Hi, welcome to the badass breastfeeding podcast.

This is Diane, your lactation consultant.

And this is Abby, the badass breastfeater, and today's episode is brought to you by

Original Sprout.

Original Sprout carries safe, effective, and pediatrician tested shampoos, conditioners,

styling and body care products produced and

packaged in the USA. And today's episode is also brought to you by Milkies. Milkies makes

handcrafted keepsakes for your breast milk, a lock of hair, or umbilical cord. And we will hear

more from our sponsors later. But right now, Diane has our

review of the week. Yes, this comes from Stephanie Ramirez. And she sent us an email through the

badass breastfeeding podcast at gmail.com. And this was from last month. And she says,

hi, Abby and Diane. I found your podcast like two weeks ago and I've been hooked.

We've been in our breastfeeding journey for eight months yesterday and it hasn't been easy,

but it's been so rewarding. I was lucky to birth my baby in a baby friendly hospital and the nurses

were critical in jump starting our journey. We struggled to latch right from the start.

I was told it was because I have flat inverted nipples and was given a nipple shield.

I know many moms are against nipple shields and I was told that I should just stop because if it's too hard, it wasn't meant to be.

I, like Diane, have a spiteful streak and push through the early days even though the cracked and bleeding nipples and tearful nights.

When my son was two months old, I went to see our IBCLC,

but she unfortunately was out sick that day. I wasn't turned away, but I was seen by someone who

wasn't certified. I was still having latching issues. The two pieces of advice I was given was to

lose a nipple shield and to nurse my baby in the football hold. My son was already 24 inches and

...