Most families in the US do some form of combination feeding, using bottles and frequently breast pumps. The sheer volume of new pumps, bottles, and other feeding supplies is enough to overwhelm most IBCLC's. To stay current on new equipment means either many hours researching, or taking a course from someone who did all the research and work already. Jeanette Mesite Frem is known in the world of lactation to be that person. Jeanette has spent years specializing in all things pumping and bottle feeding, has nearly every breast pump and bottle, and can explain all the pros and cons of each! Listen as Katie Oshita and Jeanette Mesite Frem discuss Jeanett'es deep dive into pumping, her soon-to-be-released study on flange fitting, and what the FITS acronym means in the lactation world.

Podcast guest: Jeanette Mesite Frem, MHS, IBCLC, RLC, CCE is an experienced childbirth educator, IBCLC-lactation consultant and retired birth doula. She started her career working with families while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa in the early 90s. She loved that work so much she went on to receive a public health masters degree from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, focusing her studies on nutrition for maternal and child health. Her two children were breastfed for more than 2 years each and Jeanette has experience pumping at work for both children and has supported thousands of families with feeding and pumping over the last 20 years.

Jeanette provides prenatal childbirth and breastfeeding classes at her office in Northborough, Massachusetts, as well as providing virtual and office feeding consultations. She also enjoys leading workshops and speaking at conferences for lactation and perinatal health professionals and mentoring those who work with families. If you have questions, feel free to email jeanette@babiesincommon.com.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

Every professional specializes overtime. Sometimes it's an instant pull and choice, other times it's a slow process where you learn more and more about an area and become an expert about it. For Amber Ginn, it was much more instantaneous. As a teen mother, Amber Ginn is acutely aware of the challenges and special needs supporting a teen mother with feeding her baby. In this episode, Katie and Amber discuss challenging parts of supporting these parents- from insurance/Medicaid hurdles to empowering teen parents to make their own feeding choices instead of being told what to do. Listen here to learn more about supporting teen and young parents.

Podcast Guest: Amber Ginn, IBCLC, IYCFS. Amber is based in the Triad of N and has been supporting families since 2019. Amber takes a whole-woman view of the mama she works with and supports them in meeting whatever their breastfeeding goals may be. Amber had my first child as a teen, and as such developed a keen interest in all things birth and breastfeeding. After a semester of nursing school out of high school, Amber decided the allopathic medical system was not a place she wanted to be. Amber studied to become a doula and breastfeeding counselor and moved to Puerto Rico for a year. During her time in Puerto Rico, she studied via pathway 3 to become an IBCLC. Amber worked full-time with a nonprofit providing breastfeeding support and worked with hundreds of amazing families. After returning to the states and settling back in the Triad, Amber started my private practice with the focus on holistic and ancestral health. Amber believe all mamas can meet their goals when provided with support and empowered with information. Amber offers in-home visits in the Triad and virtual visits to mamas across the US and accepts insurance as well. For teen mamas, Amber works on a sliding scale to make care as accessible as possible. Mamas can reach me via my socials @nourishedrootslactation or via my website.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

In this episode Katie Oshita discusses some of the healing and holistic modalities that she is learning through the Holistic Lactation residency course she is taking. Comparing and contrasting allopathic/mainstream "normal" interventions such as antibiotics, swaddling, pacifiers, formula, bottles and prescription medications with natural/holistic options such as homeopathy and cell salts, EFT, home remedies and herbs Katie discusses how these choices effect our wellness. Stop living just surviving and seek out true wellness, to thrive.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com