Milkworks

March 1, 2013

By Sara Dodder Furr, MA, LLLL, IBCLC

My son told me about something that happened in his high school classroom today. They were discussing population growth and birth rates in the United States compared to other countries. The teacher noted that, though the birth rate in the U.S. is as low as in some other countries, our population growth is higher due to the greater number of people who immigrate to the U.S. In addition, according to the teacher, larger families are more common and highly valued among some immigrant cultures because more children are needed to make the family successful. Our American culture may value smaller families because of the high cost of raising a child in our society.

So what makes it so expensive to raise a child in the United States? The teacher went on to say part of the issue is companies marketing unnecessary products to new parents. As an example, companies often provide a few weeks’ or months’ worth of free formula to new parents. To really hook those new parents, the companies send literature warning them about possible ill effects associated with changing formulas - at the very time the flow of free formula has ended, with the goal being that the baby will be fed the formerly free formula, now sold at a premium price. The teacher went on to say that it made no sense for a parent to buy expensive brand-name formula when ... wait for it ... generic formula is just as good and less expensive!

February 1, 2013

By Jenny, Guest Blogger

My son was born by Cesarean after about six hours of labor when we found out he was breech. He was a sleepy baby in the hospital. He would latch and suckle a bit, but for the most part the nurses had me pump and finger feed him. There was not a lactation consultant working during my hospital stay, so the nurses did the best they could. When Levi did latch, often his lip was curled in and it hurt.  One of the nurses wondered if he might have a tongue tie. I thought she was making a joke. Babies don’t talk, so how could a baby be tongue tied?

January 1, 2013

By Jessica, Guest Blogger

An online discussion among a group of friends recently turned to breastfeeding. The question was asked:

"For those of you that breastfed your 2nd (or 3rd) did you talk to your oldest about breastfeeding and how that works before the baby came? I breastfed my daughter until she was 1 but she hasn't been around any other nursing since then so she has no idea that is how the baby will eat. Should I go out and find a book or just explain it to her the first time she sees me feed the baby?"

January 1, 2013

By Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks

Human beings are one of 4,000 species of mammals. All mammalian mothers have one thing in common:  they feed their babies milk from their breasts - milk that is designed just for their baby.  Human mothers are different from other mammals in that our breasts enlarge both during puberty and again while pregnant and breastfeeding. There are numerous theories for this, including the fact that human babies do not have snouts, or long noses. Therefore, the breast enlarges in order to get closer to baby.

Which brings me to my point:  the evolution of the human bra, a device known throughout history to support, suppress, decorate, and create cleavage in the human breast. When I was a teen ager, bras were definitely under-cover. Heaven forbid that your bra strap should show in any way, manner or form!

Forward forty years to my own daughter. We traveled to a Jesuit college campus in Los Angeles this fall. Bras brightly decorated for breast cancer awareness lined the walkway. So where did the evolving bra get its start? 

December 1, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks

I grew up in a family of very modest means. My sisters and I had a few board games and books. No jungle gym, motorized toy cars or electronic games. We made mud pies, rode our bikes, went to the park and swam in a nearby lake. Once a year, at Christmas time, I received a new doll.  I remember their names well. Chatty Cathy. Charmin' Chatty. Thumbelina. Betsey McCall. My favorites were the life size baby dolls. I remember going to Ben Franklin to buy real cloth diapers and baby bottles for my dolls.

When I read about the new breastfeeding doll, it made me think of myself. I was the youngest child in our family and never saw a baby breastfeed.  All the kids I babysat for were bottle fed.  Would I have been better prepared to breastfeed my own children if I had been given a breastfeeding doll?

November 1, 2012

by Adam Prochaska, President, MilkWorks Board of Directors

Earlier this year, Ann Seacrest wrote a blog post  about the controversial Time magazine breastfeeding cover photo.  A three-year-old is standing on a chair next to his mother and nursing.This photo was the perfect catalyst for a public debate on "how long is too long?"

It's unfortunate that a portion of our society considers a toddler who breastfeeds as strange or inappropriate. Human milk is considered more species specific, or suitable, for humans than cow’s milk. The unacceptable aspect may be the notion of a child, who can walk and talk, feeding at the breast. So what happens to this "debate" if the physical act of breastfeeding is not involved and we are only talking about the feeding of human milk to a toddler? I recently discovered the answer when a mother emailed MilkWorks with this exact dilemma.

