Issue 66: An IBCLC answers our most vexing breastfeeding q's
With Sirin Dogan from Full Circle Lactation
We first met Sirin Dogan at a yoga class & diaper drive we hosted last summer, and she brought the tiniest micro-preemie diapers for donation. After seeing such a smart move (preemie diapers are in short supply at diaper banks), we had a million questions for her, and as we learned more about her experience working in the NICU and L&D units as a RN and lactation consultant, we knew we wanted to share her deep knowledge here. This week, Sirin shares her answers to some of our most vexing breastfeeding questions.
Q: Welcome, Sirin! How did you come to start your lactation practice?
A: As I was advancing in my nursing practice, I noticed gaps in care. Hospitals and clinics do not have the time nor the structure to address the personal, emotional or social dimensions of breastfeeding, but after working with many mother-baby dyads, I knew how important these elements are in initiating and establishing breastfeeding. At Full Circle Lactation, I can provide more individualized, 1:1 support that isn’t available in a more clinical setting.
Q: What advice would you give an expecting parent who is interested in breastfeeding? How might that advice change if they’re planning on birthing at home versus at a hospital or birth center?
A: The setting where you give birth can influence your early breastfeeding experience, so it’s worth knowing what to expect in each environment.
With a hospital birth, you have support right there — use it. Don’t hesitate to ask a nurse or lactation consultant to watch you latch your baby or to assist you more directly. Keep in mind that their schedules can be busy and routine-driven, so being specific about what you need makes it much more likely you’ll get timely help.
It’s also worth noting that hospital procedures don’t always align with a newborn’s natural sleep-wake cycles. For example, the timing of certain procedures, like the heel-prick or hearing screening, can create unnecessary stress for both baby and parent. Being aware of this ahead of time can help you advocate for your family.
Skin-to-skin contact is generally offered right after birth as well, though it can occasionally be interrupted if staff have medical concerns. I’ve found that if supplementation is needed, donor milk is typically available at no cost and in unlimited supply until you and the baby are discharged from the hospital.
A regional note: If there’s any chance of early delivery, Vassar Brothers Medical Center (Poughkeepsie) and Albany Medical Center have specialized resources for preterm births. For uncomplicated, low-risk pregnancies, Kingston Hospital and Northern Dutchess Hospital (Rhinebeck) are excellent options, and both offer birthing tubs if you’d like more flexibility in your birth experience.
One of the greatest advantages of a home birth for establishing breastfeeding is uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery. Without the interruptions that can come with medical routines, that first feeding can happen naturally and at your baby’s pace, which gives breastfeeding initiation a strong foundation.
If you know or suspect your baby may arrive a little early (around 36-38 weeks), I sometimes recommend purchasing donor milk from a certified nonprofit milk bank to have on hand as a backup. This is preferable to sourcing breastmilk through more informal channels like Facebook or Whats App groups, because certain diseases can be transmitted through breast milk, and an individual donor may not know they’re carrying one. Nonprofit milk banks screen every donor and pasteurize all milk, making it the safest and most reliable option for supplementing with donated human milk.
Q: What’s in your toolbox for managing nipple pain during those early days?
A: Prevention is always the first goal as breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt. If you’re experiencing sharp or shooting pain during latch, your body is sending a clear signal that something is wrong. Proper positioning and alignment resolve the vast majority of latch issues, so that’s always the first place I look with my clients.
Nipple trauma can also occur from:
Feeding too long at a breast that is producing very little milk
Allowing baby to fall asleep with the nipple in their mouth
Engorgement
Baby clamping down due to an oversupply
An improperly fitted flange or pump set to too high a suction
I’d also want to look at any skin products that the parent is using, like soaps, oils, ointments, or lubricants that could cause contact dermatitis. Nipple skin can be really sensitive!
To treat any damage that has occurred, hydrogel pads are ideal for blisters and PolyMem dressings can protect any cracks and open wounds. I also like lanolin as a preventative for cracks and blisters.
As a last note, nipple pain can be more common for parents with a history of depression or PTSD. Acknowledging this connection is an important part of the whole-person support I work to provide in my practice.
