by Tchala Pierre Reid | Oct 8, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
I recently heard it said it takes 22-24 good feedings from the breast to help colostrum transition to mature milk (about three days worth of feedings). A good feeding means a pain free latch (tenderness is normal, stabbing pain is not), the nipple comes out of baby’s... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Oct 1, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
The placenta often referred to as the tree of life (see placenta art online) is indeed the baby’s source of nourishment and also carries away metabolic waste products. The placenta is an organ that is grown to support a pregnancy hormonally, nutritionally and... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Sep 24, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
“What causes linea nigra during pregnancy? Pregnancy hormones are behind the appearance of the linea nigra (Latin for “black line”). The condition is the darkening of your linea alba, the “white” or “colorless line” of skin you’d probably never... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Sep 17, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Babies BREASTfeed, not NIPPLEfeed. As long as baby can pull enough of your breast into their mouth (baby’s mouth and gums should bypass the nipple entirely and latch on to the areola), most flat or inverted nipples shouldn’t interfere with breastfeeding. Some flat or... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Sep 10, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
“I stubbed my toe yesterday and I automatically began to breathe slowly, long and hard, with almost in audible ‘ahhhhhhh’ which then changed to a ‘oooooh’ and another long, slow deep breath while I silently mutter ‘fuuuuuuuuuuuk’ followed by a high pitched ‘eeeeeee’... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Sep 3, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Surveillance of U.S. breastfeeding duration and exclusivity is well documented. These estimates consistently show that non-Hispanic Black babies are less likely to breastfeed, compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Black-white disparities in breastfeeding duration... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Aug 27, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Lets talk about pain relief in labor. This is a discussion that will not fit into one post, so we will talk about it in stages. Today we are gonna talk about your mind and pain. There is a difference between pain and suffering. Contractions are on average 60 seconds... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Aug 20, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Though the pandemic hasn’t officially ended yet, many families are transitioning to life post lock down. For many, that means returning to the classroom – whether virtual or otherwise. Here are 13 ways to help your kids (and the whole family) transition back to... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Aug 13, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Whether it’s 3, 5, or 10% of the population, there are people that struggle to or never make a full milk supply. From 1 month to 1 year, exclusively breastfed babies average 25 oz of breast milk per day. True low supply means making less than this when the breasts are... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Aug 6, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Babies mouths have two areas: the hard, bony palate up front and the soft palate at the back, just in front of where that little hangy downy uvula is. One of the reasons a nipple erects, averts, and stretches is to help to get it in the safe zone where the... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Jul 30, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
The Ring of Fire- The ring of fire is not to be feared. It is to be welcomed and embraced. When you feel the ring of fire, do you know what it means? It means you are at the end! You are moments away from the finish line! You are a few pushes away from holding your... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Jul 23, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Can you drink alcohol while breastfeeding? YES! Have your glass of wine or your martini! According to the CDC, moderate alcohol consumption (1-2 standard drinks) is not known to be harmful to baby. There is no need to pump & dump milk after drinking alcohol, other... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Jul 16, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Epidurals are not the bad guy, it’s in the how we use them that needs to change. I am a home birth Midwife and in my world epidurals are demonized to the point of pregnant people refusing them when they might be the best solution for intense pain that leads to... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Jul 9, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
The breast is magical. Did you know breasts can lactate even if the person has never been pregnant? It is possible for same sex partners or adoptive parents to induce lactation to feed their babies, even if they did not physically carry the baby in their womb. Its... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Jul 2, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Stripping or sweeping the membranes is a physically invasive intervention commonly practiced in most prenatal care settings. But don’t get me wrong I don’t hate it, I just need you to understand what it is and decide if you are interested in it. I don’t usually get... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Jun 25, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Breastfeeding with wet nurses in the 18th century was a common occurrence. There were many reasons to wet nurse: white women claimed breastfeeding was too time consuming, it was often considered uncultured, or they argued that it ruined their figures. Sometimes they... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Jun 15, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Surveillance of U.S. breastfeeding duration and exclusivity is well documented. These estimates consistently show that non-Hispanic Black babies are less likely to breastfeed, compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Black-white disparities in breastfeeding duration... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Jun 8, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Black women in the United States experience unacceptably poor maternal health outcomes, including disproportionately high rates of death related to pregnancy or childbirth. In 2015, more than 26 deaths were recorded per 100,000 pregnant people. This means that... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | Jun 4, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Today we talk about En-Caul birth. Did you know that less than 1 in 80,000 babies are born with a caul? En caul or “Call” babies are born with the amniotic sac still intact around the baby. These babies are considered “caul bearers” and are very special, and have... 
by Tchala Pierre Reid | May 27, 2020 | Blog, Thoughts, Uncategorized
Title: 5 ways to boost your immune system during Covid19 Wondering how you can better support your immune system? While there’s no approved treatment or cure for Covid-19, there are things you can do to boost your immune IQ/resiliency. Dr. Bryant Esquejo, N.D talks... 