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Safe Infant Feeding Checklist + Tips for

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When a baby makes unusual breathing sounds during feeding, it’s worth taking a closer look.

Today I saw a baby whose parent was worried about short-of-breath sounds during feeds. We watched the baby nurse in just a diaper so we could clearly see the chest and belly.

We saw retractions, a sign a baby is working harder than normal to breathe.

Here are 3 types of retractions to watch for during breastfeeding or bottle feeding:

• Supraclavicular – skin pulling in above the collarbone with each breath
• Intercostal (between the ribs) – indentations between the ribs while feeding
• Subcostal – pulling in right under the rib cage with each breath

If you notice any of these during feeds, it’s important to have your pediatrician evaluate. No panic — but don’t ignore it. Sometimes immature systems just need support, and sometimes we need to rule out a medical issue.

And one more important piece:

In many ways, you and your baby still function as one connected system. Your nervous system helps regulate theirs. Your breathing rhythm supports their breathing. Your calm heart rate helps stabilize theirs.

When feeding feels stressful, slow down. Soften your shoulders. Breathe slowly. Your calm matters physiologically, not just emotionally.

Trust your instincts. Stay observant. And when something feels off, get it checked.

When a baby makes unusual breathing sounds during feeding, it’s worth taking a closer look.

Today I saw a baby whose parent was worried about short-of-breath sounds during feeds. We watched the baby nurse in just a diaper so we could clearly see the chest and belly.

We saw retractions, a sign a baby is working harder than normal to breathe.

Here are 3 types of retractions to watch for during breastfeeding or bottle feeding:

• Supraclavicular – skin pulling in above the collarbone with each breath
• Intercostal (between the ribs) – indentations between the ribs while feeding
• Subcostal – pulling in right under the rib cage with each breath

If you notice any of these during feeds, it’s important to have your pediatrician evaluate. No panic — but don’t ignore it. Sometimes immature systems just need support, and sometimes we need to rule out a medical issue.

And one more important piece:

In many ways, you and your baby still function as one connected system. Your nervous system helps regulate theirs. Your breathing rhythm supports their breathing. Your calm heart rate helps stabilize theirs.

When feeding feels stressful, slow down. Soften your shoulders. Breathe slowly. Your calm matters physiologically, not just emotionally.

Trust your instincts. Stay observant. And when something feels off, get it checked.

‏In this episode of the Growing Happy Babies podcast, I chat with Michal Melamed, veteran doula, who reminds us that the main preparation for birth is to expect the unexpected!

It's time to build your village! Watch or listen to interviews with local doulas and other birth supporters so you know who you love before you reach out!

Comment BIRTH and I'll send you the link 💜

‏In this episode of the Growing Happy Babies podcast, I chat with Michal Melamed, veteran doula, who reminds us that the main preparation for birth is to expect the unexpected!

It's time to build your village! Watch or listen to interviews with local doulas and other birth supporters so you know who you love before you reach out!

Comment BIRTH and I'll send you the link 💜

A story about what lies beneath the surface. Because something always does.

A story about what lies beneath the surface. Because something always does.

In this interview I chat with Hanna Amouyal, doula in the Jerusalem area.

We talk about how important it is to believe you are the person meant to birth in this moment, to surround yourself with the love and support that will help you through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and to trust birth as your teacher.

Comment BIRTH and I'll send you the podcast link!

In this interview I chat with Hanna Amouyal, doula in the Jerusalem area.

We talk about how important it is to believe you are the person meant to birth in this moment, to surround yourself with the love and support that will help you through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and to trust birth as your teacher.

Comment BIRTH and I'll send you the podcast link!

NEW PODCAST ALERT: Ep. 19 “Dissecting Two Articles About Tongue Anatomy (Or: What Does a Posterior Tongue Tie Even Mean?)”

Get a little geeky with Adina and Ellen as we break down two 2019 groundbreaking tongue dissection articles by Mills et al.

We talk all about the floor of the mouth anatomy, posterior tongue ties, fascia vs mucosa, and how does this become clinically relevant to lactation practices even before we have scientific consensus?

Stay curious and keep changing your mind!

Body-Led Breastfeeding Foundations Workshop starts February 11th! ⁠Sign up at bodyledbreastfeeding.com

NEW PODCAST ALERT: Ep. 19 “Dissecting Two Articles About Tongue Anatomy (Or: What Does a Posterior Tongue Tie Even Mean?)”

Get a little geeky with Adina and Ellen as we break down two 2019 groundbreaking tongue dissection articles by Mills et al.

We talk all about the floor of the mouth anatomy, posterior tongue ties, fascia vs mucosa, and how does this become clinically relevant to lactation practices even before we have scientific consensus?

Stay curious and keep changing your mind!

Body-Led Breastfeeding Foundations Workshop starts February 11th! ⁠Sign up at bodyledbreastfeeding.com

We made it to the infant suck! Re-release of “Intro to the Baby’s Body: THE SUCK” is ready for you on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

As promised, here is a video demonstrating what a functional suck, which BLB calls a “Back-of-the-Mouth Suck,” can look like:

lips seal and flange neutrally, cheeks seal and do not dimple, tongue is stable and creates negative pressure to extract milk by lifting and lowering only in the back of the mouth — visible by watching the rhythmicity of the suck, and the where the jaw drops at the back of the throat.

The infant’s body is at rest and not supporting the suck with any effort through the feet, hips, spine, shoulders, or neck.

Curious how to differentiate between a Front, Back, and Middle-of-the-Mouth suck? BLB Foundations workshop starts February 11th at BodyLedBreastfeeding.com

Comment SUCK and I'll send you a signup link 💜

We made it to the infant suck! Re-release of “Intro to the Baby’s Body: THE SUCK” is ready for you on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

As promised, here is a video demonstrating what a functional suck, which BLB calls a “Back-of-the-Mouth Suck,” can look like:

lips seal and flange neutrally, cheeks seal and do not dimple, tongue is stable and creates negative pressure to extract milk by lifting and lowering only in the back of the mouth — visible by watching the rhythmicity of the suck, and the where the jaw drops at the back of the throat.

The infant’s body is at rest and not supporting the suck with any effort through the feet, hips, spine, shoulders, or neck.

Curious how to differentiate between a Front, Back, and Middle-of-the-Mouth suck? BLB Foundations workshop starts February 11th at BodyLedBreastfeeding.com

Comment SUCK and I'll send you a signup link 💜

Re-release of “Intro to the Baby’s Body: Eyes, Ears, Eyebrows” is ready for you on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

As promised, here is a demo video of some of our cheek release exercises we use in Body-Led Breastfeeding and discussed in the podcast.

These help relax overworked cheek muscles (that often feel like little golf balls in the cheeks!) as well as help the nerves of the lips wake up for better sealing.

Ready to learn more? Foundations workshop starts February 11th

Re-release of “Intro to the Baby’s Body: Eyes, Ears, Eyebrows” is ready for you on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

As promised, here is a demo video of some of our cheek release exercises we use in Body-Led Breastfeeding and discussed in the podcast.

These help relax overworked cheek muscles (that often feel like little golf balls in the cheeks!) as well as help the nerves of the lips wake up for better sealing.

Ready to learn more? Foundations workshop starts February 11th

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