Q: How can a breastfeeding parent prepare for going back to work? What tips do you have to make that transition more manageable?
A: I recommend starting to plan around 3–4 weeks postpartum. Begin pumping once a day, typically in the morning, and aim to build a freezer stash of 60–80 oz before your return date. Introduce a bottle about a month before you go back to work, and continue to practice leading up to your return date.
Consider a mid-week return date, rather than a Monday. A short week will help ease the transition for you (and the baby). A practice day, where a caregiver gives a bottle while you're away for a few hours, can also help you both settle into your new routines.
Q: This NYT article has had a pretty controversial response. What have you seen work well for a more equal division of labor in a two-parent household if one parent is breastfeeding, especially in the early days?
A: It’s my goal to meet clients where they are. In the early days, there can be a lot of anxiety around waiting for the milk to come in and not making enough milk. I will never tell a mother not to give formula, but I will do my best to keep her focused on why she wants to breastfeed in the first place. I like to point out ways she is already meeting her goals to help ease her fears and overwhelm with learning this new skill. Even though, I think the writer of that essay is oversimplifying a pretty nuanced topic. I absolutely recognize the need for partner involvement, and feeding plans require tailored, individual planning based on the family’s circumstances, maternal mental health, and environmental factors. I do my best to empower the birthing parent to work through self-limiting beliefs and look to their partner for emotional and social support to help balance the parenting beyond physically feeding the baby a bottle.
Q: How much milk should I send to daycare or leave for a caregiver?
A: Exclusively breastfed babies between 1–6 months typically drink an average of 25 oz per day, though every baby will be slightly different.
To estimate how much your caregiver will need per feeding, divide 25 oz by the number of times your baby usually nurses in 24 hours. As an example, if your baby nurses about 8 times a day, each bottle at daycare would be approximately 3 oz (25 oz ÷ 8 = 3.1 oz).
Keep in mind, this is just a starting point, and the baby’s caregiver can always adjust based on their hunger cues.
Q: Weaning a toddler - it’s hard! How do you recommend weaning a child past the 12-month mark?
Yes, it can be challenging! While breastfeeding for 12 months used to be the standard recommendation, the World Health Organization updated its guidelines in 2001 to support breastfeeding through age 2 and beyond. Interestingly, passages from the Torah, Quran, and Bible suggest nursing anywhere from 3 to 7 years, and in nature, mammals tend to wean when their young have tripled or quadrupled their birth weight, reached about one-third of their adult weight, or begun erupting permanent teeth (ouch!) The best time to begin weaning is simply when either person is ready without any pressure to follow a fixed timeline. When you do decide to start, drop any overnight feeds first before moving to daytime feeds and then bedtime. Going slowly and dropping one feed at a time will give you both time to adjust.
If you’re pumping, you may experience some temporary engorgement, which can usually be managed with ibuprofen (Advil) and ice packs. If you’re still uncomfortable, a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can help reduce milk production more quickly, though it’s always worth checking with your healthcare provider first.
Sirin Dogan graduated from San Diego State University where she fell in love with the beach and sun. She then went to work in Canada in a micro preemie NICU, where she learned she was terrible at skiing and snowboarding. Seventeen years later, Sirin is a IBCLC, supporting breastfeeding families in their homes with her private lactation practice, while also continuing her work in the hospital setting. If you would like to book a home, office, or virtual visit, or just want to stay in touch, visit her website at www.fullcirclelactation.com.
One For Us
Sharing what we’re enjoying for ourselves these days.
[Sirin] - I really enjoyed Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto. It reminded me of the importance of teamwork to achieve outcomes we can’t produce alone. (Ed. note: the subtitle “How to Get Things Right” is making our inner perfectionists very curious.)
[Ashley] - Do people know about biltong? Am I a late adopter? It’s a South African air-dried, cured meat (think beef jerky) and it is DELICIOUS. My colleague included it on our office snack order and I am now addicted. Biltong will carry me through to spring.
[Genevieve] - I don’t know how I’m only just now finding NPR’s Life Kit, but here we are. These are short, practical podcast episodes on all-things-life that somehow manage to feel like actual, good advice. What hooked me was “Want to be happier? Evidence-based tricks to get you there” - an oldie-but-a-goodie from 2020.
