Boobs in the Berries

Little Noah is not so Little

2010-11-28T16:24:00.000-08:00

Georgia came along to the Boobs in the Berries course but I didn't get to meet her boys until this photoshoot. They were both absolutely Gorgeous! Noah is huge, cruising the 97% tile on everything. A future All Black if I have ever seen one! And speaking of Cruisy. My goodness this kid is mellow! Wouldn't stop smiling. I love photographing them when they are 8 weeks. They still look sparkly new but they can grin at you....Too much!

Killing Off Supermom | ModernMom.com

2010-11-19T17:37:00.000-08:00

Killing Off Supermom | ModernMom.com

I thoroughly enjoyed this, a bit off topic, but not really. Enjoy

Bubby A'La Mode

2010-11-15T19:24:00.000-08:00

Boobs in the Berries is now Bubby A'La Mode.
Big changes are afoot and Boobs in the Berries has moved from its setting in the Tipi on the Blueberry Farm to the more convenient space at 115 Jackson Street Petone, home of A'La Mode Photographic Boutique. Our classes are smaller and more intimate and more regular and timed for working familes as they are held on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Still working on a logo for it....so watch this space.
Cheers,
Mandi

Very straight shooting video from Hollywood

2010-10-22T11:37:00.001-07:00

Course Feedback and PDF

2010-09-19T13:03:00.000-07:00

I hope my new friends in the south are weathering the storm okay. Here is your chance to tell me what you thought of the course and you can do that by logging on here and letting it rip. It is great for me to get the feedback so I can improve the course for future classes, and if you enjoyed it, let me know so I can let others know what your experience was like and we can take this information on the road so more babies will get to receive the sort of care that we talked about.

If you would like a copy of the lecture notes in a PDF you can follow this link to receive it .
Thanks again for taking the time to attend and I hope to visit you again.....Stay warm.
Cheers,
Mandi

Boobs in the Berries are heading south

2010-09-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

I am tickled pink that a group of Midwives from the South Island have invited me down to do a speaking tour and share what we are doing up here in our little valley. I will be doing a whirlwind tour to Queenstown, Invercargil, and then Dunedin. This tour piggy backs onto the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography conference in Queenstown the week before, so I will be filling my brain with all kinds of photography wisdom then hopefully delivering a smattering of Breastfeeding support inspiration in exchange.
The best thing about the speaking tour is it is forcing me to take the time to write down all of the stuff that I speak about in the course. I will put the PDF's up online so that class participants will reap the benefits. And hopefully one day soon i will be able to shape it into the book I have had sitting in my head but not out on to paper.

Cambell Live clip on Kangaroo Care

2010-09-06T06:52:00.000-07:00

Advocates call for kangaroo care to be more supported

This was a lovely little news piece that I unearthed and thought it was worth sharing

Professional Photography of Breastfeeding Babies

2010-08-20T00:38:00.000-07:00

SALMA HAYEK Breast Feeds A Hungry African Child | Actress Act Of Love !

2010-08-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

Mandi Lynn Photography: The Big Latch On 2010 | Mamalicious

2010-08-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

Mandi Lynn Photography: The Big Latch On 2010 | Mamalicious: "You could get high from all of the Oxytocin flowing at the Big Latch On held last Friday at the Wellington Town Hall. Mamalicious put on ..."

Slings - Questions and Answers

2010-05-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

At Boobs in the Berries this past Sunday there was a question relating to the safety of slings. Here is the information that I have been able to dig up from the sources I most trust on these matters, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine:

