Whoever said that competitors in the same field of practice can’t get along lied to you.

In this episode, Simeca sits with Jessica Salmon to discuss the journey into the IBCLC world as mothers and business women. Much like the episode with Janiya M. Williams (first episode of the podcast), this one highlights the struggles faced in the breastfeeding world for non-white mothers.

Unlike the first episode, however, both our host and guest are Jamaican-based. Though Jessica is not a born-Jamaican, she has operated in the country and understands the issues faced; thus making the episode, perhaps, more relatable to the Jamaican mom.

Being a non-Jamaican IBCLC, Jessica was able to shed a little light on her own unique journey into the field and how she had to adapt to the country’s culture, while being a mom, wife, and business woman. The discussion included conversations about Jessica’s business, Honeysuckle Motherhood, her ‘Double Your Milk Supply’ workbook and her ‘Guide to the first 90 days’ with your baby initiative.

This one felt a lot like two long-lost friends catching up and it’s made clear by the fun and relaxed tone shared between host and guest. It’s heartwarming, welcoming, and in some cases tear-jerking as both ladies shared intimate stories pertaining to their journeys as moms and how they both inspired each other at the start of their IBCLC careers and continue to inspire each other.

If you’re a listener hoping to venture into the breastfeeding support world, use this conversation as a sign that it is possible and rewarding. Use it as an example that competition does not have to mean arch nemesis. It can mean great collaboration, inspiration, and maybe even friendship.

To connect with Jessica, follow her on Instagram @honeysuckle.motherhood to stay in touch.

“It’s not just about having a chunky baby.” - Simeca Alexander Williamson

In this episode, Simeca goes solo to discuss a recent case (within the last six months of the episode’s publication) of a ‘failure to thrive’ experience.

She starts by explaining to listeners what ‘failure to thrive’ means in the world of breastfeeding. Where she mentions growth charts for babies and the expected path to progression in terms of weight gain.

Simeca mentions including diagrams to illustrate the growth charts. However, Spotify doesn’t allow us to share diagrams. So, our quick fix is to direct you to a growth chart resource. You may head to the following link to access it: Using WHO Growth Standard Charts | Growth Chart Training | CDC

Simeca then proceeds to break the case down into manageable bits and pieces that are digestible for the audience. The mom in this case is a second-time mother whose baby had a tongue tie and was not gaining weight after six weeks.

This episode highlights some key concerns and steps to address the issues:

• Signs to look out for in a potential ‘failure to thrive’ baby

• Postpartum fog

• Positioning (the correct baby hold) - Pace bottle feeding

• Increasing milk supply

• Fast flow bottle usage versus slower flow bottles with a gradual slope or the breast

• Flanging

• Identifying progressive suckling (nutritive sucks vs non nutritive sucks)

• The ‘fine line’ between misguided suggestions from the paediatricians and OBGYN vs correct guidance from lactation consultant

• The importance of following up with your lactation consultant in good time

The hope here is that newborn mothers, other interested parties, and even students preparing to enter the breastfeeding world will be educated based on Simeca’s experience and actions. They will be able to note key points and apply them to their own experiences.

Good News! Simeca shared, “I spoke with mommy about a week ago and the baby was now at 3.3 kg compared to just a .2kg in a six week period. So I am very excited about that! Of course, follow up has to be done with the paediatrician and it’s more ideal when [we - paediatrician and I] can speak with each other just in case we have technical terms [that need clarification]. It’s better when it’s a wholesome and integrated approach in terms of health; especially in a specific case like ‘failure to thrive’.

Simeca handles this case and many others on a daily basis with her clients. A major point to note is that all pregnancies are different, and as such, all breastfeeding journeys are different. As Cradle of Life’s chief lactation consultant, Simeca has the experience, skills, and tools to help mothers and their newborns along their breastfeeding journey, despite the challenges that may present themselves.

You may connect with and contact her via the website, https://cradleoflifeltd.com/ to book a consultation with her.

Sometimes, a conversation about breastfeeding and breastfeeding support extends beyond the obvious. As an initiative of Cradle of Life Limited, this podcast dares to engage in conversations that are related to breastfeeding that we haven’t really considered in great detail before. As such, we dare to have conversations like this one - an in depth, thought-provoking, and perhaps, borderline challenging the norm.

