Change is Inevitable - Luna Lactation Nov 2010 Newsletter

http://www.lunalactation.com/Nov2010.pdf

Melissa Cole, IBCLC, RLC

Board Certified Lactation Consultant

tel.360.830.MILK(6455)

fax.360.695.6193

www.lunalactation.com

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex

The topic Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER) came up recently in a professional group of which I am a member. Carol Gray shared a blog post that she wrote about this condition, and I want to share this information because it is really important that mothers know what it is and what causes it. I have known several mothers who have experienced it, and it can be very distressing especially if a mother does not know what is happening. Please share this information.

D-MER is a flood of negative emotions (including helplessness, anger, dread, anxiety) and often nausea that occurs right before the Milk Ejection Reflex (right before the milk is "let down") when nursing. The overwhelming negative feelings only last for about 30 seconds to 2 minutes and the mother feels completely fine before and after.

D-MER is caused by a hormonal drop in dopamine right before the Milk Ejection Reflex. It is NOT a postpartum mood disorder, repressed trauma, or or poor bonding with your baby but can occur concurrently. D-MER is treatable and/or manageable. If you or someone you know is experiencing D-MER, you are not alone and you are not doing anything wrong. You can get help from a Lactation Consultant or other healthcare provider. If your healthcare provider is not familiar with D-MER, find someone who is.

www.D-MER.org explains that D-MER can go unrecognized for many reasons:

since 1) some mothers have so many closely spaced letdowns per feeding that the feelings do not have a chance to dissipate before the next D-MER is upon her, making her feel that she experiences on long D-MER through most of, if not all of, the feeding 2) many mothers do not physically feel a letdown in their breasts and so does not connect the feeling as to being just prior to letdown and 3) given the fact that D-MER happens with spontaneous letdowns as well, a mother may not immediately connect the way she is feeling to being a breastfeeding phenomenon.

For more information about D-MER, visit www.DMER.org and this post on Ask Moxie and this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2UITtz50ec&feature=player_embedded):

Lactation After Pregnancy or Infant Loss Survey

The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth (Mexico), Me, and Senor Xolotl ~Frida Kahlo

Melissa Cole's friend is doing a survey on lactation after pregnancy or infant loss. Replies will be used to create training materials and support programs for professionals and families that support mothers after infant loss. She writes,

When you lose a baby you suddenly discover you are a part of a secret club. Many people do not talk about their experiences until another mother has lost her baby. However, the fact that most women will lactate after losing a baby, even early in pregnancy, is the even bigger secret. Once you have lost your baby, you are given lots of resources on how to deal with the emotional grief but no one warns you about the physical grief. Pat Schweibert’s book, When Hello Means Goodbye, given out in many hospitals, says it well, “My body had its own grief. And its tears were white.”

If you have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and would like to contribute to helping other mothers going through a similar experience, please consider taking this confidential survey.

Here is the link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D6LD933 Please feel free to pass it on.

Birthingway college of Midwifery's Breastfeeding Center- Grand Opening

Announcing Birthingway College of Midwifery's

Breastfeeding Center

Grand Opening

Saturday, March 20th from 12:00pm-3:00pm

Celebrate the opening of an innovative new type of support system for families in Portland. The Breastfeeding Center will provide Portland families with FREE out-of-hospital breastfeeding support in a comfy home setting. Services include support groups and a space to just hang out and connect with other breastfeeding women, as well as professional help with basic breastfeeding information, return-to-work plans, complex situations, weaning and more.

Birthingway's FREE Breastfeeding Center supports a nursing mother by providing:

• Personal care with an individualized breastfeeding plan.
• Free phone support to assess needs
• A free hour-long consultation with an IBCLC.

Birthingway's breastfeeding support is physiologically based with the least amount of interventions while protecting the well-being of moms and babies.

Center Services are closely supervised by International Board Certified Lactation consultants (IBCLC) with assistance from students participating in our Lactation Program. All client records are kept confidential per HIPPA standards.

Birthingway College of Midwifery

12108 SE Carlton St.

Portland, OR 97266

Contact 503-760-3131 for information about the event

or e-mail: breastfeeding@birthingway.edu

www.birthingway.edu

The grand opening celebration will be a chance for the community to get to know our space and learn about the services the Breastfeeding Center will offer. There will also be food and a raffle to sweeten the day.