[Maddie] - While wool is my go-to for winter layers, I can’t do a wool beanie — too itchy! I’ve found an all-cotton one I like from Big Bud Press, and I’m banking on the bright color to cheer me up during slush season. Big Bud Press also makes a great long-sleeve layering tee - I wear mine under my nursing school scrub top, but it’s just as handy under a sweater.
One For Them
Sharing what’s making parenting small children more enjoyable these days.
[Sirin] - After attending a recent conference, I picked up A Breastfeeding-Friendly Approach to Postpartum Depression by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett. It’s already improved the way I approach caring for breastfeeding parents with mental health or mood disorders.
[Ashley] - To satisfy my princess-obsessed daughter’s urge to wear a leotard and leap across a room, I’ve signed her up for classes at Hudson Valley Academy of Performing Arts. I’m trying to let go of my ballet elitism and embrace the epic cuteness of it. If ballet class isn’t your style, Hudson Hall is offering a more improvisational (and free!) Family Dance class, open to 1-5 year olds.
[Genevieve] - This Wednesday, I’ll be joining the Caregiver Regulation online workshop hosted by High Point ABA, a therapy practice in Rhinebeck. After a long, dark winter spent mostly indoors with my first and only 3-year-old, I’m acutely aware of where I could strengthen my ability to self-regulate and co-regulate with my child. Luckily, the kind folks at High Point are offering a judgement-free workshop to help us do just that.
[Maddie] - What book do you get for a preschooler with one D&D-curious parent and one parent raised on The Paper Bag Princess? Easy, Nobody Likes a Goblin by Ben Hatke. <3 you, little Goblin dude.
In the Neighborhood
We live in the Mid-Hudson Valley and we’re keeping tabs on these (mostly family-friendly) events near us. If there’s another event you’d like us to share, please send it our way!
February & Beyond Events
Thursday, February 26 - Jordan Casteel in conversation with Kym Chambers and Nina Tucker at Chambers Vintage, Saugerties
Thursday, February 26 - Baby/Toddler & Me Yoga at Morton Memorial Library, Rhinecliff
Friday, February 27 - Murder Bimbo launch party at Left Bank, Catskill
Friday, February 27 - All-Ages Queer and Trans Game Night, Red Hook
Friday, February 27 - Free Story & Tea Time at Berkshire Waldorf School, Great Barrington
Saturday, February 28 - Swap for Sanctuary Fundraiser in support of CCSM, Kinderhook
Saturday, February 28 - Queer Parents Mixer at Unicorn Bar, Kingston
Saturday, February 28 - Holi Extravaganza at Starr Library, Rhinebeck
Saturday, February 28 - Scallywag Scavenger Hunt at FASNY, Hudson
Saturday, February 28 - Party with Haema at The Caboose, Hudson ^
Saturday, February 28 - Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid w/ live organist, Pine Plains
Saturday, February 28 - 2nd Annual Hudson Chili Cook-Off, Hudson
Saturday, February 28 - Friday, March 6 - Seuss-tacular Celebration at the Discovery Museum, Poughkeepsie
Sunday, March 1 - Cookie Decorating workshop at Hudson Hall, Hudson
Sunday, March 1 - Cups Tasting Series at C. Cassis, Rhinebeck
Sunday, March 1 - Knife Skills class at Julia’s Local, Round Top ^
Sunday, March 1 - Catskill Family Resistance Choir at Left Bank Ciders, Catskill
Starting March 3 - Parent & child swim lessons, Hudson
Wednesday, March 4 - Caregiver Regulation workshop, Online via Rhinebeck
Wednesday, March 4 - Beading workshop at Hudson Area Library, Hudson
Starting March 5 - Childbirth Preparation Series at Bloom Project NY, Hudson
Friday, March 6 - Free Story & Tea Time at Berkshire Waldorf School, Great Barrington