It gets heavy and quite technical, somewhat outside the cliché scope of breastfeeding jargon.

In this episode, Zenzi Moore-Dawes, a Jamaican and Anthropology graduate student at the San Francisco University, joins Simeca to discuss the impact that colonialism and slavery has had on breastfeeding among Black communities — especially Afro-Caribbean and other Black communities.

Zenzi and Simeca get into the discussion to highlight the difference between colonialism and slavery to set the base of the conversation.From there, both ladies dissected the impacts that colonialism and slavery has had on Afro-Caribbean and other Black communities. So, they looked at the separation of mother from child, being forced to breastfeed slave masters’ babies, wet nursing among many other components.

Grab some popcorn and your notepads, this one is one of the most edifying episodes we’ve done thus far. So much so that considerations are being made to extend this conversation. So, stay tuned!

In this episode, Simeca catches up with a fellow colleague in the international breastfeeding support community — Nekisha Killings MPH, IBCLC.

Killings, founder of The Melanted Mammary Atlas®, shared that something seemingly as simple as the shade and colour used to represent all breasts is problematic for the communities who don’t fall within the generic descriptions. It poses a problem and can be dangerous. Not using true representation for Black, Brown, and all other “coffee” hues means that breast-related illnesses in these communities will go misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. It takes away from relatability, belonging, and community. It also perpetuates the false narrative that people in these communities are “tougher”, have “thicker skin”, and all the other foolish sentiments that exist.

Though the biology and structure of titties are generally the same, they all look different. Since that is a known fact, why are most - if not all - text books and other material representing the titties to students and mothers as the generic and unfortunate Caucasian, pink, and red colours? That’s inequity and injustice if you ask us.

In a poetic portrayal of rebellion and taking action against such injustices, the Atlas seeks an equitable future of healthcare that normalises a diverse representation of brown skin, in all its varied coffee shades and hues, empowering health professionals to make more informed decisions for their patients of colour.

Tune in and get comfortable in the fact that melanated breastisies are being represented in the right ways with a bright future of even greater representation. We’re sure that you’ll learn new things, so get your note pads out and share the word so that more may know of the Atlas and gain access to it! Besides, though Nekisha is US-based, she has no partiality for Black and Brown breasts worldwide. She even shared that she has a soft spot for the Caribbean and there may very well be more collaboration between the Titty Squad and The Melanated Mammary Tribe (we coined that collective name, by the way)😉

Lets #normalizebrownbreasts and follow Nekisha’s work and The Melanted Mammary Atlas® on her website at mmatlas.com.

In our last episode for the first trimester, Simeca speaks with Dr. Lisa Abuogi about breastfeeding with HIV.

In many parts of the world, this topic is shrouded in discrimination, ignorance, and fear. It's a taboo conversation, but one that must be had in as many ways as possible. At the heart of it all, breastfeeding with HIV is possible. Studies and research support this, alongside recommendations from the World Health Organization and individual country health guidelines and practices.

Dr. Lisa shared a powerful example of breastfeeding with HIV being possible. One of the moms she works with has successfully breastfed three children and is now on her fourth baby. This mom contracted HIV from her mother during childbirth, and with the right treatment and care, she has lived a normal and healthy life and has four healthy, HIV-free children. Now, if that's not a testimony, we don't know what is!

As an official close-out, Simeca bids farewell to the first season, expressing gratitude to the season's guests and the team behind it all.

*Point of information:* In conversation, our host mentioned the unavoidable absence of a guest from the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL). However, an error was made in the name of the organization. Instead of JASL, she mistakenly said Jamaica AIDS Society.

Give the episode a listen, share, leave a comment, and catch us in trimester 2!

Let's get real. More often than not, when a mom gives birth, the focus from loved ones and, sadly, most health care professionals, shifts completely to the baby. As a result, the maternal health space tends to focus on common concerns pertaining to the after effects of birthing and thereafter, it's generally check ups for the baby and mom as far as her body's health.

However, in this episode, Simeca speaks with relationship coach, Chelsea Skaggs and women's health physiotherapist, Kimberly Hoffman where they highlight why it's important to continue to focus on mom as much as baby.

From the relationship standpoint, Chelsea speaks about the changes that occur for relationship dynamics and strategies that parents and partners can implement to adjust.

