• Spoon feeding: We hear about toddlers in the high chair getting spoon fed solid food. Here comes the airplane! But can it work with infants? Sort of, Anderson says.
  
  “We can express that milk for mom. A lot of times we use hand expression, which is a very gentle way to do that. We do it right into a little plastic spoon. You hold the spoon up to baby’s mouth. They will stick their tongue out and kind of lap it up like a little puppy,” Anderson explains. “We’re not dumping it in their mouth and expecting them to swallow it. They need it in very small amounts to learn how to breathe while eating.”
   
• Cup feeding: It’s like spoon feeding but with a small medicine cup. Express the breastmilk into the cup, put the cup by the baby’s lower lip and let them lap up the nourishment.
   
• Dropper feeding: Express some breastmilk into a medicine dropper. Gently place the dropper in the corner of the baby’s mouth pointed toward their cheek, and squeeze out a tiny amount.
  
  “They’re getting breastmilk while not having to drink from a bottle. That can, in little bits, give baby the strength they need to latch onto mom’s breast [in the future],” Anderson says.
   
• Supplemental nursing system (SNS): Anderson says there are many reasons to use an SNS. For one, babies who might latch well at the breast lack the energy to actually get milk out by suckling. Birth is tiring, and they are sleepy. With an SNS, the baby still latches onto the breast, but there is a very small tube taped to the breast, aligned with the nipple. This allows the parent to provide milk from a syringe connected to the other end of the tube. 
  
  “We can still have mom holding baby and baby latching at the breast. We push milk through the tube very slowly. Baby is still suckling at the breast but getting milk from the tube,” Anderson outlines. “We can supplement without needing a bottle if that’s the parents’ preference.”

Learn more

Anderson says these alternatives are typically seen in the first few days, and mom and baby get the hang of feeding after that. But if problems persist, you can always talk to a lactation consultant. The OSF HealthCare website also has information about having a healthy pregnancy and birth. OSF also offers virtual breastfeeding support.

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Author's note: this is part two of a two part story on supporting new moms. Click here for part one.


Bringing a baby home from the hospital is one of the most stressful, but exciting things a couple can experience. Rightfully so, much of the focus in the first few weeks and months is on the child. Are they eating properly? Is their onesie comfortable? How much crying is too much?

But Xandra Anderson, BS, IBCLC, an international board-certified lactation consultant at OSF HealthCare, says: Don’t forget about mom’s needs, as this is a delicate time for her too. Anderson has some tips that partners, friends and family members can take note of.

• Have everyone educate themselves together. Anderson has counseled plenty of new moms in classes about baby feeding and just general infant care. She says dad and anyone else who will be that primary support system at home should be in the classes too.
  
  “It’s important to learn together because you’re going to be a team. This is something you’re doing together. You’re having a baby together. You’re adding a new family member. Family means you are a unit,” Anderson says. “When it’s only mom doing education, she has to turn around and educate dad, family and friends. It ends up being this spiral of more things mom has to do.”

For example, Anderson says if dad takes a baby feeding class, he’ll know the child’s hunger cues and can swoop in right away to help mom when it’s time to breastfeed or formula feed.

“You don’t have to be an expert. But it’s still important to accept the responsibility of needing to educate yourself. It's not mom’s responsibility to also take care of those around her,” Anderson says. “Working together takes some weight off mom’s shoulders. Then you really do feel like you’re doing this together instead of things being delegated or having things explained to you. Not everyone loves being talked to like that.”

• Recognize postpartum loneliness. Anderson says new moms are very focused on child care, leading to loneliness or feeling lost. That underscores the importance of support from friends and family. But Anderson says there will be times when mom wants to be left alone.
  
  “Some people are really good at saying ‘I’m touched out. I need space. I need to put my headphones in and be in my bedroom with the lights off. I just need time.’ But not of us are really good at that because you tend to feel guilty. You have people trying to help, but at that moment you don’t want help,” Anderson explains. “So be observant of mom’s cues. We’re constantly watching baby’s cues, but watch mom too. So maybe she’s being super fun and jovial. Then all of the sudden she starts to get quiet, or there are signs of overstimulation. Maybe she’s jumpy or irritable.”

