How to Become an IBCLC: A Rough Guide to Earning Lactation Care's Highest Credential & My Own Journey to Test Day

"He's Eating All The Time, TRUST ME" (Small Babies, NICU + PICU Experiences, and Doula Life with Malorie Melson)

This week on Supportive Breast Friend, I’m chatting with birth doula and mom of two, Malorie Melson, about the feeding experiences that changed the course of her motherhood journey...and eventually led her to support other families through birth and postpartum. We get into the reality of breastfeeding through medical challenges, the moments that tested her confidence, and the lessons she learned along the way. We also talk about trusting your instincts, tuning out the noise, and making feeding decisions that work for your family, not the internet's. It's an honest conversation about resilience, motherhood, and finding your way when things don't go according to plan. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of the interviews or feeding info, and if you enjoy the show, please rate, review, and share. Every interaction helps more parents find Supportive Breast Friend and the support that comes with it. Malorie's Contact Info: Instagram - @mydoulaco [https://www.instagram.com/mydoulaco/] Website - mydoulaco.com [https://mydoulaco.com/] Host Contact Info: Instagram- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@supportivebreastfriend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/supportivebreastfriend/] Email- shelby.lactation@outlook.com Talk soon, Breasties! Keywords: breastfeeding, birth doula, medical challenges, trusting moms, postpartum support, Houston birth centers, NICU experiences, feeding stories, mom support, birth education

Breast Gymnastics: Why I Won't Shut Up About Them

Listen in today for a mini episode all about BREAST GYMNASTICS! Learn everything you ever wanted to know about my favorite breastfeeding tool. You'll also hear from my 3 year old in this episode...summer is gonna be fun, guys. Have more questions? Send me a DM (@supportivebreastfriend on IG) or an email (shelby.lactation@outlook.com), I would truly love to talk about this more. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of the interviews or feeding info, and if you enjoy the show, please rate, review, and share. Every interaction helps more parents find Supportive Breast Friend and the support that comes with it. Host Contact Info: Instagram- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@supportivebreastfriend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/supportivebreastfriend/] Email- shelby.lactation@outlook.com Talk soon, Breasties!

I'll Just Call It GSL: Understanding Genitourinary Syndrome of Lactation with Margaret Archer, DPT

Ever felt something's wrong postpartum but couldn't put your finger on it? This week I'm welcoming Margaret Archer back to the pod to break down something that many women experience, but often don't discuss with their healthcare providers...Genitourinary Syndrome of Lactation. Genitourinary syndrome of lactation (GSL) affects many women, yet few know about it. It’s not just about breastfeeding; it’s about how our bodies change postpartum. Lower estrogen levels can lead to urinary urgency, discomfort, and even pain during intimacy. Understanding GSL can empower you to seek help and talk openly with your providers and even your partner (because, let's be honest, this stuff is tough to talk about). It’s crucial to recognize that these feelings are common, and they don’t have to be permanent! Listen in for more...this conversation could change your postpartum journey. If you'd like to connect with Margaret, or learn more about her pelvic floor physical therapy practice, check her out on instagram ⁠@arrowphysiohtx⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/arrowphysiohtx/] or her website ⁠arrow-physio.com⁠ [https://arrow-physio.com/]. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of the interviews or feeding info, and if you enjoy the show, please rate, review, and share. Every interaction helps more parents find Supportive Breast Friend and the support that comes with it. Host Contact Info: Instagram- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@supportivebreastfriend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/supportivebreastfriend/] Email- shelby.lactation@outlook.com Talk soon, breasties!

Motherhood is a Process: Exploring Matrescence with Jenaveve Linabary of A Mama Friend

This week, I’m chatting with matrescence coach Jenaveve Linabary about what matrescence is and how feeding can impact this process in ways we don’t always expect. We talk about the pressure so many moms feel around feeding, how easy it is to tie our worth to how things are going, the influence of social media, and what it actually looks like to move through early motherhood with more support and self-compassion. We also share personal stories and honest reflections about the messy, complicated, beautiful parts of becoming a mother. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unsure of yourself, or like everyone else was handling motherhood “better” than you, this conversation is for you. Connect with Jenaveve: -A Mama Friend [https://amamafriend.com/about] -You Didn't Expect This (free resource) [https://amamafriend.com/resources] -A Kind Inner Voice [https://amamafriend.com/kind-inner-voice] -Instagram (@amamafriend) [https://www.instagram.com/amamafriend] Host Contact Info: Instagram- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@supportivebreastfriend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/supportivebreastfriend/] Email- shelby.lactation@outlook.com Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of the interviews or feeding info, and if you enjoy the show, please rate, review, and share. Every interaction helps more parents find Supportive Breast Friend and the support that comes with it. Chat soon, breasties!

Pod Prep Brain Dump!!!

Hey Breasties, yesterday I did my second guest appearance on a podcast and was feeling VERY nervous about it beforehand...so naturally, I popped a mic on my shirt and recorded my stream of thoughts as I reviewed potential talking points for the interview! Everyone does that, right? Listen in as I tidy up my recording space and flush out some thoughts on things like prenatal education + support (and why they must go hand-in-hand), navigating the identity shift associated with becoming a mom and feeding our babies, how to help moms feel confident in their choices, what led to me becoming a lactation consultant, and what goes into becoming an IBCLC. I'm now on the other side of the interview and I think it went well?? Aside from me losing my train of thought and interrupting the guests a few times (blaming that on excitement, feeding babies and supporting their moms is truly thrilling to me)...I'm very excited to hear the published version soon. This season of growing and figuring out what's next is a lil scary, but mostly very exciting and fun. Thanks for being here for the ride, breasties. Host Contact Info: Instagram- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@supportivebreastfriend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/supportivebreastfriend/] Email- shelby.lactation@outlook.com (you're not imagining things, I got a new email...this updated one feels like it can grow with me more long term) Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of the interviews or feeding info, and if you enjoy the show, please rate, review, and share. Every interaction helps more parents find Supportive Breast Friend and the support that comes with it. Have questions or thoughts? Lemme hear them! Send me a DM ⁠⁠⁠@supportivebreastfriend⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/supportivebreastfriend/] on IG or an email to shelby.lactation@outlook.com. Chat soon, breasties!