November 1, 2012

We love hearing from parents who feel as though we have made a difference for them.

Earlier this year we received an unusual request. Ann, a breastfeeding mom, returned to work when her daughter, Angela, was 3 months old. When her daughter weaned, Ann had a freezer full of pumped milk. Angela’s care provider is licensed by the state and participates in the Nebraska Food Program. Because Angela was older than two years, the provider could not feed Angela her mother’s milk because it was contrary to regulations, which require the feeding of 1% cow’s milk. In order for her daughter to receive her milk, Ann had to submit signed documents and a diagnosis from her pediatrician indicating that Angela had a special medical or dietary need. Attorney Adam Prochaska, president of MilkWorks Board of Directors, helped Ann come up with a solution.

September 30, 2012

By Dr. Kathy Leeper, Breastfeeding Medical Specialist

Every so often something happens to renew my hope that we are actually providing better support for new moms. Like when breastfeeding is mentioned as a major factor in obesity prevention..... or insurance companies start to provide breastfeeding help for new moms...... or a donor comes through with a donation just when we really need it.

But I have to say, this year the most exciting thing for me is a diaper commercial!

September 30, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks

I am seeing pink ribbons everywhere as Lincoln prepares for breast cancer awareness events in the month of October. As a breastfeeding center, we are especially aware of the relationship between breastfeeding and breast cancer. Florence Williams, an investigative journalist,  a new mother, and author of the book, Breasts, reports that breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. The good news is that breastfeeding plays an important role in reducing breast cancer rates.

According to a meta analysis conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, there is substantial evidence that breastfeeding decreases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. The disruption of certain hormones, specifically estrogen, works to protect a woman from breast cancer.  The effect seems to be cumulative.  The longer a woman breastfeeds, the less exposure she has.

Leave it to our bodies to be a bit more complicated than that.

Melissa Meyer, a local mom, is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer which was detected after she weaned her son. According to the National Cancer Institute, a very small number of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer following a pregnancy. Some researchers believe this may be due to the effect of high levels of hormones on pre-existing microscopic cancers or the rapid growth of breast cells during pregnancy. Melissa explains that breastfeeding her son may have helped to save her life.

September 30, 2012

Twin Talk! A group just for moms who are breastfeeding multiples!
Meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 10:30 a.m. Older children are welcome to attend. No fee to attend.

Laci was the experienced mother of two breastfed children when she found out she was expecting twins. Things got a bit more complicated when her new sons came early - at 31 weeks. Her life became centered around the NICU, where the boys lived for five weeks. Because the twins were premature, Laci initally pumped and James and Joseph received her milk through a feeding tube. When the boys were discharged at 36 weeks gestation, they were still not feeding well at the breast. Even though Laci was an experienced breastfeeding mom, this time it was a bit different. 

September 1, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks

I LOVE watching the Olympics. I have a blend of sympathy and admiration for the athletes. Their fierceness for perfection strikes me as unrealistic. Yet their determination inspires me. Because I personally value teamwork more than winning, when they help each other to succeed, it makes me smile.

So what do the Olympics have to do with breastfeeding?

The Centers for Disease Control releases statistics on breastfeeding every couple of years. When they release the new data, it is like reading the sports page. How did Nebraska do? Are our stats better this year? Did we beat Iowa?

July 31, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks

The act of breastfeeding a baby cuts across cultures and races and religions. It meanders across the ages, dating back to the first human born, and across geography, from continent to continent. There are few experiences throughout history, and in today’s diverse world, that are as shared as a mother breastfeeding her baby. Andrea Cabra White, a member of MilkWorks Board of Directors, was born and raised in Colombia, South America. She now lives in Lincoln with her two children and her husband, a native Cornhusker. A talented artist, Andrea designs unique hair accessories under the brand Luna. She also has a special interest in helping Spanish American mothers breastfeed their babies.

Andrea and I recently spent time with a small group of mothers from Cuba and Mexico at El Centro, one of Lincoln’s multi-cultural community centers. The stories they shared with us were very similar to ones we hear every day at MilkWorks. Sometimes breastfeeding is easy for a mom and baby. Sometimes it is hard. Support is vital. Mothers new to America are often raised in a breastfeeding culture back home, but may struggle in the United States. Free formula sends a mixed message. Language differences and a lack of transportation create additional barriers to seeking support.