That’s the time to broach the subject: are you OK? Do you need a few minutes?

• Don’t be afraid to be selfish with your baby’s time.
  
  “Even though everyone will want to love and get to know your new baby, it’s very important to remember that you are also getting to know your new baby and learning how to love them. This is a new, tiny person with their own personalities and tells,” Anderson points out. “It’s important to be able to have that time to learn that baby.”
  
  In other words, don’t be afraid to tell grandma that now is not the time for a photo session with the youngster.

The bottom line: Give yourself grace

Above all else, Anderson wants new parents to remember: Parenting is tough. Try hard, but cut yourself some slack when things aren’t perfect.

Learn more

Read more about having a successful pregnancy and birth on the OSF HealthCare website. Pregnancy care at OSF includes new parent classes taught by people like Anderson on the local level.

Interview clips

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Author's note: this is part one of a two part story on supporting new moms. Click here for part two.


Bringing a baby home from the hospital is one of the most stressful, but exciting things a couple can experience. Rightfully so, much of the focus in the first few weeks and months is on the child. Are they eating properly? Is their onesie comfortable? How much crying is too much?

But Xandra Anderson, BS, IBCLC, an international board-certified lactation consultant at OSF HealthCare, says: Don’t forget about mom’s needs, as this is a delicate time for her too. Anderson has some tips that partners, friends and family members can take note of.

• Have a conversation before the baby arrives about what mom’s needs are. Your idea of support might not line up with hers, it might be outdated or mom might need something you’re not able to do.
  
  “The conversation needs to be very mom-focused and validating,” Anderson says. “This is a new experience. You’re going from a family of two to a family of three. Ask: What are your expectations? How do you feel like we can support you?”
  
  For example, Anderson says a new mom might complain of cramping and just want to be heard, rather than be given a solution or hard truth (like, take a pill or use a heating pad) right away.
   
• Set realistic, simple goals. As much as mom might want her postpartum headache or stomachache to go away entirely, it might not be possible, leaving mom feeling disheartened.
  
  Instead, try: “I want to feed the baby before they get fussy. I want to make sure I get a 20-minute nap when baby naps,” Anderson suggests. “Be realistic. For example, babies are not going to sleep through the night. So your goal cannot be to get a restful night’s sleep. That’s just not reality.”
  
  Other common, achievable goals: I want to drink three bottles of water per day. I know I’m busy in the morning, but I want to commit to eating something for breakfast. I want 15 minutes per day to enjoy a hobby. Or, dad can set a goal to always be the one to fold the laundry so mom gets a break from one task.
  
  For infant feeding: “Make the goal simply: I want to feed my baby,” Anderson implores. “It doesn’t have to be ‘I need to feed my baby, pump breastmilk, sleep and wash all the bottles.’ Feeding is your only job, and your baby’s only job is to eat.”
   
• Stay well fed, well hydrated and well rested. This goes without saying, but it can get lost in the never-ending task of child care. Keep a drink and a snack bag within arm’s reach as often as possible. Those snacks can be a sweet or salty treat in moderation, Anderson says. Or, look for one-handed foods like wraps that you can eat while feeding your baby. Try making this one of the simple tasks for a friend or mother-in-law. Put them in charge of the “snack station” in several rooms of your home.
  
  For sleep, Anderson simply says with a smile, “Do your best.
  
  “Everyone says to sleep when the baby sleeps, but there are some parents that have anxiety that stops them from doing that,” Anderson says. “If you can’t sleep, just rest. Turn devices off. Turn noises down.”
  
  This is another time you can tap into your support system, Anderson says. While you rest, see if someone can wash the dishes or put away the laundry.

The bottom line: Give yourself grace

Above all else, Anderson wants new parents to remember: Parenting is tough. Cut yourself some slack when things aren’t perfect.