From the physiotherapy perspective, Kimberly speaks on the importance of pelvic floor exercises and the positive impact it can have for mothers.

Key takeaways include:

- Acknowledging what normal looks like - what it was versus what it is in the current moment.

- Focusing on communication improvements with your partner as mind-reading is not real.

- As much as the process and experience in beautiful, it's not always pretty and glamourous. In fact, it's rarely a glamourous experience.

- Set realistic expectations for your process into motherhood leading up to birth and after. For example, the physical changes of the body, and the interpersonal changes within the unionwith your partner.

Yes, these conversations and more are part of maternal health. The experience doesn't exist in a vacuum.

Both guests highlight that seeking help from a relationship coach and women's health physiotherapist at all phases - before, during, AND after the birth of your bundle(s) of joy.

This episode might open some eyes and minds as to why maternal health goes beyond the cliché. Tune in and leave us a comment or two!

In keeping with our focus on the maternal, we found it important for a discussion about mental health and the postpartum experience. It is most appropriate as October is observed as Mental Health Awareness Month and October10th is observed as Mental Health Awareness Day.

In this raw and mostly uncut episode, Jhanille Brooks M.A, Licensed Associate Counselling Psychologist, joins Simeca in-studio to discuss mental health during the postpartum period for newborn moms.

Jhanille shares that working with postpartum mothers is about helping them to navigate the new responsibilities that they have and also trying to find balance within that new existence.

As you listen, you'll come across a number of eureka moments, "oh my gosh, mee too!" moments where you'll probably feel seen, heard, and understood, as the host and guest speak freely about the impact that being a new mom can have on the mind.

In a number of funny, and serious points throughout the discussion, you'll hear the common thread of giving yourself grace, knowing when to seek help from loved ones and help from professionals in the talk therapy space and beyond. Additionally, and most importantly, bear in mind that NO-ONE KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING! So, be gentler with yourself as you maneuver this new experience. Even if you've had a child or children before your current bundle, it's a new experience as no one pregnancy, birthing, or breastfeeding experience is the same.

The aim of this episode was to speak on post partum's impact on the mental health, but it blossomed into so much more!

In this special podcast episode, Simeca speaks about navigating the breastfeeding journey before and after a breast cancer diagnosis. This episode is for new moms, survivors, or anyone supporting a loved one through their journey with breast cancer. It aims to honour the journey of countless mothers who have endured or are enduring cancer while caring for a newborn, especially in answering the question, "Should I or should I not breastfeed?"

You'll hear insights, including the benefits of breastfeeding, such as a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and more.

During a self-check of the breasts, Simeca explains, "There are cases where you might feel lumps. Lumps during breastfeeding are not necessarily associated with breast cancer. They can be due to a plugged duct, mastitis, extended engorgement, and it's not necessarily cancer." Most importantly, "if you're ever in doubt, visit your healthcare provider to check it out."

Simeca also shares a touching story about a friend who was diagnosed with pregnancy-associated breast cancer. Despite her diagnosis, she was able to breastfeed for two months before undergoing a mastectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy treatment.

Around the 7th minute of this episode, Simeca discusses radiology and radiography, two closely related fields within medical imaging, without making clear distinctions. Here’s some clarity:

Radiography

Radiography is the process of capturing images using X-ray technology. Radiographers operate X-ray machines, position patients, and ensure high-quality images are obtained. They do not interpret the images but work under the supervision of radiologists or other physicians.

Radiology

Radiology is a medical specialty that involves interpreting and analysing medical images to diagnose and treat diseases. Radiologists are medical doctors who specialise in interpreting various types of medical images, including X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasounds, and nuclear medicine scans.

Radiographers focus on performing the imaging procedures, while radiologists focus on interpreting the images and making diagnoses.

Though we are based in Jamaica, we don't exist in a vacuum. As such, we found it appropriate to release this episode in October as it's observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Notably, the week of October 13th was observed in the US as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. It began in 2009 and is meant to educate the public about the need for more money to go to the study of metastatic breast cancer and the development of new treatments. (This information about Metastatic Breast Cancer is adapted from breastcancer.org)

Locally, for help and support with any type of cancer, you may contact the Jamaica Cancer Society.

Tune in and let us know what you think!