July 31, 2012

By Natalie

When I see another woman walking into the office with her Pump In Style over her shoulder, I want to run up and give her a high five. I want to ask her so many questions. How’s it going?  How old is your baby? Where do you pump? Do you have a stash in the freezer at home? I want to tell her that I’m like her. I do it too. I sit alone and watch my milk drip down into the bottles. I count the ounces. I have good days and bad days, just like she does. I’ve done this before. It gets easier.  

We usually say hello to each other, but that’s it. There are no high fives or pep talks, because at that moment, we’re just two women heading into the office.  Pumping is part of our day like staff meetings and conference calls. In a way, this is positive. It shows we work in an environment that allows us to include pumping in our daily routine. But, there are so many times when it’s helpful to have a sounding board and a support system. You might not give each other high fives in the hallway, but an encouraging email here and there can be a tremendous help. What we all  need is a Milk Mentor.

July 2, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks

The Supreme Court ruling this week on the Affordable Health Care Act is monumental for breastfeeding mothers.Not only does “Obamacare” amend the Fair Labor Standards Act and require that employers provide reasonable breaks and private space for mothers to pump, but as of August 1, 2012, health plans must  begin phasing in 100% coverage of certain proven preventive health services, including breast pumps and lactation support.

June 11, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks

Grizzly bears and humans have one thing in common. They are both mammals and they both nurse their newborns. Beyond that, they are quite different.

Grizzly bears go into hibernation (a deep sleep or state of inactivity), for five to six months during the winter. A female bear will hibernate earlier if she is pregnant and will burrow much deeper below the snow and earth. While in hibernation, she will not eat, drink, urinate or pass stool.  In January, she will give birth to one to three cubs while in hibernation. The cubs will weigh around 5 pounds each and will begin to nurse while their mother sleeps.

June 5, 2012

By Libby

I am proud to say that I breastfed my first two children. Did I have some struggles? Yes, especially with my first son. But in the end, I had such positive experiences breastfeeding I can truly say feeding my babies were some of the greatest moments of my life.

When I found out I was expecting my third child I had no doubt that breastfeeding would be easy this time around. I was excited that I would soon be a breastfeeding mom again. Before too long, I found out that I wasn’t just having a third baby - I was having twins! I love to know as much as I can and so I moved into my typical mode as an information gatherer.  Before long, I learned everything I could about nursing twins. As I waited for my new daughters to arrive, I was confident breastfeeding twins would be easy.

Enter reality. Wow! Breastfeeding twins is a whole new ballgame. Two babies means twice as many factors to think about:  Are they both latching well? What if they want to eat at different times? Can I make enough milk for two? Although I was created with two breasts, and I know I have the ability to make enough milk for two, three, or even more babies, I was only given two hands. This remains my biggest challenge as my babies gain some weight, get more mature and learn to breastfed.

As I struggle (yes, I admit to this), it makes me ask why mothers (like me) are determined to do something for their children that is downright hard? I am sure some people look at me and think, “Why doesn’t she just formula feed her babies? Others can help. She can get some rest.It will be easier.”  

May 29, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks

It has been a busy month for breasts! First, the Time magazine cover photo and then the publication of Florence William's book about breasts. There has been lots of talk about breastfeeding, which is always exciting if you are a community breastfeeding center!

The other excitement is our upcoming 2nd Annual Milk & Cookies party. This is our main community fundraiser for the year. Coming on the heels of the successful Give to Lincoln campaign, we are honored that so many of our loyal volunteers and board members have spent their time and energy planning this party. Please join us at the home of Ed and Coty Ring to sample sweets and enjoy visiting with MilkWorks staff and supporters on June 23rd!

Asking for money is the one part of my job that is really hard for me. But until the Bill Gates of breastfeeding comes along to make sure we have the resources we need to help Lincoln families, it is part and parcel of running MilkWorks. Every single donation, no matter the size, helps to pay our staff, write a check to our landlord, and cover our liability insurance. In turn, this allows us to educate, support and be here for breastfeeding moms.  

Thank you for your support!

May 18, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks

Wow! Everywhere I have gone the last week, someone has asked me about the Time magazine cover photo, Are You Mom Enough? At graduation parties, the grocery store and even my neighbor's front yard. My darling 92-year-old mother-in-law brought the cover to Mother's Day brunch, along with an article from the Omaha World Herald that really gets to the crux of the issue. Nursing too long is NOT the problem. The problem is that too few infants get ENOUGH of their mom's milk.

