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.

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.

• 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"

So many pregnant moms head into breastfeeding worried about low supply — especially when they hear “your baby is nursing constantly” or “you don’t have much colostrum.”

But here’s the truth (and what most moms are never told):

Frequent nursing + tiny amounts of colostrum = NORMAL. Your baby is doing exactly what tells your body to make more milk.

In today’s episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, we’re breaking down the real science behind milk supply in the first week — so you can walk into breastfeeding feeling calm, confident, and prepared.

✨ 1. When milk supply actually begins Lactogenesis II (your true milk “coming in”) only starts after the placenta separates. What you leak — or don’t leak — during pregnancy has nothing to do with how much milk you’ll make.

✨ 2. Colostrum is produced in tiny amounts Colostrum is thick, sticky, and intentionally low-volume. Your baby doesn’t need ounces — they need frequent nursing. And no, pumping “nothing” isn’t a sign of low supply.

✨ 3. Why frequent nursing is NORMAL, not a red flag Cluster feeding = your baby stimulating your supply exactly the way nature designed. Supplementing too early can disrupt the supply-and-demand cycle you’re trying to build.

We also touch on delayed milk coming in, retained placenta, postpartum hemorrhage, and how to protect your supply if birth complications arise. RESOURCES

Download the FREE 5 Breastfeeding Mistakes to Avoid Guide

Have you ever wondered about the benefits of breastfeeding beyond nutrition and immune health? We often talk about connection with breastfeeding, but here's what we don't talk about: The physical and developmental benefits of breastfeeding. The truth is breastfeeding is so much more than “no pain and good weight gain.”

In this episode of The Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, we dive into the mechanical and developmental benefits of breastfeeding — the things that go far beyond the nutrition in your milk.

Joining me today is Dr. Shereen Lim, an airway-focused dentist and author of Breathe, Sleep, Thrive. She breaks down how breastfeeding impacts your baby’s oral muscle development, jaw formation, airway growth, and even their long-term risk of sleep-disordered breathing.

If you’ve ever wondered why breastfeeding matters for more than just feeding — this episode will blow your mind (in the best way).

Dr. Lim explains how breastfeeding creates the ideal conditions for strengthening your baby’s tongue, expanding the palate, shaping the jaws, and supporting proper airway growth — things bottles simply cannot mimic.

We discuss:

• Why tongue ties are more than “just a latch issue”

• How poor oral mechanics can still exist even when baby is gaining weight

• Early red flags like aerophagia (air intake), reflux-like symptoms, and compensatory swallowing

• Why early oral dysfunction is often the first sign of airway issues later

Your baby’s ability to breathe well at night is directly connected to:

• Jaw growth

• Palate width

• Tongue tone and posture

• Nasal vs. mouth breathing habits

Dr. Lim explains how early feeding mechanics shape the airway and why addressing issues early can prevent years of sleep and behavioral struggles.

We unpack how:

• The breast requires suction, jaw movement, tongue elevation, and coordinated suck-swallow-breathe

• Bottles rely on totally different muscles and can contribute to low tongue posture and mouth breathing

• You can optimize bottle-feeding when breastfeeding isn’t fully possible

This is not about guilt — it’s about helping moms make informed, confident decisions.

Many babies who struggle at the breast eventually show:

• Gagging

• Pocketing food

• Swallowing chunks whole

• Refusing solids

• Difficulty chewing

Dr. Lim explains why these signs often trace back to early oral dysfunction.

Breastfeeding trouble is often the earliest indicator of:

• Oral dysfunction

• Airway restriction

• Poor tongue posture

• Later sleep-disordered breathing

• Challenges with speech, chewing, and facial development

RESOURCES:

• Get the FREE 5 Mistakes that Sabotage Breastfeeding Guide
• Connect with Dr. Shereen Lim Here

Topics Covered: breastfeeding oral development, airway focused dentist, tongue tie breastfeeding, infant oral dysfunction, jaw development breastfeeding, palate development breastfeeding, nasal breathing baby, sleep disordered breathing infant, bottle feeding vs breastfeeding mechanics, breastfeeding latch problems, breastfeeding and airway health, early tongue tie signs, breastfeeding reflux symptoms, infant airway development, breastfeeding jaw growth, lactation consultant airway, mechanical benefits of breastfeeding

If you care about autonomy, informed consent, and saying no to pressure in pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding, this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation, I’m joined by doula and Holistic Pregnancy Podcast host, Taylor Shaffer, to unpack what real informed consent actually looks like (and why those hospital “consent forms” usually aren’t it).

We walk through the BRAIN method—Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, and doing Nothing—so you can use it to make confident decisions about:

• Prenatal tests

• Inductions (especially in the busy holiday season)

• Epidurals and birth interventions

• Newborn procedures

• Tongue tie releases

• Formula “top offs” and early breastfeeding decisions

Whether you’re still pregnant or already holding your baby, this episode will help you recognize coercive language, spot red flags, and stand firm in your right to say no—in the hospital, at home, and in the postpartum/breastfeeding trenches.

You are not a “difficult patient.” You are a mother making informed, intentional choices for your body and your baby.