CPSC warning on slings misses the mark New Rochelle, NY, March 19, 2010 — The Consumer Products Safety Commission's warning on baby slings provides vague and misleading information for parents. The popularity of slings has increased tremendously in recent years, as more and more mothers report that slings facilitate parenting and breastfeeding on demand. "All slings are not created equal," says Arthur Eidelman, MD, vice president of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. "Unfortunately, however, the CPSC issued a blanket warning about all types of sling carriers." Ring slings, which carry infants in an upright position snug with the parent's chest, protect the infant's airway. By contrast, the illustrations of "unsafe" slings in the CPSC warning appear to be bag or duffle slings. In bag slings, the infant is carried near the parent's hips. In this position, the infant may be curled up and the neck may be bent, making breathing more difficult. The CPSC's advice on safe baby carrying is also misleading. The agency recommends positioning infants so "the baby's head is facing up and is clear of the sling and the mother's body." "The face out position they say is correct could be risky with a premature infant, because of the baby's unsupported neck," Eidelman says. "A baby whose face is sideways with cheek against the chest, head slightly extended and body and shoulders and yes, face, snug so that the baby can't move, is secured in a safe position." In the warning, the CPSC reported 14 deaths associated with sling use in the past 20 years, including 3 in 2009. The agency provided no information on the types or brands of sling involved, nor did they account for the rapid increase in sling use among parents in the US. This stands in contrast with the hundreds of recalls of other juvenile products issued by the CPSC that specify the precise brand and model number involved in adverse outcomes. "Last month, when the CPSC recalled a crib model associated with 3 infant deaths, they did not issue a blanket warning that cribs can be deadly," Eidelman notes. "Parents deserve the same precise, accountable information when it comes to baby-carrying." The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is a worldwide organization of physicians dedicated to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding and human lactation through education,
research, and advocacy. An independent, self-sustaining, international physician organization and the only organization of its kind, ABM's mission is to unite members of various medical specialties through physician education, expansion of knowledge in breastfeeding science and human lactation, facilitation of optimal breastfeeding practices, and encouragement of the exchange of information among organizations. Breastfeeding Medicine is the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. It is an authoritative, peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal published quarterly. The journal publishes original scientific papers, reviews, and case studies on a broad spectrum of topics in lactation medicine. It presents evidence-based research advances and explores the immediate and long-term outcomes of breastfeeding, including the epidemiologic, physiologic, and psychological benefits of breastfeeding.
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, 140 Huguenot St., 3rd floor, New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215 (800) 990.4ABM (914) 740.2115 Fax: (914) 740.2101 abm@bfmed.org

http://www.bfmed.org/Media/Files/Documents/ABM%20PR%20CPSC%20wasning%20on%20slings%20misses%20the%20mark%20(3-18-10).pdf

Boobs in the Berries Autumn Edition

2010-04-09T15:17:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely pregnant families. The Boobs in the Berries is approaching its first Autumn and classes are booking up fast. I will continue to try to hold it in the Tipi but may have to start a fire to keep it warm enough for the class but just to be safe bring layers. If it gets too cold we may relocate to the photography studio but irregardless you will learn heaps and have fun.

Sign up for the Classes here

Dominion Post features Boobs in the Berries

2010-02-16T21:32:00.001-08:00

The Dominion Post
17 Feb 2010, pp. 56 - 57

Feedback from the Boobs in the Berries Class

2010-01-16T01:53:00.000-08:00

"What was the best part of the class? Mandi! I found Mandi to be so approachable, straight forward and relaxed.

"We left feeling so positive and the 'fear' of something not going right with breastfeeding has been eliminated. We are so confident now of what we are going into and how it will work for us. What seemed so hard before we got there (thanks to all those old wives' tales) now seems like it will be a total breeze, and so beneficial to the baby.

"My hubby and I aren't really 'class' people so are always a bit reluctant about attending things such as this, but we left so informed and so positive about everything that I will not be able to recommend you enough. (I know that I have already told all my pregnant friends!)"

- Jessica & Hamish

"I enjoyed the relaxed environment, friendly teacher and the wealth of information. I feel more confident with breastfeeding when my little bub is born."

- Rachael Bolland

"Lots of great information and lots of laughs -- fun and very informative. I like the informal atmosphere. And I want my own teepee."

- Aaron Compton

"I liked: Having someone give clear and sensible justifications for not putting the baby in a basinet. Discussing the 'sidecar' solution as a practical and safe (given the normal guidelines) way of sleeping with the baby. Loved the balloons to show the latch. Great idea.