Why did Time choose to use this photo for their well researched article on Dr. William Sears? Anyone who knows anything about Dr. Sears and his wife, Martha, know that they love kids, they understand how challenging parenthood can be and they believe children need their parents. I expected the article to be extreme and outlandish. Instead it was a pretty good piece of journalism that explored the Sears family and their perspectives on kids and parents.

Maybe this "unusual" breastfeeding photo is actually a good thing. Perhaps people will start to say, "I'm not sure how I feel about a toddler nursing, but it's fine for a baby to nurse for a year." Why is this a good thing? Because ten years ago the general public may NOT have thought it was okay for a baby to nurse for a year, or even nurse at all! That's progress.

May 1, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks

This Mother’s Day, I would like to thank a special group of mothers. Breastfeeding is alive in the United States because of them. Fifty six years ago a group of mothers in Chicago resisted social and medical advice and refused to formula feed their babies. This group developed into La Leche League, which to this day provides mother-to-mother support for breastfeeding.

Another consumer led breastfeeding effort is happening in the year 2012. Public Citizen, a non-profit consumer advocacy group founded in 1971, has launched a petition to stop the free distribution of formula in hospitals. They claim that free formula samples undermine breastfeeding. Fortunately almost all Lincoln and Omaha hospitals have now stopped providing free formula.

It is a paradox. We encourage mothers to breastfeed, but we often provide free formula in hospitals, doctor’s offices and food supplement programs, such as WIC. Public health experts promote human milk as the “gold standard” of infant food. Yet we seldom provide the support that a mother needs to make breastfeeding work, including the “next best alternative.”

April 23, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director and Lactation Consultant, MilkWorks

Local, renewable and free. There is no better fit for Earth Day than breastfeeding. It was a sunny, windy day at Antelope Park as Dianne and I chatted with pregnant moms, charming babies, shy children, breastfeeding moms, baby carrying dads, board members and friends. We showed off fashion forward reusable diapers and Green Toys, made from milk jugs (I really like the milk connection there!).

La Leche League, Nebraska Friends of Midwives, Circle Me, MilkWorks and Sycamore Family Resource Center were all together in one place. What a great community Lincoln is for families!

It was especially fun seeing babies all grown up, shyly grinning as their moms re-lived their memories of days spent at MilkWorks "when you were a baby." I loved hearing from second time moms that "I didn't need you guys this time around." Yeah! And, I was glad to tell pregnant moms "you have a place to come to for support."

Every drop of mother's milk that every baby drinks makes the earth a little bit greener.

April 16, 2012

by Adam Prochaska, President, MilkWorks Board of Directors

Got Milk? is a very popular ad campaign that often features a celebrity with a milk mustache. A question the ads never ask is - Which Milk?

When most people think of milk, they think of cows. The National Milk Processor Board’s milk mustache campaign was, and continues to be, extremely successful in promoting cow’s milk. But as you may know, other animals also make milk. In fact, sheep and goat milk is often considered more easily digested by humans.

We can choose the amount of fat in our milk. Grocery stores sell skim (with less than 0.2% milk fat), 1%, 2% and whole (which contains the same amount of fat as it did when the cow was milked - 3.5%).   

We can also choose milk that was grown in a field. Soy milk is a stable emulsion of oil, water, and protein produced by first soaking and then grinding dry soybeans with water. Almond milk and rice milk are made using a similar process.

We can choose milk that has been produced without synthetic chemicals, hormones or antibiotics. Organic milk comes from farms that use only organic fertilizers and pesticides and which prohibit supplemental hormones.

We can also choose milk that is made specifically for feeding human babies. Breast milk is widely acknowledged as “the most complete form of nutrition for infants, with a wide range of benefits for infants’ health, growth, immunity and development.”  

April 9, 2012

Many moms tell us that they are confused by the inconsistent breastfeeding advice they receive from well-meaning friends and healthcare providers. One person tells them to nurse on both breasts for 10 minutes each. Someone else says, “Oh, no, one breast only for as long as you want to!” The medication insert says, “Don’t take if you are breastfeeding.” But their doctor just wrote a prescription for the medication!!!

Since we opened our doors eleven years ago, our goal has been to give moms consistent, accurate breastfeeding information.

