All Things Breastfeeding Podcast

Barbara D. Robertson, IBCLC; Barbara Demske RN, BSN
  • 4.7 (69)
  • KIDS & FAMILY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

A Comprehensive, Professional Service for All of Your Breastfeeding Needs / Ann Arbor, MI

  1. 6D AGO

    All Things Breastfeeding Episode 108: Tongue Tie Update

    A tongue tie update? Barbara and Nancy discuss a 2026 research study on tongue ties by Raol et al. and a commentary response in this episode of All Things Breastfeeding. One of the goals of LactaLearning is to provide recent studies that have the potential to impact clinical lactation practices. The debate over whether tongue ties are being over- or under-treated has been ongoing for several years. After reviewing the latest research on tongue ties for the upcoming edition (this edition is still at least a year away from being released), the research conclusion seems to be that there are absolutely cases where a tongue tie release appeared to be critical for an infant to be able to nurse effectively and/or without pain for the parent. On the other hand, it appears that more babies are undergoing this procedure, even though this may not have been the core issue. The Raol study looked at 476 infants and found “Conclusions: Although ankyloglossia may affect breastfeeding experiences, ankyloglossia alone does not appear to affect breastfeeding maintenance or infant weight gain. Improving breastfeeding outcomes should include multidisciplinary management to focus on all potential causes and not only ankyloglossia.” What was so different about this recent study?  “Their study is unique in that none of the infants had a frenotomy or other surgical treatment of their ankyloglossia, and exclusive breastfeeding was assessed at 2–4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after delivery. Surprisingly, there were no differences in rates of exclusive breastfeeding at any time point, including at 6 months (82.3% [no ankyloglossia] vs 73.5% [assessed with ankyloglossia]; P?=?.25), and no differences in infant growth velocity at any time point.” Dr. Ann Will and Dr. Lydia Furman reported. What was also unique was that, instead of releasing the tongues, they provided great lactation support and were grounded in a community that valued breastfeeding. Could this be enough for many babies? There are flaws to the study as well. One issue was the way the authors identified tongue ties. It is not clear how many of the babies had more serious ties. Again, this is food for thought. If you work with breastfeeding/chestfeeding families and are passionate about lactation support, or you want to turn your passion for nursing into professional practice, visit LactaLearning.com and consider following us on social media! Instagram @lacta.learning Facebook LactaLearning Raol, N., Silamkoti, B., Syed, S. M., Hosek, K., Theetla, P., & Madireddy, A. (2026). Ankyloglossia, breastfeeding, and infant weight gain: a mixed-methods study. Pediatrics, 157(1), e2024070531.Witt, A., & Furman, L. (2026). Untreated Ankyloglossia: A Broader Perspective. Pediatrics, 157(1), e2025073238.Bristol Tongue Assessment ToolMartinelli Tongue Tie Assessment Lingual Frenulum Protocol for InfantsThomas, K., Kliff, S., & Silver-Greenberg, J. (2023). Inside the booming business of cutting babies’ tongues. New York Times, 18.LeFort, Y., Evans, A., Livingstone, V., Douglas, P., Dahlquist, N., Donnelly, B., Leeper, K., Harley, E., Lappin, S., and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. (2021). Academy of breastfeeding medicine position statement on ankyloglossia in breastfeeding dyads. Breastfeeding Medicine, 16(4), 278-281. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/health/tongue-tie-release-breastfeeding.html Responses to the above article: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/bfm.2024.29263.editorial https://www.thestewartcenterforoptimalhealth.com/2024/03/17/breaking-down-the-nyt-article-inside-the-booming-business-of-cutting-babies-tongues The post All Things Breastfeeding Episode 108: Tongue Tie Update appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

    21 min

  2. FEB 17

    All Things Breastfeeding Episode 107: Why Early Breastfeeding Positions Matter

    Why does early breastfeeding position matter? Nancy and Barbara discuss one of their favorite topics with friend and colleague, IBCLC Rene Fisher. Whether you are talking about the starter position, laid back breastfeeding, or biological nurturing from Suzanne Colson, they all mean the same thing. Relax, lean back at a comfortable angle (not flat on your back), and place the baby tummy-to-tummy on the parent’s body. When this is done suddenly, the baby can move their body more easily, and many infant feeding reflexes are triggered, ensuring that at least one person knows what they are doing. Nancy discusses her experience improving breastfeeding practices at a Chicago-area hospital, and Rene shares her experiences with her own grandson, which made her a firm believer. Rene took this simple, time-saving technique back to her hospital on the East Coast, where it was a great success. Nancy’s ideas of adjusting your body, adjusting the baby, and adjusting the breast make it even easier to help families nurse easily and comfortably. As is known, changing hospital practice is not easy. Nancy and Rene share their wins and hurdles. There are three studies discussed in detail, which are listed below. Enjoy! Milinco 2020 (RCT): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32248838/ Yin 2021 (RCT): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33913745/ Wang 2021 (Meta-analysis): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33761882/ The post All Things Breastfeeding Episode 107: Why Early Breastfeeding Positions Matter appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