"All in all, I wish that the other antenatal classes covered this rather than seeming to stop at the birth. I feel better prepared after this course."

- Andrew Hood

"I liked the ability to ask questions in a relaxed, non-judgemental arena. The balloons gave a very graphic demonstration of the effect of a good latch. This was very useful in understanding the effect of a good vs. poor latch. Appreciated the discussion of breastfeeding in relation to the rest of baby care - taking a holistic view of breast feeding made a lot of sense, but doesn't seem to normally be mentioned."

- Annemarie Hood

Antenatal Breastfeeding Classes

2009-12-19T22:32:00.000-08:00

"Boobs in the Berries" Antenatal Classes are funny, fun, and - most of all - useful. The Classes are for families who are still pregnant. Your boobs will thank you (pain-free breastfeeding is a good thing), your midwife will thank you (you will get off on the right foot), your partner will thank you (gives them an idea of what they can do to help), but most of all your baby will thank you (you will find out why at class).

Classes are taught on an organic Blueberry Farm. Why an organic blueberry farm? Because it is beautiful, delicious, and a lovely day out... And also because, Mandi Lynn (that's me) lives there, my studio is there, and I love to have people around, so why would I hold it anywhere else?

In my position as a Lactation Consultant for the Hutt Valley DHB, I developed a two-hour long class that attempted to cram in everything that I see as important for breastfeeding success. The classes were an overwhelming success and began bursting at the seams very quickly. The Lead Maternity Carers were all sending me their clients, because they found that when they did, their clients emerged with a much more solid start in breastfeeding, and had significantly fewer problems. The Hospital Midwives all commented that they could easily tell when a mother had been to my class because she took to breastfeeding like a duck to water.

I have stepped down from my role at the DHB to focus on my farm and photography, but I couldn't give up all of my work with mums and babies, so thus was born "Boobs in the Berries." (Actually, it started out as Boobs in the Bushes, but then when I Googled it, got a bit of a shock... I figured that wasn't where I wanted to be leading people, and Boobs in the Berries seemed much tamer to Google.)

My classes are practical, fun, and entertaining. You will actually practice with a doll or stuffed animal and will get support to learn:

How do you achieve pain-free feeding?
How do you get sleep with a baby that is feeding around the clock?
What do you do if your baby just will not feed in the beginning?
How to know if your baby is getting enough milk?
How long and how often do the little guys need to feed?
Can you have a glass of wine and breastfeed?
What about demand feeding versus routine feeding?
Which modern day parenting practices have a negative impact on baby's instinctual feeding skills?
What is an effective winding techniques to help prevent colic?
What to eat when you are breastfeeding.
Practical tips of how your partner can help you to succeed at breastfeeding as well as give you a little break.
The truth about baby formula.
What if you don't have enough milk?
What if you have too much milk?
The Neurodevelopmental aspects of breastfeeding (how your baby's brain is getting wired and why what you do matters so much).
Tips for creating harmony and relaxation around the house with a new baby.
What ever other questions the group has.

The classes are held on most Sundays at 2pm in our Native American Tipi. So you can come up for the day, have a picnic, pick your own organic blueberries, then learn how to slide into parenting with the least amount of drama.

There is no fee charged for the course, but a $20.00 per person koha would enable us to provide breastfeeding support for those with less financial means in the Wellington region.

What to bring:

Yourself
Togs if you want to go swimming (we have a beautiful swimming hole at the farm)
Your support person
Togs for them if they want to go swimming too
A doll or stuffed animal that is roughly the size of a newborn
A picnic if you want, or if you are feeling decadent you can just elect to eat buttermilk pancakes and a bluesky blueberry milkshake in our sweet shop.
A picnic blanket would be good as well, as depending on the weather we may have the class in the meadow or in the Tipi.
Sensible shoes for walking on a farm.

