Lauren Horowitz is a Stamford moms of two, as well as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and IBCLC at Milk Street Lactation. She is sharing her #1 feeding tip for newborns, how she hopes to support other moms and what she loves about Stamford!
How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have two kids, Jason, 3 (in 3 weeks), Mia 10 months
What do you love about living in Stamford?
I love that we have a city, suburb and beach all in one place! There are also such fun events for the whole family in Stamford. We’re close enough to NYC but also far enough away.
What are your favorite family activities in the area?
We love to go to Stepping Stones, the Maritime Aquarium, Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Harbor Point, the beach and try out different playgrounds! We also love trying new restaurants.
Tell us about your jobs as both a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and IBCLC at Milk Street Lactation.
At Milk Street Lactation I often wear a few hats while working with clients. I love to educate and guide new parents as a lactation consultant to help tailor a personalized feeding plan for them but I also love to discuss things like weight expectations, growth trajectories, milestones etc. I want to ease parents concerns and help support them to meet their individual feeding goals.
What do you love about your jobs?
I love empowering women. There is so much information that the moms are expected to know: how to feed your baby, how often and for how long, how to use your pump, what flange size you should be etc and the truth is that most moms don’t know any of these answers until they meet with a lactation consultant. I love explaining the pathophysiology and science behind breastfeeding and giving the parents an explanation for their infant’s behavior at the breast/bottle etc. I love watching the many “aha” moments that happen during a visit and easing many women’s anxieties.
What is your #1 tip for new moms when it comes to feeding (which can be so much more complicated than we expect!)?
Give yourself some grace and seek help. There is so much uncertainty with feeding in the first few weeks. An IBCLC can point out areas for improvement or ways to increase efficiency. We do a pre/post feed weight so we can very closely estimate how much the baby is drinking at the breast. Sometimes a visit with a lactation consultant can ease your mind when we confirm that everything is going well. I also suggest to lean on other moms who are breastfeeding because they truly understand what you’re going through. It is so nice to have a circle of other new moms to relate to when feeding in the middle of the night can often feel isolating.
How do you work with two of our other favorite local resources for new moms including The Alliance Center and Parent Collective?
I run a biweekly feeding support group at the Alliance Center discussing the convergence of mental health and feeding your baby. It is the perfect venue to discuss the overlap of these two involved aspects of postnatal health. I also teach a childbirth education series for the Parent Collective. The best thing a parent can do is be informed and prepared! Click here to learn more about The Alliance Center in Stamford!
What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
Play with your kids without interruptions. There are so many distractions and reasons to be pulled in 100 different directions. Put your phone away and be present with your kids. They’re only small once!