    28 min

  3. JAN 13

    All Things Breastfeeding Episode 106: 2025 ILCA Conference Recap

    Barbara and Nancy discuss their experience at the 2025 ILCA conference. This was the first conference at which LactaLearning participated in the exhibit hall! They were joined by a good friend and fellow IBCLC, Rene Fisher. It was so much fun seeing old friends and making new ones! There was such a great response. When asked, some people had heard of LactaLearning; folks either said, “Yes, I love it!” or “No, but it sounds like a great idea in terms of what we are doing with education.” It was thrilling to get such good feedback. Nancy and Barbara each attended several presentations and discuss what they learned. Because they are both lifelong learners, it is exciting to see what other leaders are doing in the field. In particular, Barbara and Nancy had dinner with Dr. Lisa Anders to continue their discussion of the pump flange fitting. Lisa’s poster presentation presents data suggesting that flange size fitting may not be as important as we thought. Stay tuned for more on that! LactaLearning is the result of a long evolution and journey stemming from Barbara Robertson’s dreams and drive. Barbara started with a strong passion for learning and teaching, and then later fell in love with lactation. As a national and international professional trainer, Barbara realized her business needed to reflect this and created the LactaLearning brand with love and intention. Nancy Mohrbacher came on board to help with course creation and many behind-the-scenes tasks, and we are continuing to imagine new ideas and bring them to life. The post All Things Breastfeeding Episode 106: 2025 ILCA Conference Recap appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

