Smooches Infant Nursing Specialist

02/23/2026

There’s an image going around of a lactating breast that is obnoxiously inaccurate 😖 (I’ll share it in the comments). And while it might look “real” at first glance, images like this are exactly why it’s so important to understand and visualize what a milk making breast actually looks like.

When we picture milk as something that sits in big pockets or sacs, it reinforces the myth that milk is stored and can suddenly “run out.” In reality, milk is made continuously, microscopically, and ON DEMAND. Seeing accurate anatomy helps mothers understand that supply is driven by removal and hormones, not by how full the breast looks. It also helps normalize why breasts don’t always feel rock hard, why pumping volumes vary, and why babies can still get milk even when a breast feels soft.

Accurate visuals matter because misinformation, even when it’s subtle, shapes expectations. When AI driven images misrepresent lactation anatomy, they can create confusion, and even self-doubt for breastfeeding mothers. We need images that educate, not dramatize. Milk-making breasts are functional, dynamic, and incredibly smart and they don’t need fake “milk sacs” to prove that. 😚

01/02/2026

🌙 Newborn Night Nurse | Postpartum Support 🌙

Hi, I’m Leah 🤍
I’m a caring and experienced newborn night nurse offering gentle overnight support to families during those early weeks at home.

With 10 years of experience working with newborns and children — both in pediatric office settings and in-home night care — I’m here to help parents rest while knowing their baby is in safe, loving hands.

✨ What Smooches offer:
• Overnight newborn care (feeding, sleep schedule assistance, soothing, diaper changes, bathing)
• Support during the postpartum period
• Light baby-related help during the night
• Calm, patient, nurturing care

✨ Credentials:
• 10 years pediatric & newborn experience
• In-office pediatrics + home night care +business owner
• CPR certified

I believe every family deserves support, rest, and reassurance during this tender season 🤍

Feel free to message me privately with any questions or to check availability.

🌙 Helping families rest, one night at a time.

01/02/2026

💙 New Year, New Awareness 💙

As we step into January, it’s a powerful time to check in on how you’re really feeling after birth.
Not every postpartum mood change is the same, and knowing the difference can help you get the right support:

🔹 Baby Blues: Temporary mood swings, tearfulness, irritability; usually resolve within 2 weeks
🔹 Postpartum Depression (PPD): Persistent sadness, low energy, hopelessness, loss of interest; may last months without treatment
🔹 Postpartum Anxiety (PPA): Excessive worry, racing thoughts, panic; can interfere with daily life

✨ Early recognition leads to earlier support and recovery.

And remember, perinatal mental health conditions can also include OCD, Bipolar Mood Disorders, PTSD, and Psychosis.

💙 You are not alone, and help is available.

If you need support now:
🔷 Call or text the Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773 (no diagnosis needed)
🔷 Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
🔷 In a crisis, call or text 988
🔷 Download the Connect by PSI app
🔷 Visit Postpartum.net for programs and resources

✨ A new year can be the beginning of feeling better.

10/09/2024

My favorite patient 🥰

12/05/2023

Cradle hold is probably the position most people think of when they imagine breastfeeding. It's familiar and can be helpful for if you also need to shape your breast.

11/06/2023

A photo showing droplets of breast milk fending off armies of harmful bacteria in Petri dishes is going viral on Facebook.⁣
⁣
The photo, posted by a biology student in England, features nine Petri dishes completely colonized with the bacteria M. Luteus, except in the center, where tiny puddles of breast milk have created what looks like “moats” of protection around themselves.⁣
⁣
The student, Vicky Green, said she had similar results with Petri dishes full of e.Coli and the dreaded anti-biotic resistant “super bug” MRSA.⁣
⁣
⁣
“The white spots in the middle are discs soaked in two samples of breastmilk,” Green wrote in the caption of her post. “See the clear bit around the discs ― that’s where the proteins in the milk have inhibited the bacteria!”⁣
⁣
An article from YourPediatrician.com explains how this is possible:⁣
⁣
“About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. Breast-fed babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight the diseases their babies are exposed to as well.”⁣
⁣
What’s even more impressive is that the samples of milk in the photos came from the mother of a 15-month-old and a 3-year-old, providing further evidence that breast milk continues to protect against illness long beyond infancy.

11/06/2023

Using the right tools can make all the difference in your labor experience, especially when having an unmedicated birth. ⁠
⁠
🤰🏼 Join us Nov 6th- 10th for our Fearless Birth Experience. This free 5 day event will provide you with the knowledge, resources and support to prepare for your upcoming birth. Comment for more info ❤️⁠
⁠
Some of my favorites are: ⁠
⁠
→ Peanut ball. This versatile tool can be used to help open up your pelvis and allow your baby to descend into the birth canal. It can also help alleviate pressure on your back and make contractions more productive.⁠
⁠
→ Birthing Ball. Sitting on the ball can help your baby move down into the pelvis and keep your hips open. You can also use the ball to rock back and forth during contractions or to do gentle pelvic circles to help alleviate pressure.⁠
⁠
→ Comb. Applying pressure with a comb right under where your fingers meet your palm can help relieve pain and tension during contractions.⁠
⁠
→ TENS unit. Delivering low-voltage electrical stimulation to the nerves can help block pain signals to the brain.⁠
⁠
→ Massage gun. It can be used to help release tension in your muscles, especially in your back, hips, and thighs. It's a great way to help you relax and feel more comfortable during contractions.⁠
⁠
→ Tennis ball. Rolling it under your feet can help provide relief from back pain, and using it to apply pressure to specific areas can help alleviate tension and discomfort.⁠
⁠
→ Shower head. The warm water can help soothe and calm you, and the pressure of the water can provide a massage-like effect on your back and hips.⁠
⁠
→ Hydrotherapy. Whether it's a birthing tub or simply a warm bath or shower, being in water can help you relax and manage pain. The buoyancy of the water can also help you move more freely and find positions that are comfortable for you.⁠
⁠
Are you planning on having any of these tools tucked away in your hospital bag?

09/17/2023

“I breastfed in public week 2 with no cover, it was just too hot! I’ve been doing it ever since.” Shared by Badass Caroline

09/17/2023

08/31/2023

Hold them when they cry. They’re not manipulating you. They need you to show them their needs are important.

Feed them when they ask. They’re not greedy. Diet culture hasn’t taught them to override their body’s signals yet.

Meet them with love and guidance, not anger. They’re not naughty. Their brains haven’t developed fully yet.

Go to them in the night. They’re not wrapping you around their little finger. They need you so they can feel safe.

You are the world to them, and they learn that they are good, valid, and safe from your responses.

Ignoring their cries for support teaches them that they are not important, they don’t know their own bodies, they should be ashamed of their feelings, and that no one is coming to help them.