The Longest Shortest Time

Ask a Lactation Consultant

Save the Date: Breastfeeding Google Hangout
On Tuesday, June 17 at 3pm EST, we will be hosting a Google Hangout on the topic of your boobs and what is up with them. We hope you will be able to tune in for the live feed, but if you can’t, don’t fear! The video will be archived right here on this website. Read more about the hangout here. Whether or not you can participate live, please …

Submit Your Breastfeeding Questions
Like we said, this hangout is about YOUR boobs, so it will only work if we get YOUR questions! To enter a question for consideration, just leave it in the comments below. And make ’em good! We’ll be choosing one lucky listener to join us live, on video, in the hangout.

Who Will Be Fielding the Questions?
The fabulous board certified lactation consultant Nancy Holtzman will be our expert. Nancy has 25 years experience helping lactating moms through all the boob problems you could possibly imagine, and even ones you can’t. She was a founder of Isis Parenting, which sadly shut it doors earlier this year. Check out the breastfeeding and sleep webinars Nancy gave through Isis—and her amazing breastfeeding triage via Twitter—and you’ll see why we thought she was the perfect person to join us for our hangout.

I asked Nancy to answer a few questions of my own, to give you an idea of her approach to lactation consulting. I think you’ll be pleased to see, anything goes with her when it comes to questions (she even likes to be stumped!). So ask away!

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Q&A with Nancy Holtzman

What do you think of the phrase breast is best?
Nancy: Breast is best is a quick and easy catchphrase but it’s a bit problematic. It can come off sounding very judgmental. Every parent aspires to “best,” but we all know that often “best” isn’t achievable, affordable, or even necessary, so we settle for “good enough.” So, no, I don’t use that phrase, personally.

Have you ever been stumped by a breastfeeding question?
Nancy: Oh my gosh, YES! In fact, I love playing stump the LC because that’s how I learn! So many breastfeeding situations are ambiguous or require some trial and error or process of elimination. Most of the questions that stump me encourage me to research and learn more in depth about specific medications, medical procedures, related illnesses (maternal or infant related) and so on. How boring (and pompous) if you think you know all there is to learn about a topic!

You were recently a guest at MIT’s “Make the Breastpump Not Suck” Hackathon. Why hack a pump?
Nancy: Oh, this was an amazing opportunity (You can see some photos here. It was like all my lacto-geek fantasies rolled into one. There were about 30 truly brilliant young engineers, inventors, software developers, materials experts and so on, who had gathered due to an interest in improving both the breastpump and the user experience. All sorts of brainstorming occurred, from tinkering with existing pumps on the market, to re-imagining entirely new ways to improve function, and providing feedback to the woman during or after her pumping session.

Why do you choose to spend all day talking about nipples and poop?
Nancy: Well, I do actually talk about a few more things than nipples and poop, but I think many new moms appreciate having someone they can talk to in detail about their baby’s poop. The most common questions I’m asked tend to be about gas, poop, baby behaviors and breastfeeding concerns. (I have a saying, “All babies are gassier than the average baby. Do the math!”) I also have a strong interest in infant development, feeding, sleep, new parent adjustment, partner relationships, the return to work—basically anything and everything mom and baby related, and I write, speak and teach on all of those areas quite a bit.

What do you tell moms who tried their darndest to breastfeed and wound up not being able to do it?
Nancy: “Good job, mom. What a lucky baby to have a mom who cares so much about him. Your baby benefited from each ounce of breastmilk he received, and he’ll continue to grow and thrive in your arms and from your love and attention.”

There are many reasons why breastfeeding sometimes doesn’t work and we can’t know all the details and nuances of a particular mother’s situation. It’s easy to second-guess (moms often hear “Did you try this? Did you try that?”), but in my experience, moms do the best they can with the information and resources they have at the time. Unless mom is specifically asking for information about what may have caused her issues, IMO the best thing to do is acknowledge all her efforts and hard work, and help her feel good about all that she was able to achieve, and then look ahead. There are many more weeks, months, years ahead of holding, feeding, nurturing, loving.

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Still haven’t submitted a question for Nancy? The comments are calling to you. Go for it!