April 9, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

I recently facilitated a panel presentation at Ameritas sponsored by WorkWell, Southeast Nebraska’s worksite wellness council. Funded by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the event was designed to help employers understand the amended Fair Labor Standards Act. 

As of March, 2010, employers must provide private space and reasonable pump breaks for breastfeeding mothers in the work force. Over 65 representatives from Lincoln businesses attended the event. While a handful of employers have been supportive for years, there were many who have no formal policy in place. Their interest in complying with the law was exciting. It also made me realize how far we have come in providing support for breastfeeding moms.

About eight years ago, I was the guest speaker at a similar WorkWell presentation. I believe six or seven employers attended and I spoke to the “choir” – businesses that were already supportive. Around that time, MilkWorks started hosting yearly workshops for moms called “You Can Do It:  Return to Work and Breastfeed Your Baby.” However, my interest in breastfeeding in the work place goes back even further.

April 9, 2012

There are a lot of smiling faces at MilkWorks this week. Why? New computers that work well. Five words that are not familiar in that combination around MilkWorks.

Thanks to Nebraska Global, a software investment company, our dream has come true!

March 26, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director and Lactation Consultant at MilkWorks

Meet Alana, her son, Isaiah, and her twins, Anna and Simeon, shown here at their weekly outing to MilkWorks. Anna and Simeon, who were born 2 months early, are now 3 months old. While Simeon is being undressed for his turn on the scale, Isaiah is alternately entertaining Anna, who is sucking on her pink pacifier, or playing with the toys in our waiting room.

When asked if he wanted his picture taken, Isaiah gave me a huge grin. It seemed like the perfect way to celebrate the twins three month birthday - a group photo at our baby weight station! Alana enjoys coming to MilkWorks to weigh the twins because she says “it helps her know they are gaining well.” After a crazy day with twins,  Alana said, “It is nice to know that something is going well and my  hard work is paying off.”

Happy Three Months to Anna and Simeon! Keep up the great work, Alana! You are doing a beautiful job!

March 19, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

Traveling back to Lincoln from a college tour with my daughter, I read a commentary in USA Today about Beyonce openly nursing her baby in public. The author, Joyce King, poses two questions. Should Beyonce have considered other people’s discomfort, and, should people be responsible for looking the other way if they don’t want to see a mother breastfeeding?

King also raises the “larger debate” of whether breastfeeding makes for smarter and healthier kids and mentions two British studies. One found that breastfed kids have higher test scores throughout childhood and the other suggested that six months of only breastmilk is too long and opens the door for allergies and iron deficiencies. This larger debate was really put to rest in 2007 when the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality published their meta analysis of 9,000 research studies and concluded there are significant health benefits when a baby is breastfed.

March 14, 2012

By Libby

In 2009 I was given the opportunity of a lifetime. My husband and I traveled to Europe with our parents and our 18 month old son, John, who was still nursing frequently. We boarded our long overnight flight to Italy and arrived in Rome jet lagged, but ready to sight see. I realized then that John had not asked to nurse since we landed.

I was following a gentle child-led weaning method called “don’t offer, don’t refuse," so even though John asked regularly to nurse, I did not think much of it, assuming we were all just tired. That evening as we went to bed, John came over and pulled up my shirt. Instead of nursing, he laid his head on my belly and fell asleep. I was amazed that we had gone a whole day without nursing. Little did I know that our plane ride to Italy would be the last time I breastfed my firstborn son.

March 9, 2012

Please let your employer know about this upcoming presentation (and free lunch!) that is being offered at Ameritas on March 21st.  It is a perfect way for businesses to learn how to comply with the newly amended Fair Labor Standards Act and support breastfeeding mothers in the work force.

The panel will feature two MilkWorks board members, attorney Adam Prochaska and Liz Ring-Carlson, a public affairs manager at State Farm who has returned-to-work and breastfed two babies (with a third on the way!).

Please help us spread the word about this event!

Thanks!

Ann, Executive Director, MilkWorks

The Fair Labor Standards Act and Breastfeeding Mothers: What Employers Need to Know

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act was recently amended to address the needs of breastfeeding mothers in the work force. WorkWell, Southeast Nebraska's worksite wellness council, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, and the Women’s Health Advisory Council are sponsoring an informational luncheon designed for employers to help them better understand the FLSA changes and how to support breastfeeding employees. There is no cost to attend.

