Betty Hannah Greenman

Breastfeeding: Should you avoid certain foods? — what I tell nursing moms

One of the most common worries I hear from nursing moms is whether they need to cut certain foods from their diet. My article "Breastfeeding: Should you avoid certain foods?" walks through why that question deserves a nuanced answer.

A point I keep coming back to: strongly flavored foods can actually change the taste of your breast milk, and many babies don't mind at all. Some even seem to enjoy the variety. Every culture eats differently, and nursing parents around the world do so on very different diets.

The practical takeaway is that a healthy, varied diet matters more than a long list of forbidden foods. When a mom is stressed about eating "wrong," it can chip away at her confidence at exactly the moment she needs to trust her body. I'd rather help families focus on eating well and watching how their own baby responds than hand them a fear-based rulebook.

Breastfeeding and PCOS: why milk supply can swing in either direction

One question I hear from moms with polycystic ovarian syndrome is whether they can breastfeed at all. The short answer is yes, but the experience varies more than people expect. In my article Breastfeeding and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PCOS, I walk through how the hormonal imbalances tied to PCOS can push milk supply in different directions.

The part that surprises a lot of parents: PCOS is often associated with a lower milk supply, but some women actually run into the opposite problem of overproduction. That is why a one-size answer does not work here. A mom navigating a low supply can lean on supplemental feeding tools to keep her baby fed while she works on building output.

I keep coming back to this topic because PCOS is common and undertreated in breastfeeding conversations. Knowing which direction your supply is trending changes the plan, and it helps parents ask better questions early instead of assuming they simply cannot nurse.

An introduction: why I built this lactation consultant website

If you've landed here wondering who's behind the blog, the "Lactation Consultant for this website" page is the place to start. It's my introduction as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant practicing in the Houston, Texas area, and the owner and manager of this site.

The short version: if you have breastfeeding issues you'd like to talk through, that's exactly what this space is for. The blog has grown into a collection of posts on the questions that come up most often for new parents, from low milk supply onward.

If you've been reading individual articles here, this page ties them together and explains who's writing them and why.

Adderall and breastfeeding: why the medication conversation deserves care

Adderall and Breastfeeding is one of the more delicate topics I cover in my practice, because the honest answer isn't a simple yes or no. Adderall is a potent, long-acting amphetamine (dextroamphetamine) that transfers into breast milk, so a mom who needs it for ADD or ADHD is weighing real trade-offs.

That's exactly why I keep this article on hand. Breastfeeding is best for the baby, but "best" has to be balanced against a mother's own health and the medication she genuinely needs. Pretending the transfer into milk doesn't happen doesn't help anyone; talking through it openly does.

For the moms I work with, the goal isn't to shame a medication decision but to help them understand what's actually happening so they can make an informed choice with their prescribing provider. That kind of clear, non-judgmental information is what I try to bring to every home visit and every post I write.

Low Milk Supply: the PCOS angle many moms don't hear about

Worrying about milk supply is one of the most common concerns I hear as a lactation consultant. In most cases, supply follows demand: feeding every 2-3 hours in the first weeks, with 8-12 feedings across 24 hours, is usually what keeps a mother's body meeting her baby's needs. But that isn't the whole picture. My Low Milk Supply article also looks at how conditions like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can factor into supply questions. It's worth naming, because a mother doing everything right with feeding frequency may still have underlying reasons worth talking through with someone who can help. If supply is on your mind, the frequency check is the starting point, not the final word.

Breastfeeding The Second Time Around: a new latch with every baby

A lot of moms come to me expecting that because they nursed their first baby, the second will simply fall into place. My article "Breastfeeding The Second Time Around" addresses that assumption head-on: every baby is unique, and the honest answer to "will it get easier the second time?" is that every child is different. One baby latches easily; the next may need patience and a different approach. Experience from a first baby helps, but it does not guarantee an identical start. The practical takeaway I keep returning to with families is to treat each new baby as its own situation rather than measuring against what worked before.

