Speaker 1: 0:30

Yeah, my name is Abby Bridges and I own I'm the founder and owner of Bridges Lactation, so it is a lactation consulting business. So I do home visits, office visits, telehealth visits for breastfeeding families. I serve breastfeeding families but also just families who have questions about feeding their babies in general. So formula feeding, combination feeding, whatever that looks like Awesome Love that.

Speaker 2: 0:52

And now tell me about yourself and how you got into being an international board certified lactation consultant and certified lactation counselor. That's a mouthful for me, by the way.

Speaker 1: 1:02

Yeah, everyone's like I be salesy, so my background's in public health. So I did my bachelor's at University of Maryland and I was actually in anthropology, which is interesting enough, which is another thing. A lot of people have questions. You're like, what the heck is anthropology? That's a whole other topic.

Speaker 1: 1:17

But I was very interested in medical anthropology and then when I got out of college, I realized I wanted to go back and get my master's. So I got my master's in public health and then, through the pandemic and everything, I wasn't totally sure what direction I wanted to go. I really knew that I wanted to work with people and especially with families and parents. I thought that was something that was really interesting doing some kind of health education. I just didn't know what it was. And then I had my daughter in 2021. So I have two babies and my daughter in 2021 and I breastfed her and it was just such a life-changing experience and it really opened up this whole new world of health and education.

Speaker 1: 1:58

All the things that I was interested in. It kind of bridged the gap of all the things I was interested in nutrition, mental health. There's just so much that goes into it and it was just all really exciting for me, and so that's when I decided to pursue my certification. So I started as a CLC which so there's a lot of credentials when it comes to breastfeeding. It's not a super regulated field and so a lot of people have questions about. So international board certified lactation consultant that is the top, that is the board certified. No one's licensed in the US. We don't have state licensure, at least in Maryland, and so it is the international body that certifies. So it's considered the gold standard of lactation care.

Speaker 2: 2:35

Yeah, wow, so a lot of certification is needed for this.

Speaker 1: 2:39

Yes, a lot of education, clinical hours. It was a lot, but it's important, it's really important to be able to give the best care. I wasn't sure if I wanted to stop at the CLC, the Certified Lactation Counselor.

Speaker 2: 3:00

But the more that I looked into it, I knew that I wanted to get the highest certification I could. Awesome, good for you. I love it. And then, what are some of the most common breastfeeding challenges that new parents face in the early days, and can you talk to us about any other issues? Mothers or parents, what are they going through that we perhaps may not be aware of, and how you've been able to help them overcome these challenges?

Speaker 1: 3:15

Oh yeah, that's a great question.

Speaker 1: 3:16

So I would say the main thing that I see on a regular basis is difficulty latching, so a painful latch, shallow latch that is probably the most typical thing in the early days. And then low milk supply is another thing, but it's oftentimes what is considered perceived low milk supply, where the parent thinks that they aren't making enough. But when you actually have the visit and you talk to the parent and the baby's getting enough wet and dirty diapers and they're growing well, the parent just doesn't because they're not giving them that bottle oftentimes and so they don't see that that baby's getting four ounces of the breast and to them they just see the baby at the breast and they're not really sure if the baby's transferring anything. So a lot of my job is honestly just reassuring parents that they're doing great and that their body's doing everything it should and that their baby's doing everything it should and they can just tune into their baby. And that's one of the things I really love about this job is giving the parents the confidence to do what they know intuitively to do and to not second guess themselves so much. So that's what I typically see in terms of the most challenging things.

Speaker 1: 4:22

And then the second question. That was just what-.

Speaker 2: 4:24

Yeah, just if there's any other things that we may not be aware of besides the lactation part of it.

Speaker 1: 4:30

Yeah, yeah, that's also a really good question. So breastfeeding is not just a simple choice of I want to breastfeed or I don't want to breastfeed. There's a lot that goes into it, and in our country we don't have adequate parental leave. We don't have a lot of those family supports. A lot of families have to return to work much earlier than they want to, and so it's there's a lot of unnecessary shaming of parents for feeding choices and the way that they feed their babies, and a lot of it is just not really up to their control.