All employers, business managers and human resource managers in Lancaster County are invited to attend the presentation on Wednesday, March 21st from

11:30 am – 1:00 pm at Ameritas, 5900 O Street.

A complimentary lunch will be served. Registration is required. Please call or email Jackie at (402) 441-6212 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

March 1, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

The year is 1963. I remember being 10 years old, snooping through my mother's closet and finding a pale pink baby book with my birth certificate tucked inside. As I opened the book, a small card fell out. My mother told me it was my "crib card." It read "Baby Girl Raschke, born March 11 at 11:53 pm, weight 7 lbs. 8 ounces." In the corner of the card was the word "Breast." My mother explained that she breastfed me. Thinking that all babies were fed from a bottle, I asked her why. She responded that our family could not afford to buy formula.

That discussion was my first experience with breastfeeding.

February 1, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

This past weekend I attended the 125th anniversary celebration of my college sorority.The ballroom of the Holiday Inn was filled with women ages 18 to 91.We watched a video on the history of the sorority and I was amazed by the changing looks (clothing and hair styles) of college women. Needless to say, there was a great difference from the 1887 straw hats and white gloves to the 2012 skin tight short dresses and high heel shoes.

The contrast made me think of a recent article published in Great Britain that took on the hooter hider, calling it a “shower curtain cover up”. Better known as a nursing cover, this large piece of fabric drapes over a baby at the breast. The neckline “bows” which allows a mom to see her baby, yet be covered up while breastfeeding.  

Some of the older staff at MilkWorks initially scoffed at the nursing cover. Doesn’t it just draw more attention to nursing your baby? Is this progress? Or is this moms feeling like they must be “under cover?" I personally liked being a bit bold nursing in the 1980’s because I felt it might help pave the way for other mothers to feel more comfortable breastfeeding in public.

But then I wondered if the shower curtain look is actually a badge of honor? In a way, it does say “look at me!” I am breastfeeding and I am proud of it!

Like sororities, breastfeeding will no doubt continue to adapt to the times. While the basic process of breastfeeding will not change, the fashions of breastfeeding will most likely go through many evolutions .... as mothers continue to nurture and care for their newborn babies.

January 1, 2012

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

Breastfeeding is a simple biological process. A mother gives birth. This change in her hormones causes her breasts to make milk. Her baby shows feeding cues and latches to her breast, suckles vigorously and removes milk. More milk is made each time her baby wakes and feeds.

Ah, if it were only so simple! Ask many mothers and they will tell you a different story. The reality is that breastfeeding is a natural process, but it presents uniquely for each mother and baby. No instruction manual can do it justice. 

Mothers used to learn how to breastfeed from their mothers, grandmothers, sisters and friends. In the year 2012, we now have nurses, doctors, midwives, breastfeeding educators and lactation consultants to round out the support team and make sure mothers get accurate information and guidance.

December 14, 2011

By Sara Dodder Furr, LLLL, IBCLC

When MilkWorks opened in February of 2001, we all knew it was important to provide a way for moms to get together regularly, to support and encourage each other. We envisioned a group where moms could talk freely, bring their babies and just be themselves in a non-judgmental atmosphere. We wanted to provide a safe place where moms could breastfeed without having to worry about offending someone. We wanted moms to come regardless of whether or not they were having breastfeeding difficulties. We hoped it would become a place where moms who’d come in for consults could go to get support from others, beyond clinical care.  

Eventually, the group became known as MomTalk. In the beginning, I led the group once a week and for at least a month, I sat on the couch and really got to know Cathy and her baby Spencer. Cathy was our first consult client at MilkWorks and she and Spencer taught me a lot about really listening to a new mom. Cathy’s quiet confidence grew over time and as other moms started coming to MomTalk, Cathy welcomed them and gave them the support. This was exactly what we had hoped for! As each mom came to the group, perhaps she was initially seeking support for herself, perhaps she had urgent questions or problems. As the group facilitator, I provided resources and information and sometimes shared my own experience, especially since my daughter Nora was a nursling at the time and was my “demo model” in the group. Fortunately, she was an easy-going baby and, as an older nursling (she was nine months old when MilkWorks opened), she was eager to demonstrate her breastfeeding skills to Spencer and the other babies who came to MomTalk.