Nurture Welcomes Melissa Cole

Nurture warmly welcomes Melissa Cole to our Family Wellness Collective. Melissa is a lactation consultant with many years of experience supporting families with breastfeeding. She is a mother of three and a knowledgeable woman. Here is a bit about her practice:

Supporting new families is a joy and an honor!
After welcoming your precious child into the world, coping with breastfeeding
challenges can be unexpected and very emotional for new parents. Working with an experienced lactation consultant can help you identify the source of your breastfeeding issues and empower you to discover new approaches to those issues.

I view lactation as a holistic process and respect each family’s unique health care beliefs. I am committed to offering compassionate, comprehensive support for all phases of breastfeeding. I strive to provide nurturing, clinical care so that each family can define their own breastfeeding success. Learn more about me and my private practice, Luna Lactation, here.

Why see an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)?
The IBCLC credentials are the gold standard for lactation qualifications. Read more here to learn more about this credential or read more on IBLCE’s web site.

There are many situations in which families can benefit from a private, professional lactation consultation. Some reasons to seek assistance from a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) include but are not limited to:

Mother issues: milk supply issues, sore nipples/breasts, history of hormonal issues/infertility, past breast surgery, medical issues/illness, past breastfeeding problems, planning to return to work/school, other unresolved breastfeeding concerns(prenatally or postpartum).

Baby issues: weight gain concerns, latch concerns, prematurity, multiples, traumatic birth, jaundice, unresolved fussiness, medical/anatomical issues that impact feeding, baby being supplemented or using specialized feeding tools, sleep/growth/solid food guidance, adoption, any other unresolved feeding concerns.

Hours:
Most appointment times are on the weekends and weekday evenings however I realize how critical timely and nurturing breastfeeding assistance is. I will do my best to schedule appointments ASAP. Once an established client, I will continue to provide you with care as long as the need exists and you will have access to prompt follow-up support.

Fees:
For information on consultations available both in our office space and in the comfort of your own home, please read more here.

Community:
Connection is vital as families grow and find their way. I invite you to inquire about additional community resources that may benefit your family. My resource page is a great place to start.

Melissa Cole, IBCLC, RLC
360-830-MILK (6455)
melissa@lunalactation.com
http://www.lunalactation.com/

Nurture Welcomes Deb Thornton

We are excited to welcome Deb Thornton to Nurture. Deb wears many hats and will be offering several different services at Nurture including craniosacral therapy, lactation support, Respectful Connection Parenting support groups, and doula services. The Connected Parenting Support Group starts on October 13th; come and find support from other families as you create strong coonections with your children. Deb tells us about herself and her services...

I have really just wanted to be a wife and mother since I was a child. And that is just what I became at a fairly young age. Thank goodness, because that amazing experience opened up the entire world for me. Now I want to be EVERYTHING when I grow up...

I believe that parenting is all about connection. Parenting is the BEST thing that is ever going to happen to you. This new little person, this miracle, this JOY, is going to absolutely rock your world. I am passionate about supporting new families through this dynamically chaotic, divinely delicious, supremely scary, world rockin' journey.

Here is a bit about my background:
I am a parent and family coach with a degree in social work, and I am passionate about connecting with families and helping parents find respectful ways to enjoy their parenting journey. I am a retired La Leche League Leader of 13 years and a Certified Lactation Educator who takes great joy in helping new mama's develop their own unique personal nursing relationship with their newborn babies. I have been a doula for friends and families before the word doula was coined and has never yet been to a birth where I haven't cried. I am a strong believer in preparation for birth, and an active advocate for making researched educated choices for all decisions regarding pregnancy, birth and parenting. Becoming a Certified Infant Craniosacral Therapist has been the best addition to my lactation and doula practice. I am so amazed by the gentle yet powerful healing that happens with craniosacral therapy and am so honored to be able to offer it to families.

Right now I offer:

• Birth and Doula Services
• Lactation Support
• Craniosacral Therapy
• Parent and Family Coaching
• Respectful Connection Parenting Support Group
• I am also available to speak or teach at your high school, community center, conference, workshop, or parenting group.

I am also a mama to 4 fantastic children, a neurotic chocolate lab and two kitty brothers born at home (where else?) one of whom is still alive due to my amazing lactation skills. We live in an enchanted old Ne Portland home where the birds clean the toilets and the squirrels do dishes. Somebody has to do it.

For more information about my services please visit Sacred Arrivals.

To schedule and appointment or for more information about the Connected Parenting Support Group, please call 503.250.2973 or e-mail me sacredarrivals@gmail.com.