Speaker 1: 4:57

So I try to work with the family to figure out what are their goals and then what is their actual life circumstances and how can we best meet their goals given their constraints, whether that's childcare, whether that's finances, all of that. So there's a lot of social forces and economic forces that go into a parent's ability to breastfeed. That's not just a simple decision of like, yeah, I want to breastfeed versus I do, and that's one of the most tricky things when you have a parent who really, really wants that and they, for whatever reason whether it's like a hormonal condition or a medical condition or something going on in their personal life that they're not able to. So that's something we don't often think of when we think, oh, breast or bottle, it's really not that simple.

Speaker 2: 5:39

Yeah, and like thinking about how many other factors can also affect that, like mental health your diet. You don't really think about it. You just think like, oh, you're a woman, this is something that you do, you'll be able to do it. And it's really a lot more than that, it seems.

Speaker 1: 5:53

Oh, yes, for sure. I mean even the. I'm not sure if you've ever heard.

Speaker 2: 5:57

The mantra is like oh, breast is best, fat is best I really I've heard that where it's like you build a relationship better with, I guess, your baby, and that it's like not good if you don't breast, but I think some people can't and that kind of hurts.

Speaker 1: 6:09

Yeah. So even the statement breast is best it's a very broad statement. It's really not helpful to a parent, and then people will counter and be like, oh no, fed is best, and that's not really helpful either, because what if a parent really wants to breastfeed and then they're like, oh, fed is best, it doesn't matter if you breastfeed or not. It's not so simple. So what I like to say instead is supported is best, a supported parent is best, so, and a supported baby is best. So as long as that parent is supported in reaching whatever their goals are, that's what matters, more than the modality of feeding, because there are many ways to bond with a baby that aren't having the baby at the breast, and so a lot of what I do is just parent education in general, and that's why I like to describe what I do as more infant feeding support and not just lactation support, because formula feeding parents need support too with feeding their babies, with choosing the right bottles and choosing the formula that's going to be best for their baby, and all of that.

Speaker 1: 6:59

So I try to stay away from those very simple, broad brushing statements that can just make a parent be like okay, like what do I do? What do I do?

Speaker 2: 7:05

with that? Yeah, absolutely, I love that. That was a great answer. And then would you say you mentioned a little bit earlier, but would you say that your own early experiences with breastfeeding influence the way you support families today?

Speaker 1: 7:17

Definitely yeah. So I've gotten the question several times if I had such a difficult time breastfeeding and that was why I went into this. And the funny thing is my experiences. I mean, there's always challenges with breastfeeding, no matter what. But my experience I actually had a pretty good, positive experience overall and I do think it informs some of the ways that I meet parents and provide support, because I view it as an opportunity to build their confidence, because for me so breastfeeding wasn't too challenging, but postpartum was really really challenging and I dealt with some different things like postpartum insomnia and some postpartum anxiety, and so for me, breastfeeding was this thing that I really clung to, like I'm doing this, I'm doing this, I'm so happy that I'm doing this, and so to be able to help a parent and being able to trust their body, especially when something like the birth didn't go as planned, like, say, they had a birth that just totally went, like they ended up with an emergency C-section when they were hoping for like a home birth, unmedicated home birth or something like that that can feel so demoralizing.

Speaker 1: 8:26

So to be able to help them, help it go the way that they were wanting to go, or even if it doesn't go the way that they wanted to go, help them along the way, to make peace with the way that their journey went and recognize, whether it's combination feeding, that any amount of breast milk is great, or the way to bottle feed their baby, that's really really conducive to just that bonding experience. All of that is really really important to me and I do try to bring that into my practice. Awesome, awesome.

Speaker 2: 8:53

Awesome. And then how do you balance offering evidence-based information with creating a judgment-free environment for your clients?