To register for the classes all you have to do is follow the link below:
Register for Antenatal Classes here:
7 Feb 2010
14 Feb 2010
21 Feb 2010
28 Feb 2010

Breastfeeding Help after Baby is Born

2009-12-19T22:06:00.000-08:00

Group Breastfeeding Master Classes:
If you have a few things you want to tweak after baby is born, to really get you off on the right step, then the Breastfeeding Master Class is for you. I will see three families at a time, and will work through the challenges that you are having. You will leave with a plan of care that is individually tailored to your family. The cost is $50.00 dollars per family.
The classes last 1.5-2 hours and are taught on Tuesdays at 10:30. Register Here

Private Lactation Consultations:

I am only occasionally available to travel to peoples homes as I usually see people on my farm. My rate is $80.00 per hour. Sessions usually last between 1-1.5 hours. If you wish me to see you in your own home, travel expenses will be added: Wellington $40.00, Hutt Valley $30.00. Register Here

Who is Mandi Lynn?

2009-12-18T21:56:00.000-08:00

Hello,
My Name is Mandi Lynn. For the last 7 years I have been working as an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant for the Hutt Valley District Health Board. In that time we were able to raise our breastfeeding rates from the low 50's to 79% exclusive, and over 90% of the mothers left hospital breastfeeding. I developed a Lactation Consultant Training Program which had attendees from all over New Zealand, and then was asked by the Ministry of Health to consult on the development of their new breastfeeding DVD.

It has been a very exciting few years, but the time eventually came where I needed to spend more time with my family on our farm. But to give up mothers and babies is unthinkable, so my happy medium is to run my classes and lactation consulting from my home on The Blueberry Farm.

On our farm there is an award-winning portrait studio that specializes in expectant families. I have won two national awards from the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers for my maternity photography. I was pretty chuffed about that really, because my photography came as a spin-off when I needied to provide beautiful illustrations for my breastfeeding book in progress.

I believe in giving back. I know that there are lots of gaps in the acute breastfeeding services for families with limited resources. I am hoping to bridge a gap by providing low-cost antenatal breastfeeding classes that will then subsidize acute care for those with no money to afford a lactation consultant.

I am an American by birth and a Kiwi by choice. If you want to read the article about my adventures on the farm in New Zealand Life and Leisure, you can link to it here.

Comments by other health professionals in New Zealand

2009-12-17T19:47:00.000-08:00

From Penny Wyatt:

Lactation Consultant at Capital and Coast District Health Board on hearing of Mandi's decision to stop working for Hutt Valley District Health Board --

"Hi Mandi

On a professional level I would like to thank you for your whole hearted support and encouragement. You were one of the first to reach out in a genuine and welcoming way and help me to fit into this role when I started. I have always been impressed with your breastfeeding knowledge and your intuition, not to mention your drive, stamina, creativity and humour! So professionally I'm sorry to lose an ally and role model. I wish you every success with your LC work and all your other ventures.

And on a personal level, I say WHOOPEEEE! Have a fab time you amazing woman! See you really soon I hope!
Xxx with love
Penny"

Alison Wightman, Hutt Valley LMC:

"Thanks Mandi for all the hard work that you did at the DHB. Your input was greatly appreciated, and although it is sad not to have someone on site I can see that you are going to do some awesome work in the community! I will indeed let people know about Boobs in the Berries."

Chris Griffiths, Hutt Valley LMC:

"Well done! I will continue to recommend your class to every woman, as the women I have had who have attended your classes have been full of confidence and competence, and all has gone well postnatally."

Deb Wright, Taranaki District Health Board:

"Hi Mandi

All the very best with your new venture.

I have been meaning to email you to tell you how our PN and NNU are now frequently using the tubigrip for skin to skin. Four staff from TDHB attended your study days earlier this year and have run with the idea and it is just great to see.

They also talked about the readiness to feed sequencing. I wonder if you still have that info or if you can tell me where I can find it.

It all seemed so clear when they discussed it. It is nice to have other staff around supporting ideas and thanks to you I have that now.

All the very best as you move into private work Mandi. It sounds very exciting and I hope we can still keep in touch from time to time.

Regards

Deb Wright

TDHB"