Peaceful Roots Lactation

Tell me something we don’t already know 👂

The theory I’m running with is this..

We already put a lot of energy on individual and clinical breastfeeding support, hello, IBCLCs 🫶, yet we’re still seeing a huge drop between breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months.

86% initiate. About 30% make it to 6 months exclusively. 🤢

Longer paid leave may make continued exclusive breastfeeding more achievable.

A 2024 review found that longer maternity leave was consistently associated with longer breastfeeding duration, while earlier return to work was associated with lower odds of meeting breastfeeding recommendations. 👀

That doesn’t mean paid leave is the reason families stop breastfeeding.

But if 6 month exclusive breastfeeding rates are much lower than initiation rates, how much attention should we be giving to the conditions families are expected to breastfeed within?

What do you think most affects breastfeeding continuation after those first few weeks?

Source:
CDC National Immunization Survey–Child

Wicklund et al., 2024, Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Suddenly, every sound, movement, and ceiling fan is more interesting than nursing. 👀😂

Distracted nursing is common as babies become alert and curious about the world around them. It doesn’t necessarily mean your baby is weaning or that something is wrong.

It may look like popping on and off, shorter feeds, latching briefly and smiling, pulling the ni**le with their head, turns towards sounds, movement, pets or eating more frequently when sleepy or overnight…

Lots of families notice this around 3-6 months though it may come and go throughout the first year. 🫠

If nursing has changed suddenly like your baby is consistently refusing feeds, diaper output has decreased, or you are concerned about milk intake or growth, reach out to your pediatrician or IBCLC.

Is your baby going through distracted nursing or have they? What helped?

✨New Education

The Partner’s Guide to Breastfeeding Support is a short, practical course designed to help partners understand how to support breastfeeding with more confidence.

Inside, we cover what breastfeeding can look like in the early days, how partners can offer practical and emotional support, how to recognize when extra help may be needed, and simple ways to work together as a team.

Partners don’t need to know everything about breastfeeding.. they just need to know how to show up well.

Learn more about the Partner’s Guide to Breastfeeding Support by checking the education tab on
Peaceful Roots Lactation.com

Returning to work shouldn’t have to mean choosing between your job and your feeding goals. 🤍

This week is Workplace Lactation Week.. a reminder that breastfeeding and pumping support doesn’t end when parental leave ends.

For many families, returning to work means figuring out pumping schedules, milk storage, childcare logistics, changing feeding patterns and how to fit all of that into a workday.

Supportive workplaces can make an huge difference and that means more than just having a place to pump.

It means adequate break time.
A private, functional space.
Supportive leadership.
Realistic expectations.
And a workplace culture where expressing milk is treated as a normal part of work life.

Supporting lactation at work supports families, employees, and babies.

If returning to work is part of your feeding journey, planning ahead can make the transition feel much more manageable. At Peaceful Roots Lactation we can help you create a pumping and feeding plan that fits your life.

Check out the returning to work freebie on our website!

Breastfeeding is personal but the ability to reach our feeding goals is also shaped by access, representation, healthcare experiences, family support, workplace policies, and the systems surrounding us.

Black families have faced generations of inequities in maternal and infant health, including barriers to responsive breastfeeding and lactation support.

Black Breastfeeding Week creates space to celebrate Black families, amplify Black voices, and continue working toward a future where every parent has access to the support they deserve.

This week and every week we celebrate Black parents, babies, families, birth workers, lactation professionals, and advocates helping build a stronger system of support.