Speaker 1: 9:01

Yeah, it's tough. It's really tough, honestly. But the way that I think about it is I'm not the formula police. I'm so thankful for formula. I really really am. I view it like medicine. I'm so thankful we live in a world where it's like, oh well, breastfeeding is not going to work out, so like we have no other way to feed your baby, like I'm so, so thankful that we have access to safe formula. I wish that it was more affordable and even more accessible. Things like the formula shortage, like that, was really really tough on families.

Speaker 1: 9:28

So I view my jobs to give parents information that's not accompanied by any shame, any blame, but just like this is information and then you do with it what you will. And, honestly, if a parent comes to me and they're like I've made the decision to formula feed, can you please help me drive my supply? I assume that they've done their. If they're not asking me, hey, can you tell me about, you know, the benefits of breastfeeding versus formula feeding? That's really not my job. My job is to support them feed their baby and that means to drive their supply for them. And so I actually do think there is this middle ground of giving the information and doing it in a way that is respectful of the parent's goals and understanding that they are the experts of their own bodies and they know what's best for them and their babies. So my job is just there to support them.

Speaker 2: 10:14

I love that. And have you gotten feedback from people where they're just like you know what? I wouldn't have been able to have gone through this without your help, like I didn't even know that there was somebody who could help me with this. And have you like, have you heard how they were able to find you Are doctors, like recommending you or what's.

Speaker 1: 10:30

Yeah, so it really will vary. Sometimes it's word of mouth, so my business is new. I've been doing this for about two, three years now in the lactation world, but my business I officially launched last year. I was doing some work with a pediatrician and a nonprofit. So in terms of just finding me, as in Bridges Lactation, most of the time it's pediatricians, google, but now that my business is starting to grow, it's word of mouth, which is always really exciting when it's like oh yeah, my friend, they told me about you, they said that it's such a great experience, like you really helped with their breastfeeding journey, and that's always just like the best feeling. So I really really love like when I get a review on Google or something, it just like it makes my whole day. It definitely is a really, really special thing. And obviously I know that the parents are the ones doing the work. I make the care plan that we work together, but at the end of the day, they're the ones bringing out their pump eight times a day, not me.

Speaker 1: 11:16

So, I can say. That's very easy for me to say and so I know at the end of the day, like no, you're actually the ones doing that work, but it is so. Um, it's just really exciting when a parent's face just lights up and theyging and coughing and like this new position. It's like they're so calm and happy and that was really exciting. Oh, that's awesome.

Speaker 2: 11:40

Good for you. I love that and I love that you're getting those reviews from people, because a lot of people have great experiences, but sometimes they're like I don't know, maybe they forget to like leave a review, but I feel like that you can get yeah.

Speaker 1: 11:54

Because some people aren't comfortable giving the review just because it is on a public platform and it's associated with their name. So with things like that, I definitely understand there's not the ability to go anonymous, but even the word of mouth is always just very, very valid.

Speaker 2: 12:05

Yeah, and reassuring Absolutely For marketing. How are you marketing your brand, your business, what you're able to help parents achieve and overcome? Are you online? Are you going to networking events? I know you paired up with a nonprofit. Are there other things that you're doing to get the word out there?

Speaker 1: 12:24

Yeah, so it's all me, it's I'm a one one woman show. So I do all the marketing, all the finances, all the everything. I feel like I'm getting like mini degrees and all these things, and so I've really had to learn on the fly. So I do a lot of marketing on social media. I'm going to be totally honest with you. I don't think I've ever got a client from social media Facebook groups are different but like a cold client from Instagram where they just DM me, I don't think that's ever happened and it's funny because I thought that that was going to be something where I'd get more clients.

Speaker 1: 12:59

I kind of just do it for fun. Now I feel like also, it can be nice, for clients will follow me after and then we'll be able to engage with the content together and like they will be able to use it for education. I also do it as a way to just put real information, like evidence-based information, out there, because there's so much junk on there and just people who breastfed their baby once and are like this is how I did it, so this is how you should do it, and I'm a sample size of one. I really try not to bring my own experience too much. In fact, I really try not to at all, because that was just my body and just my baby's body and it really just does not have bearing on their experience. And so I do some marketing on social media and everything you know. We'll see if it goes somewhere. But it's more just for fun. It's creative, I think, just having a good website. I designed my website myself. I'm with Squarespace, I love.