Learn more

Read more about having a successful pregnancy and birth on the OSF HealthCare website. Pregnancy care at OSF includes new parent classes taught by people like Anderson on the local level.

Interview clips

Related stories

Mental health medication and pregnancy
Navigating the baby blues and more
Back to sleep
Infant nutrition misconceptions
Peeling back the layers
Lesser known ways to feed your baby

Traveling through an airport is stressful for many families, but for breastfeeding mothers, it can be especially overwhelming. A new law aims to change that by improving how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) handles breast milk, pumping supplies and formula at security checkpoints.

The bipartisan-supported BABES (Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening) Enhancement Act recently signed into law was co-sponsored by Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.

Becky Miller, RN, CLC, lactation counselor for OSF HealthCare, says legislation has long been needed to help parents move through security more quickly while ensuring breast milk and related supplies are handled safely.

“We can make sure of the safe handling of breast milk and their pumping supplies are happening. We can make sure they can get through safely, quickly and parents don’t have to worry about the stress of traveling and can get to where they want to go to safely.”

Miller says legislative hearings on the legislation featured stories from breastfeeding moms.

“They’ve had to be pulled aside from other people. They put test strips down in their milk and wonder, ‘Has my milk just been contaminated?’ Is it still safe?’ Even formula-fed babies – they do that to the water to make sure there’s nothing in it.” She adds, “So, these things and getting better policies for safe handling is the best part of this legislation.”

Law adds accountability

The legislation also requires TSA to regularly update its screening guidance for breast milk and infant nutrition items, develop that guidance in consultation with maternal health experts, and apply the rules to both TSA officers and private security contractors. It also calls for a federal audit to review compliance and report findings to Congress, creating oversight and accountability if procedures aren’t followed.

Miller points out the new law reflects how attitudes toward breastfeeding have changed in recent years, as it has become more widely accepted and supported in public spaces and with the growth of online communities to support breastfeeding moms. She observes the law helps ensure federal policy finally aligns with society’s values by protecting breastfeeding families in real-world situations such as airport travel.

Avoiding stressful travel is also so important, Miller shares, for postpartum moms who often have mental health struggles.

“They probably have a crying baby in their arm, a 2-year-old maybe next to them who’s not holding still – those are awful experiences for a mom who probably doesn’t ever want to travel again. So hopefully this new legislation will help parents and families be able to go make memories as a family and not have to worry about those stresses that they had before.”

The new law comes at a critical time, with packed terminals and heightened anxiety for new parents this holiday travel season. But Miller suggests that while the legislation is designed to protect and support breastfeeding mothers, there might still be some growing pains as it rolls out nationwide.

“With this being a new legislation, we do worry that not all airports have probably had all of their TSA members gone through education. There still may be some little difficulties or little hiccups here or there but I do hope every family that is traveling this holiday season is able to have a successful and happy trip.”

Here is more information about breastfeeding support available at OSF HealthCare.

Video with Becky Miller

B-roll-Breastfeeding moms at airports

Breastfeeding a newborn can feel like a full-time job, especially in the first two weeks. It’s a stressful time with a lot of uncertainty, lack of sleep, conflicting demands, and some babies are cluster feeding – that is when infants want a lot of short feeds over a few hours.  

Brianna Jochman, (pronounced Jock-um) RNC-MNN, BSN, CLS, digital care nurse for OSF OnCall, the digital health arm of OSF HealthCare, knows this all too well. She’s a certified lactation consultant and a new, first-time mom herself so she understands the struggles. During National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, Jochman wants new moms to know they are not alone and can lean on experts for support. 

OSF OnCall is nearing the one-year anniversary of offering virtual education and coaching for new moms who are breastfeeding. Jochman says issues with lactation and latching are common. New or expectant moms can be referred to OSF OnCall for virtual breastfeeding education and coaching through their OB/GYN. Others are referred through the Medicaid Innovation Collaborative (MIC), aimed at supporting women during and after pregnancy.  

