BREASTFEEDING WITH CONFIDENCE | Pregnancy Tips, Postpartum Wellness, Milk Supply, Tongue Tie, Latch Pain

Can you breastfeed after breast cancer—even after a double mastectomy? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, I’m joined by my friend Emily, a birth worker and breast cancer survivor, to talk honestly about what breastfeeding can look like after cancer—and how a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) made it possible for her to nurse her babies at the breast. This conversation challenges the idea that breastfeeding is only about milk production. We talk about bonding, healing, hormones, and why breastfeeding still counts even when it doesn’t look the way you expected. If you’re a breast cancer survivor, supporting one, or working with mothers navigating complex breastfeeding situations, this episode is for you. And if you don't have breast cancer? This episode is still helpful for moms supplementing for low milk supply!  In This Episode, We Cover: Can you breastfeed after breast cancer or a double mastectomy? What a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) is and how it works Using an SNS with low or no milk supply Why breastfeeding is about more than milk Emotional healing and closure after cancer through nursing How long an SNS can be used  Practical tips for using a Supplemental Nursing System successfully Why breastfeeding after cancer still “counts” RESOURCES & PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS FREE 5 Breastfeeding Mistakes to Avoid  Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy  Supplementing for Breastfeeding Moms Mini Course  Book a Virtual Lactation Consultant  NEEDED. Nutritional Support (Bioavailable Supplements, Hydration & More) SAVE 20% ON YOUR FIRST ORDER!!!! Thank you to RESTORATIVE ROOTS for sponsoring this episode of the Breastfeeding with Confidence Podcast. Learn more about how RESTORATIVE ROOTS can help you thrive now: restorativeroots.com  

Were you told in the hospital that your breastfed baby lost “too much” weight and now you’re questioning everything?Newborn weight loss is one of the most misunderstood and fear-based decision points in early breastfeeding, and it’s where so many breastfeeding journeys are unintentionally derailed In this episode, IBCLC and mom of five Jaimie Zaki breaks down what newborn weight loss actually means, why hospitals often push formula so quickly, and how to make confident, informed decisions that protect both your baby and your breastfeeding goals so you can avoid unnecessary formula.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why newborn weight loss is biologically normal and expected How IV fluids during labor can artificially inflate birth weight Why the “10% weight loss rule” is often misunderstood and misused Why weight loss alone does not tell us if breastfeeding is working What should be assessed before recommending formula When supplementation may be helpful — and when it’s unnecessary How to supplement without sabotaging milk supply or breastfeeding confidence Why fear-based feeding decisions often create the very problems they claim to prevent RESOURCES & PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS FREE 5 Breastfeeding Mistakes to Avoid  Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy  Supplementing for Breastfeeding Moms Mini Course  Book a Virtual Lactation Consultant  NEEDED. Nutritional Support (Bioavailable Supplements, Hydration & More) SAVE 20% ON YOUR FIRST ORDER!!!! Thank you to RESTORATIVE ROOTS for sponsoring this episode of the Breastfeeding with Confidence Podcast. Learn more about how RESTORATIVE ROOTS can help you thrive now: restorativeroots.com

Did your lactation consultant, postpartum nurse, midwife, or pediatrician tell you your baby has a "good latch" so the breastfeeding pain you're experiencing is probably "normal" and you'll just have to wait for it to disappear?  What if I told you it doesn't matter what your baby's latch LOOKS like, if you're in pain?  In this episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, Jaimie Zaki, IBCLC (Lactation Consultant) and mom of 5, discusses what a good latch looks like, what a good latch FEELS like, and how to determine the root cause of painful breastfeeding.  Jaimie discusses oral function examinations, solutions for managing breastfeeding pain, and shares on-demand breastfeeding resources so you can transform your story today.  If you're ready to get answers and implement real solutions for breastfeeding pain, you're in the right place.  RESOURCES & PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS FREE 5 Breastfeeding Mistakes to Avoid  Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy  Supplementing for Breastfeeding Moms Mini Course  Book a Virtual Lactation Consultant  NEEDED. Nutritional Support (Bioavailable Supplements, Hydration & More) SAVE 20% ON YOUR FIRST ORDER!!!! Thank you to RESTORATIVE ROOTS for sponsoring this episode of the Breastfeeding with Confidence Podcast. Learn more about how RESTORATIVE ROOTS can help you thrive now: restorativeroots.com  

Christmas week can feel magical… and also incredibly overwhelming when you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, or navigating breastfeeding challenges. In this short and gentle check-in episode, Jaimie shares encouragement, emotional support, and simple ways to get the breastfeeding help you need without leaving home during the busy holiday season. Whether you’re anxiously waiting for your baby’s arrival or deep in the newborn trenches, this episode reminds you that you’re not alone — and you don’t have to “feel merry and bright” to be a good mom. Resources Mentioned  Free Guide: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Breastfeeding 👉 littlebearlactation.com/mistakes Need Breastfeeding Help? Book a Q&A session or lactation support call 👉 littlebearlactation.com/support  Pregnant? Download the guide, click “pregnant,” and unlock a free workshop + special offer for The Breastfeeding Academy

You’re Not Broken, You’re Postpartum: Redefining “Normal” in Early Motherhood What if the problem isn’t you… it’s the expectations you were handed about postpartum? In this powerful episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, Jaimie sits down with mom of six, birth worker, podcaster, and author Katherine Stephens to talk about her new book: You Are Not Broken, You Are Postpartum. If you’ve ever thought, “Why am I not handling this better?” or “Everyone else seems to be coping… what’s wrong with me?” — this conversation is for you. Katherine pulls back the curtain on what postpartum really feels like, from identity shifts to postpartum depression, from feeling isolated to realizing you were never meant to do this without a village. In this episode, we talk about: Why you feel “broken” postpartum (and why you’re not) How hormonal changes, birth trauma, lack of support, and sleep deprivation all collide and make you think you’re failing. The identity crisis of new motherhood Why you don’t “bounce back” to your old self — and how to start embracing the woman you’re becoming. The myth and reality of “it takes a village” What a true village used to look like, why so many moms don’t have one now, and practical ways to build support even if your family is far away. Asking for help without feeling like a failure Simple, practical ideas (like Catherine’s “power-up” exercise with your partner) to share the mental and physical load in postpartum. Postpartum depression vs. normal postpartum struggles Why feeling emotional does not automatically mean you’re broken — and when to seek extra support. RESOURCES FREE GUIDE: 5 Breastfeeding Mistakes to Avoid  Made for Birth Podcast with Katherine  Get your copy of "You're not broken, You're Postpartum"