December 1, 2011

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

This is a story about Finn, a sweet baby boy who was born last November. Finn's parents, Sarah and Jonathon, live in Montana. They traveled to Arizona so that Finn could be born near grandparents. Jonathan emailed me shortly after Finn's birth because breastfeeding was not going well. Despite trying everything for several weeks, Sarah could not get Finn's latch comfortable. She ended up pumping to give Finn her milk. But by then, it hurt to even pump. I was at a loss and wondered if Sarah should wean Finn. Little did I know what was to come...

December 1, 2011

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

Why does breastfeeding help protect against obesity? Information points to multiple reasons. Babies may be able to control their intake better at the breast. Not only do they have to work to get the milk, but they can more easily stop when they are full. In addition, a fast flow bottle may deliver formula very quickly, before a baby’s blood sugar has time to rise and a baby has time to feel full. Human milk also contains satiety hormones that may help a baby to eat less and be more satisfied. It may also have to do with other hormones found in breast milk that help to regulate blood sugar.  

October 10, 2011

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

I just returned from my (yikes!) 40th high school reunion. I grew up in a small town, so many of my classmates shared memories all the way back to kindergarten. It was a warm and comforting event full of acceptance and laughter.

1969-1971 was a pivotal period for high school students. While my oldest sister sat through English class in a cashmere sweater and plaid skirt, I attended our school's first Black History course dressed in bell bottoms and a hand embroidered peasant shirt.

I came of age in a time period when young women were empowered to consider  new opportunities and make choices about their future.

October 5, 2011

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

A close friend of mine just returned from spending a week helping her son and daughter-in-law take care of their first baby.  She loved playing grandma, listening to their birth story and helping to take care of everyone.
Apparently her new grand baby did not nurse well for the first several days.  Her son was very supportive, encouraging his wife to be patient until things improved.  My friend said that her daughter in law felt like a failure when her baby was not nursing well.  This comment launched us into a discussion of our culture’s expectations of new moms.

I think I surprised my friend when I said, “Well, of course new moms should feel like a failure if their baby does not feed well.  If they didn’t, who would take care of the babies?”

Take a moment to think of what would happen if moms did not feel compelled to take good care of their babies, or, in the case of breastfeeding, did not take it personally when their babies don’t feed well?  Without this motivation, would any babies ever survive?

We often forget that much of what we do has origins in biology.  Why is sex pleasurable?  So that people reproduce.  If sex was miserable, humans would be extinct.  Why should moms feel responsible for their babies?  So their babies will survive and thrive.  We live in a rapidly changing world more focused on technology than brain chemicals and hormones.  Yet it is well known that biology still rules in some matters.

What should we do when new moms feel bad because their babies are not breastfeeding well? Provide reassurance that their feelings are normal and find them help.  When moms feel as though they are being listened to, they work through their feelings.  They realize that life (and breastfeeding) is not perfect.  With help they can go on to breastfeed their baby in their own unique, special way.

September 1, 2011

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

Everything about breastfeeding seems pretty second nature to me. I breastfed my four children and have been helping mothers breastfeed for over twenty years. I can speak comfortably about breastfeeding to politicians and high school students, in front of television cameras and to people I meet in elevators and at parties. So when the Fusion Project asked me to teach a breastfeeding class to a group of eight moms, I did not even think twice. Until I showed up and learned my lesson.

August 2, 2011

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

As a community breastfeeding center, MilkWorks depends upon grants, donations and fundraisers. This income allows us to provide free moms' groups and drop in weight checks, answer breastfeeding questions 7 days a week and offer reduced consultation fees for low income moms. 

Recently one of our funders complimented MilkWorks.  She said  "You know what you want  (to help moms breastfeed), you are very tenacious and you know how to ask for help."  Help is exactly what we got when a group of incredible volunteers, led by Sarah McCurley, planned our July 16th Family Festival to celebrate ten years of MilkWorks. It was fantastic!

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

July 1, 2011

I always feel as though summer is truly here when the fireflies appear.  As a young child growing up in a small town in South Dakota, I spent many summer evenings enchanted by the sparkling lights darting in the grass, wondering how they worked their magic.

June 4th bought a bit of magic right here to MilkWorks as board members and volunteers held our first official fundraiser at the home of Dr. Tim and Patti Gardner.  It was enchanting to see such great community support for MilkWorks.

Dr. Tim and Patti Gardner’s home was the perfect setting for tasting incredible pastries and cocktails and enjoying the many friends of MilkWorks.