    29 min

  4. 12/15/2025

    All Things Breastfeeding Episode 105: Working and Breastfeeding Made Simple

    Working and Breastfeeding Made Simple? Nancy and Barbara discuss this important topic and how their new book group, Working and Breastfeeding Made Simple, can help make you an expert on this topic. Here are just five topics that will be covered in depth during the book group! Yes, it is possible to support working parents in achieving their infant feeding goals. Several critical factors for supporting breastfeeding/chestfeeding among employed parents have been identified in the literature and clinical practice. Despite the dire statistics, families in Barbara’s private practice actually do well. None of them discontinued breastfeeding during the first month of returning to work. Providing accurate information about how breast milk supply works and how to express breast milk, along with social and emotional support, appeared to help clients maintain breastfeeding despite occasional difficulties. Here are five critical factors that help families meet their breastfeeding goals. 1. Breastfeeding Is Going Well Before Returning to Work One critical factor for success is having the parent be good at breastfeeding before they return to work. It is well established that breastfeeding becomes less labor-intensive (and generally easier) for most mothers at approximately 6–7 weeks (Mohrbacher & Kendall-Tackett, 2010). If breastfeeding isn’t going well or a mother goes back to work before 6–7 weeks, she is more likely to be unsuccessful with this transition. If a mother is struggling with pain, has a baby who doesn’t feed well at the breast, or her milk supply is low when she returns to work, she is doubly challenged from the get-go! Providing a plan to address these issues along with hope, accurate information, and support can help mothers continue breastfeeding even as they return to work. 2. Support From an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant The support and information that an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) can provide are critical for success. Many parents don’t have anyone in their lives who understands or cares about why they are even trying to continue to breastfeed and work. IBCLCs do care. They want them to achieve their breastfeeding/chestfeeding goals. Together, IBCLCs can help improve the low statistics on working and breastfeeding success. 3. Success at Milk Removals Another critical factor for success is how effectively the parent expresses their milk when separated from their baby. Most clients use a standard, personal-use, double-electric breast pump. However, not all pumps are created equal. Some work well, and some don’t work as well. Using a pump with adequate vacuum, different-sized breast shields (as necessary), and variable speeds will increase her chances of success. At the same time, if a pump has all these things and they is still not getting out their milk, IBCLCs have to get creative. Perhaps they need to try a different pump brand, rent a hospital-grade pump, use a hand pump, or hand express. Watching a parent pump is essential. Test the vacuum. Make sure their shields fit well. Many families are unaware that different-sized breast shields even exist. Positive associations to help them “Feel the Love” for their pump. Without an oxytocin release, parents are trying to pull the breast milk out of their bodies. With an oxytocin release, they are working in sync with their body. Their body is pushing the milk out of their breasts. This is much more effective. If the parent is having trouble “feeling the love,” suggest warm compresses, warm breast shields (Kent, Geddes, Hepworth, & Hartmann, 2011), and/or massage before pumping (Bolman & Witt, 2013; Bowles, 2011). They can also use “hands-on” pumping techniques to help get the breast if the milk is flowing (Morton, n.d.). Additionally, hand expression for a minute or two on each breast after pumping can support milk production (Morton et al., 2012). Some mothers find that visualizing their baby or their milk flowing helps. Others find that playing Candy Crush helps! There are some hypno-pumping visualization MP4 products out there. Have them practice pumping while getting a massage, eating chocolate, or watching their favorite comedy. It’s straight classical conditioning. Pair a condition with a response (think Pavlov’s dog). Clients can help train their bodies to have an oxytocin surge in response to their pumps. If a mother is having difficulties with her milk production, encourage her to blame her pump for lack of breast milk, not her body! If breast milk is not being removed effectively while she is separated from her baby, her supply will go down. 4. Supportive Child Care Working and breastfeeding success can also be at risk if the family’s child care provider does not value breast milk or the breastfeeding relationship with the baby. Overfeeding the baby while the parent is away is a common problem. The child care provider needs to understand that not all crying or fussiness is about food. They also need to know how to care for expressed breast/chest milk and how to bottle-feed a baby in a breastfeeding-friendly manner by pacing the bottle feed. It is now recommended that all infants be fed in this manner, not just breastfed infants, even when there is breast milk in the bottle. Pacing the feed helps the baby control his or her intake and prevents overeating, which may help prevent obesity in later life. 5. Avoid Overfeeding at Child Care The final stumbling block concerns overfeeding and subsequent reduced breastfeeding when families are reunited. When a baby has been overfed at child care, not only is it almost impossible to keep providing enough pumped breast milk for the baby, but the baby also doesn’t need to breastfeed as often from mom when they get back together. It is as if the baby is saying, “No thanks; I’m good! I had all my needed calories for day from my caregiver.” This does not hold true for all babies, but it does for many. Additionally, being away from one’s mother can be stressful and tiring. Babies can sometimes sleep longer at night because of this. Between not needing to nurse because of the calorie overload during child care and sleeping longer at night, mothers can end up breastfeeding far less than they were before returning to work. Suggesting that mothers pump before going to bed if their baby is scheduled to sleep at 8:00 p.m. and will not feed much during the night can help. This strategy appears to help improve their breast milk supply. Summary In Barbara’s clinical practice, she has found that these five factors can undermine a parent’s ability to continue breastfeeding/chestfeeding after they return to work. Again, breastfeeding not working well, the lack of information and support, milk removals not working well, lack of paced bottle feeding, and a parent’s daily milk removals reducing over time are the most common culprits that have been found to sabotage a mother’s success in meeting her breastfeeding goals when returning to work. Providing information about these issues may help families anticipate problems before they arise, or at least help them quickly identify when they are moving down a slippery slope, and can significantly increase their odds of having the breastfeeding/chestfeeding relationship they dreamed of before returning to work. The post All Things Breastfeeding Episode 105: Working and Breastfeeding Made Simple appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

