From nipple pain, bottle feeding and leakage to going back to work, this month we got the experts talking about all things feeding.

 

1. Five Red Flags For Nipple Pain

Recognising Red Flags When It Comes To Nipple Pain by Joelleen Winduss Paye, IBCLC Lactation Consultant, Midwife & Naturopath⁠

It's common to experience nipple tenderness when learning to breastfeed, however, ongoing and increasing pain is not. Pain that prevents you from wanting to breastfeed your baby from your breast requires help from an expert IBCLC. It's essential to recognize red flags that may indicate more significant issues:⁠

🤕 Pain that persists beyond the first 30 seconds of a breastfeed.⁠
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🤱 Increasing pain with each feeding session.⁠
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🤏 Nipples that appear persistently pinched-looking after feeding.⁠
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🩹 Grazing, cracks, blisters, or bleeding nipples.⁠
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😑 Pain that does not improve within the first week of breastfeeding.⁠

Proper nipple care is crucial for a comfortable and successful breastfeeding experience. Understanding the right products and techniques can optimise healing and minimise discomfort.

Joellen has developed a beautiful resource to support your breastfeeding journey if you are struggling with any type of nipple pain, click here.

 

 

2. Preparing For Your Breastfeeding Journey

Preparing for your breastfeeding journey during the pregnancy can be a helpful step in understanding how breastfeeding works and starting you off on a positive foot. ⁠By Lauren Brenton, midwife and founder of One Mama Midwife

Educate Yourself
Before your baby arrives, take some time to read up on breastfeeding. Books, online resources, and attending a One Mama Midwife Antenatal Class can provide valuable information. Knowing what to expect, how breastfeeding works, what is normal and when to seek help can help you feel more confident and prepared.

Antenatally Express Colostrum
Expressing colostrum during the pregnancy can help you have the confidence in how your breasts work, that you do have milk there ready for baby and allows you to store up that colostrum in case your baby needs it.

Find Support
Surround yourself with a supportive network. This can include your partner, family, friends who have breastfed, and professionals like lactation consultants. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help and advice. It is also important to remember that everyone’s breastfeeding journey is different, what works for one family might not work for yours and that is okay.

Get the Gear
While breastfeeding is natural, having a few items on hand can make the process
smoother:

• Bare Mum Postpartum Bralette and Warm & Cool Inserts make for easy access and comfort.
• Silver nipple cups to soothe any soreness.
• Ultra Absorbent Breast pads or milk catchers to manage leaks.
• A comfortable nursing pillow to support both you and your baby (this is an optional item).

Create a Comfortable Space
Designate a cozy spot in your home for breastfeeding. A comfortable chair, and a
little table for snacks and water can make those feeding sessions more pleasant.

Practice Skin-to-Skin
Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, providing mum and baby are both okay, can help initiate breastfeeding and help with long term breastfeeding success. Having the golden hour with your baby (the first hour after birth where you have undisturbed skin to skin and a breastfeed) has been shown to improve long term breastfeeding success by taking advantage of the postpartum hormones, Oxytocin and Beta-endorphins.

You can view the full article here.

 

3. Introducing A Bottle To Your Breast Fed Baby

Joelleen Winduss Paye, IBCLC Lactation Consultant, Midwife & Naturopath shares her top tips on how to introduce a bottle to your breastfed baby.

A great place to start is suck “training”. Your baby essentially needs to relearn to coordinate their suck, swallow and breathe pattern - particularly after the 8-12 week mark. Drinking from a bottle is VERY different to the breast.

1. Finger sucking

• Clean finger
• Finger pad to the roof of baby’s mouth
• Trigger their sucking reflex
• Practice often
• Keep it playful

2. Pacifier

• Try in short bursts
• Gently hold in place to help baby keep it in their mouth
• Keep it positive - avoid forcing
• Celebrate/encourage progress
• Try different brands

 

3. Bottle

• Paced bottle feeding method
• Wide neck teat (generally)
• Keep it positive - avoid forcing
• Try before/during/after a breastfeed
• Avoid tired/very hungry states

 

And remember, the BEST teat/bottle is the one YOUR BABY TAKES. Good luck mamas.

 

 

4. Breastfeeding and Returning To Work 

Whether it’s your first baby or your fourth, the thought of juggling work, feeding, and the thought of leaving your baby can feel completely overwhelming. But with a bit of planning, going easy on yourself and a lot of self-compassion, you’ll be able to find a groove that works for both you and your little one.

Here are our top tips, by Lauren Brenton, Midwife and founder of One Midwife. 

1. Becoming emotionally ready

A lot of factors may come into play when deciding when to return to work after having a baby. Whether you are returning to work for financial reasons or because you feel ready, returning to work can bring a mix of relief (hello, adult conversation!) and guilt (how will baby manage without me?). It’s okay to feel all the feelings. You’re not alone in this, every mum goes these feelings. It is important to acknowledge your feelings, lean on your support system, and take it easy on yourself.

2. Preparing for returning to work

Preparation is the best way to help ease the transition back to work. If you’re breastfeeding start by planning your pumping routine. If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to start pumping a few weeks before your return to work to build a stash of milk. This also gives you time to get comfortable with the pump and figure out how often you’ll need to pump to maintain your supply.

Invest in a good quality breast pump—one that’s efficient and comfortable. You’ll be spending a fair amount of time with this device, so it’s worth getting one that works well for you. A hands-free option can be a game-changer, freeing you up to work or relax while you pump, it is just important to make sure that it has sufficient suction strength to maintain your supply.

3. Communicating with Your Employer

Open communication with your employer is crucial. Before your return, have a conversation about your need for pumping breaks. The law is on your side here—employers are required to provide extra time and space (that’s not a bathroom!) for breastfeeding mums to pump. It’s important to set expectations so that both you and your employer are on the same page.

If you’re worried about how your colleagues will react, remember that you’re doing something amazing for your baby. Most people will understand and support you, and if they don’t, it’s on them, not you.

Want more? Read the full article here.