Gretchen Becker Crabb is a ray of sunshine.☀️
Imagine this: you’ve just given birth to your first baby, and after a few days of trying to figure out breastfeeding, you meet a person who is like a ray of sunshine inside a human being. And the first thing she says is “Tell me what this has been like for you.”
Not “how has breastfeeding been going for you?” or even “how can I help you with feeding your baby?”
So you put it in words. Everything you have been feeling comes tumbling out of you, probably some tears as well, and suddenly, you feel a sense of relief.
Now you have words. You have a story that you’ve told someone, and you can tell it again to anyone who will listen. You can tell them what breastfeeding means to you, what giving birth was like, what you felt before and what you feel now, what you want from it, whether you’re mad or frustrated or excited or relieved.
Someone asked, and then they listened.
If someone had asked me that after my first baby was born, I probably would have realized that my emotions and experiences were valid and important. Instead, it took me a long time to realize that my experience of becoming a mother was just as important as my baby’s experience of coming into the world and growing and thriving.
In this conversation with Gretchen, I asked her what she believes is the opportunity we have when we first meet someone who is really struggling with breastfeeding.
Gretchen, who is an OTR/L and CLC, shares in this episode about how she thinks of the dyad and the breastfeeding relationship and applies her expertise in sensory integration to her work with families.
Like me, Gretchen has a breastfeeding support group background, and we had plenty to say on that topic as well.
And then we got to her insights about wearable pumps and why them seem to work better for some people in some circumstances - listen around the 32-minute mark for that🧐
Put on your walking shoes or settle into your favorite seat for a listen in on this conversation with Gretchen and me. We had a beautiful time and promised each other we’ll do it again!
You can sign up for Gretchen’s email newsletter on her website⬇️
website: gretchencrabbtherapy.com
Insta: @gretchencrabbtherapy
Facebook: Gretchen Becker Crabb
Link to Newborn Observation Trainings
https://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org/
Evolve Lactation Media is free for everyone to read and listen - please share!
Here are other ways to continue expanding your mindset:
Evolving the Modern Breastfeeding Experience: Holistic Lactation Care in the First 100 Hours — my book, a deeper foundation in the physiologically grounded, holistic lactation care.
The Breastfeeding Literacy project
Guide for Emerging Lactation Consultants
Send us your feedback, argue with us about what we’re sharing on the podcast, tell us your ideas or request for things we should cover.
Evolve Lactation Media is for YOU.
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-C.S. and O.D.
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