    10 min

  5. 11/18/2025

    All Things Breastfeeding Episode 104: Updates on Exclusive Pumping

    Exclusive pumping? Why would some one do this? Barbara and Nancy discuss the latest research on exclusive pumping. They look at who is exclusive pumping and why. This has shifted in the past 2o years or so. It used to be that the majority of exclusive pumpers were pumping for their preterm babies while they go mature enough to directly nurse. Not true anymore. Some people choose to exclusively pump from the very beginning but the majority of exclusive pumpers end up exclusively pumping because they had problems with breast/chestfeeding that they couldn’t resolve. There is also new research that shows maybe our suggestions in the past aren’t as accurate as we thought they were. Listen to find out what the latest research says! Important references: Eden, C. (2024). Shifting the paradigm for establishing and maintaining milk production in the setting of mother/infant separation. Journal of Human Lactation, 40(4), 535-538. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39313928/ Hoban, R., Pei, Q., Medina Poeliniz, C., Golan Maor, Y., Walker, R. E., Meier, P. P., Monk, A., & Parker, L. A. (2025). Maternal complications of pregnancy and achievement of secretory activation and coming to volume in breast pump-dependent mothers of preterm infants. Breastfeeding Medicine, 20(7), 512-520. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40626629/ Levene, I., Fewtrell, M., Quigley, M. A., & O’Brien, F. (2024). The relationship of milk expression pattern and lactation outcomes after very premature birth: A cohort study. PLoS One, 19(7), e0307522. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39074108/ Mago-Shah, D. D., Athavale, K., Fisher, K., Heyward, E., Tanaka, D., & Cotten, C. M. (2023). Early pumping frequency and coming to volume for mother’s own milk feeding in hospitalized infants. Journal of Perinatology, 43(5), 629-634. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37037987/ Yuan, S., Wang, H., Xu, X., & Li, Q. (2025). A randomized control trial of early breast milk pumping interventions for mothers of moderately pretermi infants. Breastfeeding Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40768317/ The post All Things Breastfeeding Episode 104: Updates on Exclusive Pumping appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

    27 min

  6. 11/04/2025

    All Things Breastfeeding Episode 103: Finding Lactation Clinical Hours

    Are you looking to become an IBCLC and are having trouble finding clinical hours? Let Nancy and Barbara help! Deciding on which PATHWAY  The 3 exam eligibility pathways are open to individuals from a variety of backgrounds. Each person must decide which pathway will work best for them. For more info, go here: https://ibclc-commission.org/step-1-prepare-for-ibclc-certification/lactation-specific-clinical-experience/ Pathway 1 involves using appropriately supervised clinical experience obtained through paid employment or volunteer service as a health professional or mother support counselor. The kind of supervision that is considered appropriate depends upon the candidate’s professional background and scope of practice. Under Pathway 2 and Pathway 3, the candidate completes clinical practice in lactation care under the direct supervision of experienced IBCLCs. Individuals with no paid or volunteer experience in providing care to breastfeeding families or those who desire a more structured way of learning lactation care clinical skills may choose to follow one of these pathways. Pathway 1 Many candidates use clinical practice they have obtained through paid employment or volunteer service to qualify for the IBCLC certification exam. If you fall into one of the following categories, Pathway 1 is a reasonable choice to make. Your current work or volunteer service includes providing care to breastfeeding families. In the past 5 years, you worked or volunteered in a position in which you provided care to breastfeeding families. Employment or volunteer experience in a position in which you will provide care to breastfeeding families is something you can reasonably expect to obtain. Pathway 1 candidates must complete at least 1000 hours of clinical practice experience in lactation care that were accrued in the 5 years immediately prior to applying for the IBCLC certification exam. Clinical practice may be obtained through paid employment or volunteer service in a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, birthing centers, medical practices, public health departments and mother support counselor organizations. Appropriate supervision of your clinical practice in lactation care is required. Providing breastfeeding support to family and friends and/or in a setting without appropriate supervision may not be used to qualify for the IBCLC certification examination. For assistance in determining if you have sufficient clinical practice hours in lactation care to qualify through Pathway 1, use the Lactation Specific Clinical Practice Calculator found on this page. Pathway 2 We don’t have a lot of information on Pathway 2. Pathway 3 Individuals seeking qualification through Pathway 3 must have an approved Pathway 3 Plan on file with IBLCE. This mentorship plan must be developed according to the specifications found in https://ibclc-commission.org/ibclc-information/pathway-3-plan-guide/ and must be approved by IBLCE prior to beginning the mentorship. The first step toward qualification for the  IBCLC certification examination through Pathway 3 is to develop and submit a mentorship plan to IBLCE. Details about Pathway 3 Plan development can be found in https://ibclc-commission.org/ibclc-information/pathway-3-plan-guide/ Pathway 3 requires a minimum of 500 hours of clinical experience in lactation care that were directly supervised by experienced IBCLCs and accrued within the 5 years immediately prior to applying for the IBCLC certification examination. If you are considering Pathway 3, you must locate and contract with one or more IBCLCs. These IBCLCs will serve as your mentors and will provide the direct supervision of your clinical practice in lactation care. Listen to the podcast to find the best places to connect with others to obtain your clinical hours. The post All Things Breastfeeding Episode 103: Finding Lactation Clinical Hours appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