Speaker 1: 13:40

Squarespace, and so I really I definitely do like to take on the challenge of trying to do everything myself, but yeah, mostly it's just telling people about it, like making cards, making brochures. I do love Canva, like I'll make all my little stuff on Canva.

Speaker 2: 13:53

So yeah, I do love Canva, like I'll make all my little stuff on.

Speaker 1: 13:54

Canva. So, yeah, it's really fun. It really is very motivating to have just the creative outlet and to always be thinking of like a new way. But I will attend some events here and there, but still working on that, and so that's why, going on this podcast, I was like I need to do this because this is a good stretch for me to talk about my business.

Speaker 2: 14:11

So yeah, absolutely, I love it. And then you do in-home office. I'm sorry, not, you do is. Does in-home office virtual text consultations differ in terms of the support you're able to?

Speaker 1: 14:22

offer. Yeah, so I would say in-home is going to be the most comprehensive wraparound care. It is limited with the radius, so I'll do a 10 mile travel radius of Gaithersburg, possibly up to 20 miles. There might be a travel fee associated. It kind of depends on how busy I am, what's going on, where I'm going. If I'm going, like up to Mount Airy versus Silver Spring, I'm like the drive is a lot prettier in Mount Airy so it will kind of depend on, like, my time in the car Office visits. So I have a fairly informal office set up. The office is still in the works but I do have a space that's able to meet. The office is nice. If someone wants to avoid the travel fee, however, they are, you know, not able to be in their space and are in the confines of, like you know, what I have available. So if they forget to bring their pump, or if they forget to bring diapers and things, like that, but it can be very convenient.

Speaker 1: 15:07

It's also convenient for me, so I'm in the process of getting like a fully functioning office space up but I have a place that works and then I do telehealth. Telehealth is I try to reserve for more prenatal education and then things where the latch is established and things are going well overall physically, like the parent doesn't have really anything going on physically or the baby, that's like, needs that hands-on care, but things like weaning, starting solids, basic education. So my and the rates will vary based on that. And I do accept insurance as well, so insurance compensation will also vary based on that.

Speaker 2: 15:41

Yeah, that leads me to my next question about insurance. How are you able to support them, and does every insurance cover that, or is it only particular? Tell me about it. It's a mess, it's a mess.

Speaker 1: 15:52

I won't overshare too much because it's such a mess, but it really will vary by plan. So one of the tenets of my practice is to be as accessible as possible. So I really try to make sure that a parent gets care, even if that's not through me. So if I'm not able to take their insurance and they're not able to pay out of pocket, I will almost always if I can give them information based on what I know. So I really try to have a good network around me of other IBCLCs and other lactation support so I am able to take insurance companies like Aetna, unitedhealthcare, some Blue Cross plans, cigna. Some of them have third-party vendors that the insurance goes through.

Speaker 1: 16:29

So lactation care in the United States is pretty convoluted because we're not licensed, we're board certified and it's international and so things in the US tend to be very state specific or it's more national licensure all of that. So it's tricky. There's really no specific code for like a lactation home visit. So we're just trying to like figure out what, where our work fits and how to make a livable wage. It's. You know, I don't think people go into this to like become crazy money makers Like I'm like maybe choose another field. But this is really a passion. But like at the same time I do think, lactation consultants, you know, given our education and the support we provide, we deserve a livable wage. So we are always in flux and working with the constraints of the insurance companies and all the things that are crazy about the healthcare system in our country.

Speaker 2: 17:22

Yeah, you mentioned, there's not like a specific code. Do you think in the future that that could change?

