Everything you need to know about feeding your newborn (with The Baby Feeding Experts)
5/4/20261 hr 33 min
This week on Two Parents & A Podcast, we're joined by Kyla and Courtney (SLPs & IBCLCs) from Baby Feeding Experts for the feeding episode we NEEDED before the birth of baby #2. We sat down with them the week before I got induced with Rocky, so this one is extremely relevant for anyone preparing to feed a newborn (and full transparency, I came in with a LONG list of questions to try to improve on the feeding experience I had the first time). We start with my feeding journey with Tate and how round 2 is shaping up so far (planning for 80/20 this time!), why Kyla & Courtney want to officially retire "fed is best" AND "breast is best" (their take on "support + education is best" is going to make so much sense to you), how to set realistic feeding goals before baby arrives, and the MOST INTERESTING thing we learned (did you know you should measure your nipples?? because apparently 90% of women are NOT a 24mm and this completely blew my mind). Then we break the rest of the episode into three buckets so you can skip to whatever applies to you: 🤱 IF YOU WANT TO BREASTFEED: How to prep before birth, why the first 2 hours after birth set the foundation for your entire supply, how partners can actually be helpful (s/o Dada), the most common issues in the first few weeks, building your supply from day one, weight gain in breastfed babies, perceived vs. actual low milk supply, and whether diet & hydration ACTUALLY moves the needle. 🍼 IF YOU WANT TO COMBO FEED: Who's a good candidate, the biggest mistakes parents make (going too fast is #1!!), how to actually combo feed, plus pumping vs. nursing and tips for managing nipple biting and D-MER (yes, the thing I had with Tate that I'm hoping to avoid this time). 👶 IF YOU WANT TO FORMULA FEED: A little known fact (75% of babies will have formula before 6 months!!), what to think about before deciding to exclusively formula feed, how to choose the right formula for you, and the kind of support available for formula feeding moms (yes, even from lactation consultants!). Plus, the truth about tongue ties & lip ties (which has become SUCH a hot topic on the internet) and where to find Kyla & Courtney for more support. I learned SO much from this conversation and I genuinely think every expecting mom (or current mom!!) should listen. Send this to a friend who's pregnant!! LOVE YOU GUYS! Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Two Parents & A Podcast! 00:01:40 Meet Kyla & Courtney (SLPs, IBCLCs & Founders of Baby Feeding Experts) 00:08:26 Alex's feeding journey with Tate (and her goals for Rocky) 00:13:12 Why we should retire "fed is best" and "breast is best" (support + education is best!) 00:16:00 What are realistic feeding goals to set before baby arrives? 00:18:10 The MOST important thing to do before pumping If mom wants to breastfeed… 00:23:52 How can moms prepare for breastfeeding before birth? (+ why the first 2 hours after birth matter so much!) 00:30:56 How can partners prepare to support before & during birth? 00:34:57 The most common breastfeeding issues in the first few weeks 00:37:08 How can a mom build her milk supply from day one? 00:40:28 Understanding weight gain in breastfed babies 00:42:43 How do you know if your milk supply is actually low? (perceived vs. real) 00:49:01 Does diet & hydration ACTUALLY impact milk supply? If mom wants to combo feed… 00:51:18 Who is a good candidate for combo feeding? 00:54:21 The biggest mistakes parents make when starting combo feeding 00:56:21 How to actually combo feed (mixing milk, timing, etc.) 00:58:54 Pumping vs. nursing — is there really a difference? 01:01:23 Tips for managing nipple biting 01:04:55 Tips for managing D-MER If mom wants to formula feed… 01:11:36 What should moms think about before deciding to exclusively formula feed? 01:16:43 What kind of support is available for formula feeding moms? 01:20:09 The truth about tongue ties & lip ties 01:25:05 Where to find Kyla & Courtney (@babyfeedingexperts) 01:27:35 THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
I can't really talk much on this topic.
Alex Fugman· Host0:02
Yeah, I think that- So I'm not gonna step in too much Do you know what, though? We were doing our research, and we found an episode where you said that the partner's role is to shut the fuck up, and I- I so value- Might make a T-shirt out of it.
Kyla· Guest0:12
Yeah.
Alex Fugman· Host0:13
So you are valued, but you so value that.
Kyla· Guest0:13
I think it's so valuable.
Speaker 10:13
And that's probably what I'll say.
Kyla· Guest0:15
I think having that perspective is so valuable. Like, I have a, a really great relationship with my husband, and he's kind of the same way, but I, I come back at him, and I'm like, "Sure, you, your opinion is that you need to stay out of the way, but you also are the first one that's there to support me and to catch me when I'm deviating from what I want."
Alex Fugman· Host0:33
Correct.
Kyla· Guest0:33
And so then you- 'Cause it gets that level head ... you being informed, yes, you are being the doula that's there 24/7.
Speaker 10:38
Mm-hmm.
Kyla· Guest0:39
Yeah.
Alex Fugman· Host0:39
Yeah.
Kyla· Guest0:39
Yeah, I always say he's the most important person in my feeding journey.
Alex Fugman· Host0:43
Yeah.
Kyla· Guest0:44
Absolutely.
Alex Fugman· Host0:44
That's a make or break.
Kyla· Guest0:46
Absolutely.
Alex Fugman· Host0:46
I see that a lot. We had a dad come to a lactation appointment by himself once.
Kyla· Guest0:49
This was my favorite.
Alex Fugman· Host0:50
He, he- The mom was already back to work.
Kyla· Guest0:52
And he was like, "This is really important to her, so I'm gonna come tell you everything about what's happening. I'm bringing the baby to you. Tell me what I need to tell her." And then we offer, like, text support for our in-person and virtual visits afterwards, and so we looped her in on the text message, but he was so involved with like, "Oh, was this like when you said blah, blah, blah?" It was so cool.
Alex Fugman· Host1:11
So he got home.
Kyla· Guest1:11
It was really cool.
Alex Fugman· Host1:11
He made videos of Mom trying the thing that we said, and then he's texting us back, like, "This worked for Mom, this didn't. What do we do next?"
Kyla· Guest1:17
Mm-hmm.
Alex Fugman· Host1:17
It was so cool.
Kyla· Guest1:17
Yeah.
Alex Fugman· Host1:18
And she had already gone back to work.
Kyla· Guest1:19
Yeah, yeah.
Alex Fugman· Host1:19
She couldn't come to the appointment, yeah.
Kyla· Guest1:20
What a supportive... Yeah.
Alex Fugman· Host1:21
That was really nice.
Kyla· Guest1:22
That's what I wish it was like with everyone.
Alex Fugman· Host1:24
[laughs] I know, that's great.
Kyla· Guest1:24
It's so sweet.
Alex Fugman· Host1:25
Yeah.
Kyla· Guest1:25
Aw.
Alex Fugman· Host1:25
'Cause it, it does, it makes such a huge difference.
Kyla· Guest1:28
Yeah.
Alex Fugman· Host1:28
Yeah. Um, okay, I'm gonna start