    23 min

  7. 10/07/2025

    All Things Breastfeeding Episode 102: Interview with Nancy Mohrbacher

    Barbara takes the time to sit down with her LactaLearning co-founder, Nancy Mohrbacher to discuss her journey in the field of lactation. Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA fell in love with breastfeeding while nursing her three sons, Carl, Peter, and Ben, who are now grown.  In 1982, before the lactation profession existed, she began working as a volunteer peer-supporter and found her passion: helping families meet their lactation goals. Board-certified as a lactation consultant in 1991, from 1993 to 2003 Nancy started and grew a large private lactation practice in the Chicago area, where she saw thousands of families. Since then, she’s worked for a major breast-pump company and a national corporate lactation program. Currently, Nancy speaks at events around the world and trains aspiring and recertifying lactation consultants online via LactaLearning.com. She also contracts with hospitals to help improve breastfeeding practices. Nancy’s mission is to simplify life for new families, many of whom–without realizing it–make breastfeeding more complicated than it needs to be. To accomplish this mission, Nancy develops innovative lactation education and tools. Her textbooks for lactation specialists, Breastfeeding Answers, Second Edition and its Pocket Guide, are used worldwide.  Her Natural Breastfeeding Professional Package provides digital resources for professionals for staff training and one-on-one work with families. Her books for parents include Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers, which she co-authored with Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Working and Breastfeeding Made Simple, and her tiny troubleshooting guide Breastfeeding Solutions: Quick Tips for the Most Common Nursing Challenges. Its companion Breastfeeding Solutions app is used worldwide and is available on the App Store and Google Play. Her YouTube channel is viewed by millions of families. In 2008 the International Lactation Consultant Association officially recognized Nancy’s contributions to the field of lactation by awarding her the designation FILCA, Fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association. Nancy was one of the first group of 16 to be recognized for their lifetime achievements in breastfeeding. You can follow Nancy on Facebook, Twitter (@BFReporter), Pinterest, and YouTube. If you work with breast/chestfeeding families and are passionate about lactation support OR you want to turn your passion for nursing into professional practice, check out LactaLearning.com and consider following us on social media! The post All Things Breastfeeding Episode 102: Interview with Nancy Mohrbacher appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

    34 min

  8. 09/09/2025

    All Things Breastfeeding Episode 101: Interview with Kathy Kendall-Tackett

    From Barbara Robertson: Barbara spent some time with Dr. Kathy Kendall-Tackett. She is a health psychologist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and the Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Praeclarus Press, a small press specializing in women’s health. Dr. Kendall-Tackett was the Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Lactation and is still the Editor-In-Chief for  Psychological Trauma. She is Fellow of the American Psychological Association in Health and Trauma Psychology, Past President of the APA Division of Trauma Psychology, and a member of the Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest. Dr. Kendall-Tackett specializes in women’s-health research including breastfeeding, depression, trauma, and health psychology. Her research interests include the psychoneuroimmunology of maternal depression and the lifetime health effects of trauma. Dr. Kendall-Tackett is Clinical Professor of Nursing at University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Dr. Kendall-Tackett has won several awards for her work including the 2016 Outstanding Service to the Field of Trauma Psychology Award from the American Psychological Association’s Division of Trauma Psychology, the 2011 Community Faculty Award from the Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University School of Medicine, and the 2011 John Kennell and Marshall Klaus Award for Excellence in Research from DONA International (with co-recipient, Thomas Hale). She has authored more than 400 articles or chapters, and is currently completing her 35th book, a social history of The Phantom of the Opera. Her most recent books include: Depression in New Mothers, 3rd Edition (2016, Routledge, in press), Psychology of Trauma 101 (2015), The Science of Mother-Infant Sleep (2014), and The Psychoneuroimmunology of Chronic Disease (2010). She is also co-author of the bestselling book, Breastfeeding Made Simple, 2nd Edition (2010). Her websites are UppityScienceChick.com, BreastfeedingMadeSimple.com, KathleenKendall-Tackett.com, and PraeclarusPress.com. If you work with breast/chestfeeding families and are passionate about lactation support OR you want to turn your passion for breast/chestfeeding into professional practice, check out LactaLearning.com and consider following us on social media! Instagram @lacta.learning Facebook LactaLearning The post All Things Breastfeeding Episode 101: Interview with Kathy Kendall-Tackett appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

    46 min
See All (99)

4.7
out of 5
69 Ratings

About

A Comprehensive, Professional Service for All of Your Breastfeeding Needs / Ann Arbor, MI

Information

You Might Also Like