Friday, March 6 - Mario Kart Tournament at Return Brewing, Hudson
Saturday, March 7 - Monthly Saturday Wine Class Series at Isola, Kinderhook ^
Saturday, March 7 - Isle of Klezbos, Pine Plains
Sunday, March 8 - Maple Festival 2026, Acra
Sunday, March 8 - Paint and Sip at Rose Hill, Red Hook
Friday, March 13 - Sunday, March 15 - Book Sale at Hudson Area Library, Hudson
Friday, March 13 - Free Story & Tea Time at Berkshire Waldorf School, Great Barrington
Saturday, March 14 - Bud Break Art Show, East Durham
Sunday, March 15 - “Makin’ Cake” by storyteller Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Pine Plains ^
Sunday, March 15 - Maple Fest 2026 at The Ashokan Center, Olivebridge
Sunday, March 15 - The Hudson Valley Pickle Festival, Poughkeepsie
Sunday, March 15 - 38th Annual Shamrock Run, Kingston
Starting March 18 - Artmaking workshop at Hudson Hall, Hudson
Sunday, March 22 - Kids & Kin Yoga at Rose Hill, Red Hook
Tuesday, March 24 - Sesame Street Live, Poughkeepsie
Friday, March 27 - Sunday, March 29 - Capital Region Flower & Garden Expo, Troy
Friday, March 27 - Free Story & Tea Time at Berkshire Waldorf School, Great Barrington
Starting March 28 - Baby Moves at Hudson Hall, Hudson
Starting March 28 - Family Dance at Hudson Hall, Hudson
Saturday, April 25 - The 2nd Annual Hudson Valley Puppet Slam, Pine Plains
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Ongoing Events
Mondays - Songs & Stories at Ulster Public Library, Ulster
Mondays - Family Resource Center Playgroup, Valatie
Mondays - Tunes and Tales at the Red Hook Library, Red Hook
Mondays in March - Queer Teen Meet-Up at Hudson Area Library, Hudson
4th Mondays - La Leche League meetings, Chatham
Tuesdays - Storytime with Robbie at Starr Library, Rhinebeck
Tuesdays - Family Resource Center Playgroup, Hudson
Tuesdays - Tiny Tots at Palenville Library, Palenville
Tuesdays - Preschool Story Hour at Claverack Free Library, Claverack
Wednesdays - Runs with Return Run Club, Hudson
Wednesdays - Family Resource Center Playgroup, Valatie
Wednesdays - Music & Movement at Starr Library, Rhinebeck
Wednesdays in March - Drop-In Art Making at Hudson Area Library, Hudson
Wednesdays - Dancing Connections and Baby Dance Club at Full Circle, Gardiner
2nd Wednesdays - La Leche League meetings, Hudson
Thursdays - Music & Movement Storytime at the Hudson Area Library, Hudson
Thursdays - Family Storytime at Kinderhook Memorial Library, Kinderhook
Thursdays - Family Resource Center Playgroup, Hudson
Thursdays - Adult Art Club at Super Stories, Kinderhook
Thursdays - Wiggles & Words at the Red Hook Library, Red Hook
Thursdays - Baby & Me at Claverack Free Library, Claverack
Thursdays - Baby and Toddler Playgroup at D.R. Evarts Library, Athens
Fridays - Tunes and Tales at the Red Hook Library, Red Hook
Fridays - Music & Movement at Claverack Free Library, Claverack
Fridays - Art Focus Fridays at Kinderhook Memorial Library, Kinderhook
Fridays - Family Play and Hang at Starr Library, Rhinebeck
Fridays - Story Time at Catskill Public Library, Catskill
Fridays in February & March - Free Story & Tea Time at Berkshire Waldorf School, Great Barrington
Saturdays - Hudson Farmers’ Market (indoor), Hudson
Saturdays - Art Workshop at Art Omi, Ghent
Saturdays - Bodie’s Lighthouse Lab at D.R. Evarts Library, Athens
Saturdays through April - The Saturday Morning Family Series, Rhinebeck
Sundays - Tot Time at Skate Time, Accord
Sundays - Community Group Run at Neighbor Running, Hudson
Sundays - Art Projects: Youth Painting & Drawing Classes (ages 4+) at Cone Zero, Catskill
^ = for adults
* = will likely sell out, so book soon
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