The Lactation Network

Our Chief Marketing Officer Ashley Farrow Brenner recently spoke to the Chicago Tribune about what inspired Room at the Table, an initiative that helps restaurants foster breastfeeding-friendly spaces. On the heels of an Indianapolis restaurant banning breastfeeding and children under 5, The Lactation Network was determined to address parents’ real need for acceptance, support, and community during the postpartum season — a deeply vulnerable time in life. “When we were thinking about places that parents need to connect, to find community outside of the home, outside of work, restaurants as that third place really stood out as an opportunity for us to educate and be more hospitable to parents.” Room at the Table equips restaurants with everything they need to make families feel welcome. It starts with training staff members to accommodate the unique needs of a young family such as secluded seating for privacy, offering warm water for a bottle or ice for pumped breast milk, and ensuring food comes out promptly. Those small acts of kindness and service can be the difference between a stressful outing and an enjoyable one. Together with over 75 restaurants, Room at the Table is signaling to parents everywhere that they are welcome to come as they are. Click the link to read more and find participating restaurants! 🔗 https://bit.ly/4fIbq5r

Our Chief Marketing Officer Ashley Farrow Brenner recently spoke to the Chicago Tribune about what inspired Room at the Table, an initiative that helps restaurants foster breastfeeding-friendly spaces. On the heels of an Indianapolis restaurant banning breastfeeding and children under 5, The Lactation Network was determined to address parents’ real need for acceptance, support, and community during the postpartum season — a deeply vulnerable time in life. “When we were thinking about places that parents need to connect, to find community outside of the home, outside of work, restaurants as that third place really stood out as an opportunity for us to educate and be more hospitable to parents.” Room at the Table equips restaurants with everything they need to make families feel welcome. It starts with training staff members to accommodate the unique needs of a young family such as secluded seating for privacy, offering warm water for a bottle or ice for pumped breast milk, and ensuring food comes out promptly. Those small acts of kindness and service can be the difference between a stressful outing and an enjoyable one. Together with over 75 restaurants, Room at the Table is signaling to parents everywhere that they are welcome to come as they are. Click the link to read more and find participating restaurants! 🔗 https://bit.ly/4fIbq5r

The Lactation Network is the largest network of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) — and is changing the standard of lactation care and ensuring families have access to expert breastfeeding support. Studies show that parents who receive breastfeeding support have higher success rates of initiation and continuation. Just this year, 78% of TLN mothers reported being able to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months — the clinically recommended time frame — compared to the national average of just 25%. Are you looking for insurance-covered lactation care? Click the link below to get the support you deserve. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4iV0T9J.

Research shows that babies fed a combination of formula and breastmilk for two or more months had a 62% lower risk of SIDS, and babies who were exclusively breastfed had a 73% lower risk of SIDS. In addition to lowering the risk of SIDS, breastfeeding can lower rates of food allergies, asthma, and other infections for infants. To learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding over time, click the link below 👇 https://bit.ly/3B656Xg

4:00 Wallow in a never-ending to-do list before the holiday ✅ 4:30 Stare into the abyss of my inbox 📧 ️ 5:00 Order last-minute gifts online, tell no one 😏 5:30 A few moments of silence on the commute to pick up the kids 🧎♀️ 6:30 Dinner that’s not takeout — I can’t cancel that again! 🥘 7:00 Wrestle with the whole family passing sickness around 🤢 I’m booked. 🤷🏻♀️ Shout out to all the working parents this holiday season!

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are the highest-credentialed lactation experts with the only internationally recognized certification in the field of lactation. They help you work through common lactation and infant feeding issues, such as first latch and weaning, milk supply and pumping — and everything in between. Whether you’re breastfeeding your first or your fifth, there is *always* wisdom to be gained from working with an IBCLC. Because let’s face it, every breastfeeding journey is unique, and having a seasoned expert by your side is invaluable. To learn more about how TLN can connect you with an insurance-covered provider, head to tln.care 💚

Being pregnant during winter has its pros and cons. On the one hand, it’s a festive time of year that centers around togetherness and all things hygge (hello, cozy nesting period 🥰). And on the flip side, it can be a stressful season that takes an emotional and physical toll. If you’re an expecting parent, taking care of yourself may look like saying yes to fewer holiday parties, setting boundaries to prioritize your well-being, and slowing down to savor the little things before welcoming your newborn. For more tips on navigating a winter pregnancy, click the link below. If you’re a breastfeeding parent, we’ve got holiday season tips for you, too! https://bit.ly/3VCDOyI

We launched Room at the Table to normalize breastfeeding in restaurants. The bonus? We set the record for most babies in Chicago’s iconic Girl & the Goat! Over 80 new parents and their little ones joined us to feed and be fed. Now, 75 (and counting!) participating restaurants across the country are providing welcoming spaces that accommodate and empower postpartum parents. We couldn’t be prouder.

A persistent, unhelpful myth continues to exist surrounding the breastfeeding experience — that breastfeeding is innate, natural, and easy. This just leads to shame, guilt, and disappointment when breastfeeding doesn’t go as planned. We exist to set the record straight: Breastfeeding isn’t always easy. It’s a skill that must be taught and learned, by both parent and baby. “Most new parents are surprised with the learning curve or difficulties they face at the beginning of their breastfeeding journey,” International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Clinical Resource Manager at TLN, Demi Lucas, told Motherly. In fact, most folks need expert guidance to navigate all of breastfeeding’s unique challenges — from tongue ties to mastitis to nursing positions. That’s why normalizing breastfeeding struggles is key. Parents deserve the opportunity to prepare for different outcomes, seek out specialized care to reach their feeding goals, and ultimately feel less alone if they encounter setbacks. Click the link below to read more. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3Bp4XhA

When companies offer and encourage the proper use of paid leave for parents, they create a workplace culture that values family, fosters loyalty, and reduces turnover. Studies show that parents who receive paid family leave are more productive, efficient, and committed when they return to work. Paid family leave boosts employee morale and helps companies stand out in a competitive market where work-life balance is now considered a necessity. Read more on understanding your rights and benefits when it comes to maternity leave at the link below. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3VnoeHa Source: https://bit.ly/4g196aE