Newborn babies are dirty business and believe it or not that white substance on newborn babies is good for them and shouldn’t be washed away! Here are 15 things you might not already know about vernix: The formal name is Vernix Caseous. Vernix means varnish and caseous means cheese-like. It is a naturally occurring biofilm made in the last trimester of pregnancy. The first mention of vernix was in the Dunglison dictionary of Medical Sciences in 1846. 1846. Can you believe t

Let’s talk about breastfeeding pain. Here’s my theory — and some may agree, while others might think I’m a bit offbeat. Pain is your body’s way of saying, “Pay attention.” It’s not always bad — but it’s always a signal. Sometimes it means something isn’t quite right. Other times, it’s your body asking you to focus. Think about birth for a moment. Birth pain isn’t like the pain of injury or illness. That first contraction is your body saying: “Something big is happening. Tune

I get asked about baby poop a lot. Usually, it’s from a worried parent saying something like: “My baby hasn’t pooped in a few days — is that normal?” Sometimes it’s been one or two days. Other times, a week or more. Their baby might be gassy, fussy, or not sleeping well, and everyone they ask — from Google to Grandma — gives a different answer. I used to believe that it was totally normal for a breastfed baby to go several days without a bowel movement. It’s still what many h

“Hey Kim! I have so much extra breast milk—what can I do with it?” If you’ve thought of sending me this text or email (and you know you have 😉), you’re not alone. The great news? Yes, you can donate your extra milk—and it’s easier than you might think. There are two main ways to do it: formal donation and mom-to-mom sharing. 1. Formal Donation: Milk Banks The closest formal milk bank is Northern Star Mothers’ Milk Bank in Calgary. In Saskatchewan, there are several milk depo

Confused by growth charts? You’re not alone. Learn what they mean, what to watch for, and how to ensure your baby is growing well. Growth Charts 101 Not all charts are the same! WHO Growth Charts Based on breastfed babies worldwide Show how children should grow Include babies breastfed at 4 and 12 months CDC Growth Charts Based on typical U.S. children Show how children did grow (not necessarily ideal) Some gaps in early months WHO = standard; CDC = reference. Know which one

As a lactation consultant, my goal is to help new mothers and their babies through any breastfeeding challenges they may encounter. One common issue that can affect successful breastfeeding is tongue tie. Tongue ties undoubtedly have an impact on breastfeeding and it is important to seek proper evaluation and support. By doing so you can be empowered to navigate breastfeeding with confidence. ​I hope to help bring clarity to how tongue ties impact breastfeeding and also some

Worried that your baby isn’t gaining enough weight and wondering if it’s all about “hindmilk”? You’re not alone. Many parents hear that the secret to weight gain is getting to the fatty hindmilk. Here’s what the research and lactation experts actually say. Foremilk vs. Hindmilk – What’s Really Happening Every feed starts with foremilk (the milk that comes first) and gradually transitions to hindmilk (the milk that comes later). This is not like skim vs. whole milk. Fat conten

If you’ve ever scrolled through a parenting group or TikTok, you’ve probably heard that you have to nurse for 20 minutes per side—or that your baby might “miss out” on the high-fat hindmilk if you switch too soon. It’s easy to feel confused when advice sounds strict and does not match what your baby is doing. But here’s the truth: your body and your baby already have this figured out. What Are Foremilk and Hindmilk? Foremilk flows at the start of a feed, thinner, and higher i