Jochman says patients love that they can ask questions and get help all from the comfort of their home. She works on camera during virtual visits to show new moms how to position the baby to get the deepest latch. Without that, she says a woman’s nipples can become sore and breastfeeding becomes painful. 

“We really do try to troubleshoot that latch.” Jochman adds, “First, make sure we've got a good deep latch and then if mom is still struggling, we will recommend coconut oil, olive oil, any oil-based product that you can lubricate with. We always want to lubricate before pumping and after breastfeeding.”

Jochum says coconut or olive oil is safe for babies if they get a little in their mouth. 

A common mistake is not positioning the baby correctly. Jochman says it’s best to position your hand under the baby’s neck and shoulders to allow them to move their head freely. She recommends using pillows for support and positioning the baby, so their chin touches the breast first.  

“You want to keep their chin up and you want to get that deep latch. You don’t want to nipple feed and have a superficial latch. Wait until baby gets that open mouth and place baby on as deep as you can.”

Self-expression is good for breastfeeding moms 

Jochman uses simple demonstrations using a stuffed bunny to show proper positioning and hold. She also encourages women in the early days to self-express milk by using their hands, beginning at the chest wall and then moving forward. To demonstrate, Jochman uses a crochet breast model that allows lactation experts to show the process to new mothers who might be concerned they’re not producing enough milk.  

That milk then can be saved for a “bonus” feeding. 

Another tip – save using the pacifier for about two weeks to help establish a feeding routine while moms are still establishing their milk supply.  

Jochman stresses, “We want to make sure in those early days that moms are watching closely for those hunger cues from babies and not getting it confused with comforting them. So, we want them to get that cluster feeding accomplished, get their supply in and then you can introduce that pacifier.”

Virtual sessions to select a breast pump and showing how it works are also part of the support. Jochman says it is important to have the correct fit and that if a feeding is missed, it’s important to hand express or pump milk to maintain a regular milk supply.  

If a partner or family member wants to give a baby a bottle in the early weeks to give new moms a break, Jochman says there are other ways to support a breastfeeding mother. 

“Helping the moms with meals and filling her water or changing baby’s diaper; just little things that really add up to a lot – making sure that mom is well nourished and getting breaks in between feeds so taking baby to another room, taking baby on a walk even.”

During the hot days of summer, some women are concerned their breastfeeding babies need water. Jochman says that’s not the case because the body produces the perfect nutrition for the first six months, so fully breastfed babies don’t need any water until they've started eating solid foods. 

OSF OnCall breastfeeding support is available to all women, even if they are not an OSF patient. Here is the complete list of resources available: 

• Lactation Consultation: One-on-one sessions with certified lactation consultants to address breastfeeding challenges, techniques and positioning.
• Education: Topics such as breastfeeding benefits, milk supply and pumping are addressed.
• Resource Provision: Access to breastfeeding supplies, such as pumps and nursing pads, and referrals to community resources.
• Nutrition Guidance: Advice on maternal nutrition and its impact on milk production.
• Prenatal Education: Preparing new moms for lactation and what to expect at delivery, in addition to assistance in selecting a pump.
• Behavioral Health: Nurses find appropriate support services for moms with signs of postpartum depression or anxiety.

For a virtual appointment, call 1-(844) 381-3603. 

In -person breastfeeding support
In addition to virtual services through OSF OnCall, the Breastfeeding Resource Center in Peoria also offers telehealth lactation consultations and has been doing so since 2018. It can also provide in-person evaluations if an infant is not gaining enough weight, or mother is concerned about her supply. It can offer weighed feeds to see how much a baby is consuming and other issues can be evaluated such as infant suck patterns and tongue movement. 

The center sees as many as 75 women in person each month with many more phone consultations. It also offers breastfeeding supplies. It can be reached at 1-(309) 683-6672. 

Contact an OSF hospital near you to learn what services might be available for in-person breastfeeding support and evaluation and for information about in-person support groups for breastfeeding women led by certified lactation consultants.  

Video clips with Brianna Jochman

B-roll for virtual breastfeeding support