Adderall and breastfeeding: talking through medication decisions with new moms

One question that comes up often in my lactation work is what to do when a mom develops signs of ADD or ADHD and is considering starting a medication like Adderall while she's still nursing.

My article, "Adderall And Breastfeeding," walks through why this deserves a careful conversation. Adderall is an amphetamine (also containing dextroamphetamine) that is potent and long acting, and it does transfer into breast milk. That single fact is what makes this decision worth pausing on rather than treating as automatic.

What I try to do with families is keep two things in view at once: a mom's own health and need for treatment, and what transfers to the baby through milk. Those aren't opposing goals. They're both part of the same plan, and they're best worked through together with a mom's own prescriber and support team rather than decided in isolation.

If you're a nursing parent weighing an ADHD medication, the takeaway isn't a yes or no from a blog post. It's that this is a real conversation worth having, with real information behind it.

Revisiting Managing Bell's Palsy While Breastfeeding

I recently revisited my article "Managing Bell's Palsy While Breastfeeding." It came out of a home visit with a new mom who wanted to keep breastfeeding her baby while working through a Bell's Palsy diagnosis. Bell's Palsy affects facial muscles, which can complicate latch, positioning, and a mom's comfort during feeds, so it deserves a practical, individualized approach rather than a one-size-fits-all plan. The piece also sits alongside related notes on craniosacral therapy for breastfeeding and breastfeeding while taking Zoloft, since parents facing one hard variable often have questions about several at once. If you're supporting a family through a diagnosis like this, the takeaway is simple: meet the mother where she is, adapt the mechanics of feeding to her situation, and give her room to keep going.

Low Milk Supply: feeding frequency in the first weeks

One of the most common worries I hear from new mothers is whether they're making enough milk. My article "Low Milk Supply — Lactation Consultant NYC" walks through the piece that reassures the most parents: in the early weeks, your body keeps up with your baby's demand when you feed often. That usually means breastfeeding every 2-3 hours, roughly 8-12 feedings across a 24-hour period. Perceived low supply and true low supply are not the same thing, and frequent feeding is what protects and builds supply during those first weeks. If you're second-guessing yourself, start by looking at how often the baby is at the breast before assuming something is wrong.

Low Milk Supply: how often to feed in those early weeks

One of the most common worries I hear from new mothers is whether they are making enough milk. In my Low Milk Supply article, I try to take some of the anxiety out of that question by explaining how supply actually works: your body keeps up with your baby's demand when you breastfeed often. In the first few weeks, that usually means feeding every 2 to 3 hours, or roughly 8 to 12 feedings in a 24 hour period. Frequent feeding is what signals your body to keep producing. If you are counting feedings and diapers and still feeling unsure, that is exactly the kind of thing worth talking through with a lactation consultant rather than sitting with alone.

Low Milk Supply: what "enough" really looks like in the early weeks

One of the most common worries I hear from new mothers is whether they're making enough milk. In my Low Milk Supply article, I talk through what typical early feeding actually looks like: breastfeeding every 2 to 3 hours in the first few weeks, which usually works out to about 8 to 12 feedings in a 24-hour period. Your body responds to your baby's demand, so frequent feeding in those early days is part of how supply gets established. A lot of the anxiety around "not enough milk" eases once parents understand that this pattern is normal rather than a red flag. It's also why I look at the whole picture with a family, including related factors like PCOS, before assuming supply is truly low.

A closer look at jaundice and breastfeeding

Newborn jaundice is one of the most common questions I hear from parents in those first days home. My article Jaundice and Breastfeeding walks through what's actually happening: jaundice is a yellowish tint to a baby's skin that shows up when there's a lot of bilirubin present. Bilirubin comes from the normal breakdown of red blood cells, then passes through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestine. Understanding that basic process helps parents see why it's so common and why frequent, effective feeding matters during this period. Rather than a broad overview, I wanted to keep the focus tight on this one topic so families have a clear starting point when they notice that yellow tint.