Speaker 1: 17:28

I would love if it did. It's hard because every insurance plan will have codes that they will accept and will not accept. So there's really only one lactation specific code, but it's a lactation class and it pays oftentimes very little, because I don't teach a class Like it's a. It's a like I do a whole health history, I do all like. I do a full oral assessment, I do like breast anatomy assessment, I watch the baby breastfeed. It's not a class, it's so much more, and so we often do some basic preventative codes as well. But insurance varies with what they'll pay. So it's very challenging. And that is probably the most challenging part of my job is having a parent who has health insurance. They pay for this health insurance but they don't have lactation benefits and they either have to pay out of pocket or go to someone who maybe can give them a very affordable rate. But the level of care is maybe like it's like a 30-minute check-in or something like that, where they might just get very generalized breastfeeding advice Not as comprehensive.

Speaker 1: 18:24

That's really not. That might actually do more harm than good if you really don't understand what's going on, because my care plans will significantly vary based on what the family is going on. There's no just lactation care that I just like there. I'm constantly tailoring things for everyone's situation.

Speaker 2: 18:39

Okay, and then for your packages, are they? Can you maybe go over some of them? I don't know if maybe they're like you just said they're tailored differently to each person but overall.

Speaker 1: 18:49

So are you talking about like the packages, like when I have visits combined? Yes, so I actually recently just introduced that. A doula friend of mine was like you should introduce a package and I was like that's actually a good idea just to give someone a wraparound so that would not be related to insurance, that would just be a full self-pay.

Speaker 2: 19:03

Okay.

Speaker 1: 19:03

Maybe I could do a super bill. So this is. I'm still kind of experimenting with what this will look like, but essentially I have three packages. One, I believe, is the premium package, the getting breastfeeding started or getting feeding started package and then the had that.

Speaker 1: 19:40

So I'm excited to start offering the packages and make care just more comprehensive and be able to really invest in that family. So, for example, if they purchased the premium package, they would have a prenatal consult, a postpartum, within like the first seven days or whenever it really works for them, a follow-up to that and then generally like a return to work, a starting solids and then a weaning, so they get that whole year of lactation support.

Speaker 2: 20:04

Okay, and then when is it ideal to, I guess, start looking into the packages? Is it better to do it ahead of time, before that, or like the baby's here and like, hi, help me.

Speaker 1: 20:14

Like, how does that work? Yeah, so most of the time it's when the baby's here and they're like my nipple is bleeding and I, you know, don't know if my baby's getting away, and that can be really hard because I'm like I want to see you like in the next 30 minutes, but like I'm booked out. And so if I would always recommend for pregnant parents to identify their lactation consultant somewhere around the first, second trimester and then schedule a prenatal consult with them in the third trimester, I really love my one-on-one prenatal consults because I'm able to speak to their specific goals and their specific like when are they returning to work? What does their family support look like? Do they have a partner who can help with them with night feeds? And if they don't, what is feeding? How are they going to get enough sleep? And so I really recommend those prenatal. I never did that personally and I really wish, because once I had, once I gave birth, like you just went through so much, and so then to then figure out how to feed your baby from your body is such a learning curve. I also think it can be nice, too, to identify your LC before you give birth, because if you do have a home visit.

Speaker 1: 21:19

Having someone come into your home when you're in that very vulnerable state and you don't know them can be a little bit scary. Will this person's energy? I'm a very big believer in energy and just the vibe that you get when you're around someone and if your energies match and you really want to find that provider, it's kind of like you wouldn't have just a doula show up to your birth without interviewing them and get to know them. And I think breastfeeding is a very intimate. It's very vulnerable. We're doing a lot of physical assessments and if you don't trust your provider and if you don't believe that they are going to be the best support for you, you don't want to have them enter into your space postpartum and I am a very strong believer that you should create a space postpartum that feels very safe and very comfortable for you and your baby, because that's such a special time and I don't want to be there if I'm going to be making you more stressed out and like pushing something that you don't even want.

Speaker 1: 22:06

And so I really, really love when I can make the connection. Then I get to come in and meet their baby and it's so exciting. I bet you love that Like seeing all the little babies. Yes, oh my gosh, I love it so much, it's so fun. Sometimes it's also helpful for me because I'm like, okay, I have to remember. That's really hard. Oh my God, another baby. No, no.

