Lactation Lounge: Q&A With a CLC
Starting October 7th, Andaluz will be hosting a regular community event — The Lactation Lounge!
A gathering for breast/chestfeeding parents to connect, learn, and share through peer to peer support.
Bring your baby (pre-walkers only please), enjoy a mocktail and brunch bites, and chat with other parents about the highs and lows of your breastfeeding journey.
Register here!
We want to introduce you to Lyndsay Pacheco, the Certified Lactation Counselor who will be facilitating the Lactation Lounge.
We have asked Lyndsay a few lactation-related questions. Read on for her insightful answers.
Callai: What are the benefits of peer to peer support groups like the Lactation Lounge?
Lyndsay: Having somebody to talk to who has gone through the same (or similar) experience is so validating.
Whether you are sharing struggles or milestones, having another person say “I’ve been there too!” is helpful.
I think peer support groups help to fill a gap of the “village” we are often missing in modern times. In the past, mothers would constantly be surrounded by fellow women who had so much experience nursing their babies and advice and would come about naturally.
Today we don’t have as much of that due to lower breastfeeding rates and the lack of communal living. Breastfeeding can feel really isolating, and having a place like the Lactation Lounge where we can share experiences and advice is so beneficial.
C: What was the best bit of breastfeeding advice you received from a peer, friend, or family member?
L: My mother is a great source of breastfeeding support. She wasn’t able to breastfeed me, but breastfed my sister for 2.5 years.
When I had my first baby, my mom was such a source of encouragement, reminding me that it is absolutely okay (and beneficial) to nurse on demand and to never feel bad about nursing for comfort. Unfortunately, both those things are stigmatized today, so it was great to have that reminder.
C: What inspired you to become a CLC?
L: Shortly after getting into birthwork, I realized there was a lack of breastfeeding support available to parents during the postpartum period. Especially with hospital births. Many parents would get an initial lactation visit but then feel like they were left alone once they were discharged.
I wanted to fill that gap by providing support to parents so they didn’t feel so alone.
Another source of inspiration was being a first time breastfeeding mama myself and realizing just how much misinformation was around regarding breastfeeding.
Often when we don’t have support we end up googling things or asking advice from people who may just not be knowledgeable about breastfeeding. And while sometimes we come across great resources, there are a lot of myths out there too. I wanted to help by becoming a source of education and advice.
C: What's a breastfeeding myth that you heard most often?
L: That eating or drinking “xyz” will increase your milk supply.
Eating a bunch of oatmeal or drinking a bunch of coconut water is ultimately not going to be what causes your supply to increase.
It’s mostly all about effective milk removal!
The other one is that breastmilk loses its nutrition when babies reach a certain age. That is just completely untrue!
Breastmilk continues to be beneficial no matter how old your baby is, and your body is constantly changing it to meet your baby’s needs!
C: What are your favorite breastfeeding resources?
L: Kellymom is probably my favorite resource for breastfeeding information! You can find up to date information on just about any breastfeeding questions you have there.
I would also say La Leche League’s website is a great resource along with their book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.
C: What are the "must have" breastfeeding accessories that you always recommend?
L: I like to remind people that usually all you need is your body!
A lot of times we get caught up in the marketing of all the “stuff” we need to breastfeed when really we just need our bodies.
But if there was a gadget I’ve found most helpful, it would be a Haakaa. It’s so great for helping with clogged ducts, catching excess milk, and it’s portable!
Another thing I would recommend is have a really comfy nursing bra, and a pump with well fitting flanges. If In the case pumping is a necessity for you, it is helpful to have that ahead of time and not be scrambling to find one while worrying about how to maintain your milk supply.
C: What can we do, as a community, to support breastfeeding efforts?
L: Make emotional and educational support easily accessible, stop stigmatizing breastfeeding in public, and combat breastfeeding myths.