Managing Bell's Palsy While Breastfeeding: supporting a mom through a hard diagnosis

Some of the moms I meet in my private practice stay with me long after the visit. One recent example is the mom behind my article Managing Bell's Palsy While Breastfeeding. She wanted to keep breastfeeding her baby even while working through Bell's Palsy, and her determination reminded me why I do this work.

Bell's Palsy can affect facial muscles in ways that make latching, positioning, and feeding feel unfamiliar and discouraging. What helped most was slowing down, adjusting how we approached each feed, and reassuring her that a diagnosis like this does not mean the end of her breastfeeding goals. With the right support, moms in tough circumstances can still nurse their babies successfully.

I wrote this piece to share her story and to let other mothers facing a similar situation know they are not alone. If you or someone you know is navigating breastfeeding through Bell's Palsy, this article is a good place to start.

Breastfeeding The Second Time Around: why each baby is a new start

A question I hear often from returning parents: will breastfeeding be easier the second time around? My article, "Breastfeeding The Second Time Around," works through the honest answer, which is that every child is different. It's easy to assume that experience with a first baby carries over automatically, but each newborn latches, feeds, and settles in their own way. One baby may take to nursing quickly while a sibling needs more patience and support. The piece is meant to reset expectations so parents don't measure a new baby against an old routine, and instead meet each child where they are.

Jaundice and Breastfeeding: what new parents should know

Newborn jaundice is one of the most common questions I hear from new parents, so I wanted to point to the article Jaundice and Breastfeeding on my blog. Jaundice is that yellowish tint to a baby's skin, and it happens because of bilirubin, a substance produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells. Bilirubin moves through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestine. Understanding what jaundice is, and why it shows up so often in the early days, helps parents feel less alarmed and more prepared to keep feeding on track. If you're navigating this with a newborn, the piece walks through the basics in plain language.

New book: Breastfeeding Eight Is Enough, plus in-network home visits

I've published Breastfeeding Eight Is Enough, an evidence-based guide written from my work as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. It answers the questions I hear most from new mothers and pairs the reading with hands-on support.

Alongside the book, I offer same-day home visits across NYC and the surrounding areas, from Long Island City and Queens to Brooklyn, Manhattan, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. I'm an in-network provider for United Healthcare plans, including UHC Choice Plus, Choice, Select, and Select Plus.

Early intervention in the first few days matters if you want breastfeeding to start well. Whether the issue is low milk supply, engorgement, clogged ducts, or a baby who has lost weight, my aim is to sit beside you and work through it together.

New book: "Breastfeeding Eight Is Enough," plus same-day IBCLC home visits

I've published a new book, "Breastfeeding Eight Is Enough," an evidence-based guide written from my work as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). It answers the questions I hear most from new mothers and is meant to offer trusted support and encouragement through the first weeks.

Alongside the book, I offer same-day home visits and virtual consultations across New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. Early intervention in the first few days matters if you plan to breastfeed well, and I'm now an in-network provider for many United Healthcare plans, including UHC Choice Plus, Choice, Select, and Select Plus.

Every breastfeeding journey is unique, but with the right support and knowledge, every mother can feel confident nourishing her baby. Call 917-538-1564 to schedule.

New post: Adderall And Breastfeeding

A new piece is now up on the lactation consultant blog: Adderall And Breastfeeding. It looks at a real dilemma some parents face — breastfeeding is best for a baby, but a mom may experience signs of ADD or ADHD and need to start a medication like Adderall, an amphetamine that transfers into breast milk. Rather than treating this as a simple yes-or-no, the article walks through what that transfer means for a nursing parent weighing their options. It sits alongside related posts on Lactation After Loss and Wellbutrin And Breastfeeding, for parents navigating medication questions while nursing.

Breastfeeding And Returning To Work — Lactation Consultant NYC

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Current signal from First work source

I'm highlighting First work source because it gives people a concrete way to inspect the work.

This public surface is something people can open, question, and follow over time.