June 2, 2011

Ann Seacrest, Executive Director, MilkWorks

Women often give birth and breastfeed their babies without family members living close by. There is a saying that "mothers were not meant to do this alone" and another saying that "it takes a village to raise a child." MilkWorks takes both of these concepts very seriously.

In many cultures, grandparents and other family members play a dominant role when a new baby is born. They help with household chores, make meals and model parenting behavior:  soothing a crying baby or rocking a baby to sleep. It's all so basic and seems so simple. Unless you are a new parent doing it for the first time in a sleep deprived state of mind.

May 1, 2011

Ann Seacrest, Executive Director

We all know that human babies must be protected. They need to be kept warm and dry, well fed and safe. Our babies also need to be held and loved so they learn to trust and be part of our society. The vast majority of parents work very hard to make this happen.

Many of my friends, who are now becoming grandparents, have noticed the incredible number of rules young parents face today. Sleep positions.  6-point car seat harness systems. Safety approved high chairs. Rigid and multiple immunization schedules. Sling recalls. Baby CPR. It's enough to make those of us with older children shudder and wonder how our children ever survived.

An infant injury or death is devastating to parents and family members. And in a perfect world, no child would ever get hurt. In our attempt to create a safer world for children, we must stop and realize that all the rules in the world will not make perfection. And when life throws us non-perfection, we need to avoid judgment. We need to extend support instead.

April 2, 2011

Ann Seacrest, Executive Director

Time to celebrate!

Last week Nebraska joined the rest of the country when Governor Heineman signed the new breastfeeding bill into law! Nebraska mothers may now nurse their babies in any location they have a legal right to be.

Having just returned from a service trip to Honduras in Central America, I am very aware of the drastically different living conditions in our two countries, as well as a drastically different attitude towards mothers feeding their babies.

March 2, 2011

Ann Seacrest, Executive Director

We recently received a thank you note and donation from a Lincoln day care provider who relies upon us to answer questions she has when taking care of babies who are breastfeeding. This is exactly what US Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin meant by community support when she issued the recent Call to Action for Breastfeeding.

Everyone in our community, from a breastfeeding mother, to her partner, to her mother-in-law, to her health care provider, to her employer, to her day care provider, needs to know where they can get accurate, consistent information and support.  

Not just when a mom has a baby who won't latch or isn't gaining weight, but for all those other small reasons we don't think about. The support needs to be easy to access and it needs to be available 7 days a week (and preferably 24 hours a day!).

February 10, 2011

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director

MilkWorks opened our doors ten years ago this month, shortly after the US Surgeon General issued a Breastfeeding Blueprint for Action calling for community support. Seven Lincoln women took this document to heart and decided that if mothers were going to be encouraged to breastfeed, they needed to have a good support system once they left the hospital. MilkWorks was developed as a free standing, non-profit organization (we are not affiliated with any hospital or doctor’s office), so we could serve all women and grow and develop based upon the needs of Lincoln families.

It is hard to believe that our first babies are now 10 years old!

We started out in 1,000 square feet and saw 100 mothers for consultations in the first year. Over the past 10 years, we have expanded our space 4 times and now provide lactation care to approximately a thousand mothers a year. We have done this without monthly fundraising letters and without insurance reimbursement for lactation consultants - a true testimony to the grass roots efforts, dedication and passion of our staff.

Until we opened our doors, breastfeeding support in our community was minimal.

January 26, 2011

By Ann Seacrest, Executive Director

State Senator Annette Dubas introduced LB 197 in the Nebraska Legislature today. The bill simply says a mother “may breastfeed her child in any public or private location where the mothers is otherwise authorized to be.”  The bill is part of an obesity prevention campaign endorsed by the Nebraska Medical Association.

So why do we need legislation that allows mothers to breastfeed?

Infant nutrition has been identified by the US Surgeon General, Healthy People 2020 , the American Academy of Pediatrics, and numerous other medical experts as a major factor in the health of our communities.

The most recent meta analysis by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (April 2007) reviewed 9,000 studies related to the impact of what infants are fed.  Their conclusion is that feeding human babies human milk (instead of formula) results in a 4 times lower risk of SIDS, a decreased risk of type I and type II diabetes, asthma, diarrhea, eczema, ear infections, childhood leukemia, hospitalizations for lower respiratory infections and necrotizing enterocolitis in pre term infants, and, a lifetime protection against obesity, which is epidemic in Nebraska.