• What informed consent really means (and why signing a hospital form is not the same thing)

• The difference between liability-focused consent forms and true autonomy-centered informed consent

• How to use the BRAIN method in real conversations with providers:

  • Benefits

  • Risks

  • Alternatives

  • Intuition

  • doing Nothing / waiting

• Red flags that your provider is not giving you full informed consent:

• How to tell the difference between a real emergency and “manufactured urgency”

• Why it is never too late to switch providers—even late in pregnancy

• How informed consent continues into postpartum and breastfeeding, not just birth

• What informed consent looks like when:

  • Nurses are “helping” with latch in the hospital

  • You’re being pressured to supplement with formula

  • Someone says your baby is tongue tied and you “need a release”

• Why you need a breastfeeding plan (not just a birth plan)

• The role of doulas, IBCLCs, and holistic practitioners in supporting autonomy-centered care

FREE Breastfeeding Mistakes Guide - DOWNLOAD NOW

Access the Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy for step-by-step guidance on protecting your milk supply, managing common breastfeeding struggles, and getting a pain-free latch: Nested and Nourished

Topics Covered in this episode:

informed consent pregnancy, informed consent birth, informed consent breastfeeding, BRAIN method birth, birth autonomy, pregnancy autonomy, natural birth informed consent, physiologic birth support, how to say no to interventions in labor, induction pressure holidays, informed consent tongue tie, tongue tie release informed consent, breastfeeding informed consent hospital, breastfeeding plan vs birth plan, advocacy in pregnancy and birth, holistic pregnancy podcast

Protecting Your Milk Supply During the Holidays: Breastfeeding Tips for Thanksgiving

In this episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, Jaimie Zaki, IBCLC and mom of five, shares essential tips for maintaining milk supply and avoiding common breastfeeding challenges during the holidays. Thanksgiving and other holiday gatherings can be joyful but overwhelming, and it’s common for breastfeeding moms to experience clogged ducts, mastitis, or temporary dips in milk supply due to skipped feeds or stress.

Jaimie busts popular myths, including concerns that herbs in holiday meals or moderate alcohol consumption can tank your milk supply, and offers practical strategies to keep both you and your baby comfortable and fed. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, prioritizing feeds, resting, babywearing, and setting boundaries to protect your milk supply and enjoy your holiday safely.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Common holiday myths about breastfeeding and milk supply

• How to prevent clogged ducts and mastitis during busy family gatherings

• Tips for feeding your baby while staying part of holiday festivities

• Using babywearing to keep your baby close and avoid missed feeds

• Strategies for prioritizing rest and self-care while postpartum

• How to navigate family dynamics and accept help without guilt

• Practical reminders for maintaining milk supply, even with a hectic holiday schedule

Resources & Links:

Episode on Breastfeeding & Alcohol LISTEN HERE

FREE Breastfeeding Mistakes Guide - DOWNLOAD NOW

Access the Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy for step-by-step guidance on protecting your milk supply, managing common breastfeeding struggles, and getting a pain-free latch: littlebearlactation.com/library (use code PODCAST50for a discount)

Colic Isn’t “A Thing”: Understanding Why Your Baby Cries and What You Can Do

In this episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, host Jaimie Zaki, IBCLC and mom of five, tackles a common myth: colic isn’t just a thing. Many parents hear that their baby has colic and feel helpless, but crying is always communication — not a diagnosis.

Jaimie explains why labeling a baby as “colicky” can be misleading, and why persistent crying often signals underlying issues like sensory overload, sleep challenges, reflux, digestive discomfort, tongue tie, oral dysfunction, or inefficient milk transfer. She emphasizes that colic is rarely the problem itself — it’s a sign that something needs to be addressed.

This episode provides practical guidance for decoding your baby’s cries, optimizing feeding efficiency, and using nervous system regulation techniques like skin-to-skin, gentle rocking, and bodywork. Jaimie also shares insights on avoiding ineffective remedies and focusing on root causes, empowering parents to respond confidently and effectively.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why colic isn’t a real diagnosis and what it really means

• Common underlying causes of persistent crying in babies

• How inefficient milk transfer or oral dysfunction can lead to fussiness

• Practical strategies to soothe and support your baby

• Tools for nervous system regulation: skin-to-skin, gentle rocking, and more

• How to track patterns to identify underlying issues

• When to seek professional support to address persistent feeding or crying challenges

Resources & Links:

👉FREE Breastfeeding Mistakes Guide - DOWNLOAD NOW

👉Access the Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy for step-by-step guidance on protecting your milk supply, managing common breastfeeding struggles, and getting a pain-free latch: Book a 20-minute Q&A session with Jaimie for personalized support

In this heartfelt episode of the Breastfeeding with Confidence Podcast, host Jamie Zaki, IBCLC and mom of five, sits down with Vanessa, a Licensed Professional Counseling Student and Lactation Counselor, to talk about the emotional side of breastfeeding that so many mothers struggle with but few actually discuss out loud.

Together, they dive deep into postpartum depression, unresolved mother wounds, and the grief that can come when breastfeeding doesn’t go as planned. Vanessa shares her own journey through the intersection of motherhood and mental health, reminding moms that breastfeeding doesn’t have to be bad for your mental health—but the key is education, support, and self-compassion.

• How birth interventions and early postpartum experiences shape both breastfeeding success and mental wellbeing

• The emotional layers of breastfeeding grief and how to process them

• How social media and cultural expectations add pressure to new moms

• The connection between unhealed mother wounds and the way we show up as mothers

• Practical ways to protect your mental health while breastfeeding

• Why being “birth to breastfeeding educated” before birth can transform your experience

Vanessa is a Licensed Professional Counseling Student and Lactation Counseling student passionate about helping mothers navigate the complex intersection of mental health and breastfeeding. Through her online platform @MilkandMentalHealth, she shares education, emotional support, and compassionate truth-telling to empower moms to nurture both their babies and themselves.

• Learn more or join Vanessa’s Birth to Boob community: https://birthtoboob.my.canva.site/joinbtb

• Follow Vanessa on Instagram: @milkandmentalhealth | @birthtoboob

• Get the FREE 5 Mistakes that Sabotage Breastfeeding Guide

• rate, review, and share this episode with a mama who needs to hear that she’s not alone—and that it’s possible to breastfeed and protect your mental health.