, where replacement hard plastic fl**ges may not even be available. They also allow parents to fine-tune their fit when they fall between sizes or when a particular pump doesn’t offer the fl**ge size they need.

What many people don’t realize is that not all inserts are the same.

Some are made of very soft silicone, while others are firmer. Some have thick walls that reduce the tunnel diameter more dramatically. Others are thin and flexible. Some are short and only line part of the fl**ge tunnel, while others extend much farther down the tunnel. These differences can affect ni**le movement, comfort, suction, and milk removal.

So if one insert didn’t work for you, that doesn’t necessarily mean all inserts won’t.

Just like fl**ge sizing itself, finding the right insert can take some trial and error.

The goal isn’t to use an insert because everyone else is. The goal is to find the combination of fl**ge size, shape, material, and pump settings that allows comfortable, effective milk removal for your body.

Fl**ge fitting is becoming much more individualized than it was even five years ago, and that’s a good thing. We’re moving away from one-size-fits-all recommendations and toward helping each pumper find what works best for them.

07/06/2026

So many fl**ges

07/03/2026

Updates for MILK CIRCLE for July and August

☀️No Circle July 3rd. Enjoy your families☀️

☀️SATURDAY ☀️
•July 11th is our first mama breakfast. Poolside 9-10:30.
•August 1st same time. Same place.
I will send my address to those who RSVP.

Breakfast is typically scones and frittata. Some kind of iced tea or strawberry lemonade. I will be asking for RSVP for food. LMK if there are allergies.

My pool is a salt system. It is shaded. I have 3-4 umbrellas and the sun doesn’t hit there badly that early for the sweet tender baby skin.

BRING
•sun hats
•sunscreen
•water
•swimsuits/swim diapers
•towels
•maybe chairs…I do have 12

POOL RULES
•be safe
•all of us need to be aware of our older babies
•stay close to your children there is a deep end
•the stamped concrete on the outside of there is loads of splashing can be a bit slippery. BE AWaRE!
•have fun

06/23/2026

Oh my!!

An art installation of the scent of mother's milk.

Eau de human milk?

This looks so COOL! I would love to see this. Not sure I'd get that close but still, what a neat concept. And there's a pattern for that piece, that's quite the sewing project!

From on IG:

Recovery of the Good Object Lost (2020, Damme, scent made in cooperation with and )

An olfactory installation exploring our very first object of desire: the mother’s breast and the scent of mother’s milk (a smell we already know from the womb). The moment we realise we do not coincide with the breast, our desire (Objet Petit a) is born, as we spend our lives seeking that same all‑satisfying experience.
The monumental faux‑fur breast releases the scent of mother’s milk when touched: a playful, psychoanalytic attempt to return to that primal moment of symbiosis, comfort, and the earliest layer of memory.

The scent was created during my internship in collaboration with my mentor, master perfumer , and Paris. Based on a Scent Trek analysis, we reconstructed the scent in the lab using its identifiable molecules to make a creative interpretation as realistic as possible.
With thanks to Peter De Cupere , with whom I completed my Master in Olfactory Art ( ) and created the initial distillation, and to the research of Andrea Büttner, shared by .
Inspired by the theories of Melanie Klein, Lacan & Freud.

Thank you for the pattern and for the sewing lessons, as I sewed this installation during Covid in my atelier, stuffed with mattress‑foam filling.

06/11/2026

The Role of Targeted Microbiota Therapy in the Prevention and Management of Puerperal Mastitis
Published: 5 June 2025

Abstract
"Mastitis, an inflammatory condition of the breast, significantly affects breastfeeding women and can lead to the early cessation of lactation. This article explores the pathophysiology of mastitis, distinguishing between acute mastitis (AM) and subacute mastitis (SAM), with a focus on the microbial dynamics involved. AM is primarily associated with Staphylococcus aureus, while SAM is linked to a dysbiotic milk microbiota characterized by an imbalance of microbial species, including increased levels of opportunistic pathogens. The role of inflammation and the gut–breast axis in the development of mastitis are discussed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy microbiota. Recent studies highlight the potential of probiotics as a preventive and therapeutic measure against mastitis, showing promising results in reducing incidence and recurrence. However, further research is necessary to optimize probiotic strains, dosages, and treatment protocols. This review underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of the microbiological, immunological, and inflammatory factors involved in mastitis to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies."

Matera, M.; Palazzi, C.M.; Bertuccioli, A.; Di Pierro, F.; Zerbinati, N.; Cazzaniga, M.; Gregoretti, A.; Cavecchia, I. The Role of Targeted Microbiota Therapy in the Prevention and Management of Puerperal Mastitis. Diseases 2025, 13, 176. https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases13060176

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/6/176

05/10/2026

For my families who are thinking they may be dealing with food sensitivity with their newborns

03/27/2026

Please note: The link below is the corrected RSVP link for this event. We hope to see you there! 🤍

Thinking about pregnancy or already expecting? 🤍
Join us for Meet the Doulas at South County Hospital and connect with local doulas, ask questions, and tour our Birthing Center. It’s a great way to learn about the support available to you and feel more confident as you plan for birth.

📅 March 28
🕙 10–11:30 a.m.
📍 South County Hospital

RSVP here:
https://form.jotform.com/260284828794168?utm_source=social

02/28/2026

Please help a sweet friend and her mother as they have lost so much in their house fire. I’m sure whatever gift you may be able to give is much appreciated.

Rosa and her mother Gloria have experienced a tragic house fire, cla… Christopher Botelho needs your support for Help Rosa and Gloria Rebuild After House Fire

02/26/2026

Check out our new hours and programming. We are shifting our classes with Spanish Childbirth Education being hosted at Blackstone Valley Community Health Center from 5:30 -7:30 p.m., this will conclude our childbirth classes on Saturdays in June. The Saturdays in June will shift to workshops and learning courses. Stay tuned for those events. Thursdays are still available for Easy Access Clinic appointments and our Call A Midwife telehealth consultation. Fridays remain our open to the public days to learn more about our services and programs.