Speaker 2: 22:22

Yeah, and I'm like, oh yeah you're not sleeping, but you know. I love it. Thank you. And then, what's the vision behind your free monthly support group and what kind of impact has it had on attendees?

Speaker 1: 22:35

So, to be honest, that's also still something I'm working through.

Speaker 1: 22:39

I did, I was doing it I think it was like six months ago that I was doing it on the regular. We were meeting at Gaithersburg Library and it was really cool, Like moms would come out and we'd bring our babies and we would play in this like this discovery room area that they have on it's like a kid's play space and, honestly, just then work like I was using it as a marketing tactic, honestly, like a way to like provide free support but also be able to like let people know about my business, Build relationships, yeah, yeah. But then I started getting so booked. I was like I don't have time to do this, so I am still have it available on my website and then, once I get enough interest like a certain amount of people, I'm going to start offering it again on the regular basis Awesome. But I'm at the moment taking a pause on it just because I am trying not to overload my schedule too much. And what is it called the support group? I just call it a monthly support group.

Speaker 2: 23:29

Maybe you'll come up with a name for it.

Speaker 1: 23:30

Yeah, no maybe I should and I would really like to. It's interesting, a lot of people say they want it, but then getting out the door and getting to it can be hard. So I think it will be better, when I have an office space, that I don't have to rent the room. I'm wondering if that will be helpful, and that way I'm already there and so I'm not having to like set up all this stuff, because I was having to bring stuff into the discovery room yeah, stuff to demo and the scale and stuff like that.

Speaker 2: 23:55

So it's in the works. Okay, yeah, no, that's awesome, and where would people be able to find information once? It's like Just on my website.

Speaker 1: 24:02

I put it all under services and so, if they ever want to, so I have a whole interest list that's running right now and so if someone wants to join the interest list, they can join, and then, once I have a certain amount of people, I'm going to send out a mass email and have people join you Love it.

Speaker 2: 24:13

Thank you. What's one of the most rewarding moments you've had working with a client?

Speaker 1: 24:16

Oh, my gosh, oh that's such a hard question, no pressure. So I feel like there's not like maybe a specific one. But I think one thing I really love is when I really am able to make that relationship from start to finish, like from their prenatal. So, for example, one client I had, she came to me this was her second pregnancy and her first pregnancy breastfeeding just completely did not go as planned. She didn't really have support. She was younger, like it was just it did not go as she wanted. It was really hard for her.

Speaker 1: 24:51

And so this time around she's like I'm going to identify support right away, I'm going to figure out kind of what, where, something like you know where it didn't go the way that I wanted, and kind of identify where that was and prepare myself. So we met prenatally and she was so worried about supply. Like she was like I'm going to lose my supply. I'm going to lose my supply. She had such a great supply Like she killed it. She did so great and her baby was thriving.

Speaker 1: 25:14

Like I met with them probably like I don't know, six times over the course and every time, just she was, every time she was just a little bit anxious and I was able to just like reinforce, like you're doing great and as far as I know, everything is still I haven't heard from them in a little bit but like I think as far as I know, so that was just really exciting to have that healing, to help her with that healing experience and just make the second time around more positive. So I think things like that, when they have had a disappointing experience and then the second time around, can be that redemptive it's exciting.

Speaker 2: 25:48

That's awesome. Thank you so much for sharing these things. I know, like you said, it's such a personal thing and like each person has a different journey. These things I know some. Like you said, it's such a personal thing and like each person has a different journey, but the fact that you're able to help them and be so close because, like, who else is there in those moments, right, it's yeah.

Speaker 1: 26:02

It's. It's a very unique career. Um, very hard in some ways, like I didn't really realize how challenging it would be to be in such a vulnerable space with a client on a day-to-day basis, while also then going home on my own and dealing with my own personal things and being like I've empathized a lot. Today I don't have any more left, but I think the more I do it, I learn the best ways to say things and the most kind and respectful and also truthful ways to say things. So I'm constantly learning and every client requires a different approach because they're a unique person.

Speaker 2: 26:35

That's right, I love that. Is there anything I have not touched on that? Perhaps you would like to get out there and share about your business yourself, anything at all, or your industry.

Speaker 1: 26:46

I think the only other thing that I think is something that I really care about with my business is breastfeeding as, or infant feeding in general, as a communication between two parties who are consenting to the experience, and so I really view feeding like a dance between the two parties. So even something like weaning I love working with families who are in the process of weaning, because the boundaries can be really hard with a baby who really wants to continue being at the breast and the mom or the parent is like I'm so done with this, and so being able to help the parent negotiate that relationship with their baby and be able to validate that it's okay to have their boundaries with their baby in a gentle, loving way and that's the way that they're able to form a healthy and trusting relationship is through like a real yes and a real no. I think that's something that I really love bringing into my practice, because oftentimes I think parents can feel a little bit like martyrs to their children, just constantly giving, and I always try to focus just as much on the parent as I do on the baby. I always try to focus just as much on the parent as I do on the baby. Like, of course, that baby deserves nutrition, and you know that whole experience, but also that parent deserves a feeding experience that is a joyful experience for them and something that they are giving a full body yes to. And that doesn't mean that full body, yes, is not also going to be accompanied with, like this is hard, but it's worth it.

Speaker 1: 28:12

And I'm here as opposed to this resentful relationship with their baby, because that's not a way to start, and so that's why, if a parent is like pushing their excruciating pain, I'm like it's okay to take a step back, because I think especially women um, so parents, you know they're not breastfeeding parents are not always women, and I really try to be inclusive, but majority of the time I am working with women and I think women do have this especially women from different cultures, I've noticed this as well have this very a pressure to perform or to just give themselves sacrifice all the time, and so I think that's something that I really try to bring into my work is just some freedom and some, you know, helping them realize that there's mutual consent in that process. And so, yeah, I do like to mention that because I'm not sure that's talked about enough in the lactation space. I don't think so, and it's something that really matters.

Speaker 1: 29:05

It's something that really matters to me, yeah.

Speaker 2: 29:07

Because anytime I hear about it, it's always like the baby and yes, of course the baby is important, but also you need to be okay. If you're not okay, I don't think it's going to go, and your baby feels that.

Speaker 1: 29:17

Another thing that I love is just the wisdom of both the parent, but also the baby too, and the baby is so in tune with the parent's emotions and when the parent is all clenched up and they're in pain and they're not wanting to do this, that baby feels that and they read it and it would be so much more beneficial to get to a feeding, a way of feeding, where the parent is calm and relaxed. Even when it comes to positioning, I really try to promote those positions where gravity is working with everyone and everyone can just kind of relax because the baby feels that and this is their first relationship that they've ever had and this sets the groundwork. So they it's important that they're able to trust their primary caretaker, that their yes means yes and their no means no, and they'll. I believe that they'll carry that with them through the rest of their relationship. So it's very special to be able to be play an integral part in the formative relationships absolutely no yeah, man, you've dropped so many like truth bombs here.

Speaker 2: 30:12

I love it and like I mean in, in mean in such a, in such a friendly but professional way, and I honestly don't know much about this industry, so I myself have learned a lot, so it's been such a pleasure to have you here and hopefully for our listeners, they can get something out of this or maybe they want to have a baby eventually, or they have one right now and they're like maybe it's not me.

Speaker 2: 30:32

Maybe I just need some help. This, this has been awesome and I really appreciate you coming on the podcast and sharing so much of your knowledge with us.

Speaker 1: 30:39

Yeah Well, thank you so much for inviting me. This was so fun to be able to share this and you know it was new experience for me, so I'm excited, yeah.

Speaker 2: 30:45

I appreciate it One more time. What is your website where people can find you?

Speaker 1: 30:49

So it's wwwbridgeslactation.