Planes, trains and automobiles: why is breastfeeding on the move still taboo? marley 2018-07-03T12:27:53+00:00

Planes, trains and automobiles: why is breastfeeding on the move still taboo?

Following national success, Lansinoh relaunch the UK’s Feed with Confidence Awards, designed to celebrate the people and places across the UK who are supporting breastfeeding mums.

In 2016, just under 750,000 babies were born in the UK with over 80% of mothers starting to breastfeed their babies. However, according to Public Health England latest statistics on breastfeeding prevalence at six to eight weeks after birth, the number of new mums breastfeeding at this time is 43.7%.[1] This number is low, especially when compared to countries like Norway, which achieves rates of 80% at 3 months.[2] Why does the UK have some of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world?

To understand this issue, Lansinoh carried out research amongst 1000 people, looking at perceptions of breastfeeding in public. The study found that people feel uncomfortable with women breastfeeding on public transport, people over 65 are more accepting of mums breastfeeding in public spaces, and people in Wales are more comfortable with breastfeeding compared to other regions in the UK. The Equality Act 2010 made it illegal to ask a woman to stop breastfeeding in public, so why is breastfeeding in public such a national taboo?

A government study found that although 72% of the British public outwardly support public breastfeeding, over half of breastfeeding mums take steps to cover up and 34% feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.3 Research carried out by Lansinoh found that 37% of men and 41% of women find women breastfeeding on a bus uncomfortable, whilst mums breastfeeding on the underground were frowned upon by 34% of men and 44% of women.4 Although a third of those surveyed admitted that they were not comfortable seeing a woman breastfeeding in front of another woman, the research also found that the longer the journey, the less people find an issue with a mother breastfeeding in a public space.

“Breastfeeding is an incredibly important part of relationship building between mother and baby and we’re committed to helping and supporting mums who choose and are able to breastfeed. The Feed with Confidence Awards 2017 received hundreds of nominations from across the UK” explains Kevin Vyse-Peacock, CEO, Lansinoh Laboratories. “We’ve relaunched the campaign to continue to celebrate not just the places that support breastfeeding mums, but also the people who encourage and support breastfeeding in public.

Experts agree that there are positive health benefits for both the child and the mother.

Breastfeeding is known to provide protection against infections, diarrhoea and vomiting in babies and it is thought to reduce the risk of obesity and other diseases in later life.

For mum, breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Michelle Lyne, Professional Education Advisor at The Royal College of Midwives (RCM), says: “Evidence clearly shows that breastfeeding in line with WHO guidance brings optimum benefits for the health of both mother and baby. The RCM believes that breastfeeding also has a positive impact on mother-baby relationships and nurturing of maternal and infant mental health.

“For women who choose to breastfeed it is so important that they feel supported not only by midwives, but by their family and friends too. Women should not feel guilty or embarrassed about breastfeeding in public and as a society we must continue to develop a culture of positive support for women who wish to breastfeed and educating the public is key to this.

“Women breastfeeding should not be made to feel uncomfortable or guilty. The Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to stop breastfeeding, or cover up or leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or public transport.”

Kellie, the 2017 Feed with Confidence Winner said “I was delighted to win the Feed with Confidence 2017 Award. I have worked very hard to create a warm and inviting space for everyone. It can be very daunting for new mums to breastfeed in public and it’s important that they are supported and made to feel welcome”.

The Feed with Confidence Awards 2018 are recognising people and places that help to support mums and positively change perceptions. To make a nomination, please visit www.lansinoh.co.uk/feedwithconfidence. The closing date for entries is the 31^st December 2018 and the winners will be announced in January 2019.

Below are some breastfeeding tips to help mums when they are out and about:

If this is your first time venturing out, buddy up and take a friend with you. They can offer you support if you need it.
Join a breastfeeding group. It’s great being around other mums who are breastfeeding. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience. But you will find that you also have lots of knowledge other mums will find helpful too.
If you feel uncomfortable feeding in public, wear a sling or loose clothing. But remember that once baby is latched, you show no more breast than the woman at the next table with her sun top on! Once you’ve started feeding in company a couple of times, you’ll start feeding with confidence!

-ENDS-

Notes to the Editor:

Lansinoh was founded by Rasheda Hagen in 1984 to offer breastfeeding women a safe and effective alternative to the highly cosmetic products that were available for nipple soreness – a major reason for failing to establish successful breastfeeding relationships.

When mums choose to breastfeed, Lansinoh believes they should have the support and encouragement they need to experience all its benefits, and ensure baby feels the same. We’ll always take our mothers seriously and their needs personally, creating high-quality products mums want and can trust as they nurture their babies and develop a special bond only formed in motherhood.

World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months (26 weeks) of a baby’s life. After that, giving a baby breast milk alongside family foods for as long as mother and baby want, will help them grow and develop healthily.

For more information about the Royal College of Midwives position statement on Infant Feeding, visit: https://www.rcm.org.uk/sites/default/files/Infant%20Feeding.pdf

Visit www.lansinoh.co.uk for the full range of products and more information. www.twitter.com/lansinohfamily (@lansinohfamily)
www.facebook.com/LansinohFamily

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/breastfeeding-at-6-to-8-weeks-after-birth-2017-to-2018-quarterly-data

[2] http://www.infactcanada.ca/goodgood.htm

3 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-mothers-are-anxious-about-breastfeeding-in-public

4 All figures unless stated otherwise are according to research on a nationally representative sample of 1000 UK adults carried out by ID Insight Consulting on behalf of Lansinoh, 2017.

Breastfeeding for beginners Debbie Bird 2018-03-29T10:31:46+00:00

Breastfeeding for beginners

Every baby is different, every new mum is different, and even if you’ve breastfed successfully before, you may find it more tricky second or third time round or vice versa. In that sense, we’re all breastfeeding beginners, but first time around it’s only natural to have some concerns before you even begin. Will your breast shape or size affect your ability to feed? Will you produce enough milk? Will you be able to do it? Rest assured that whatever shape or size of your breasts they are all able to produce milk when the time comes, and their appearance is not a factor governing your ability to breastfeed. In fact the breasts only store a small amount of milk in the ducts; it’s the milk-producing cells that determine milk production.

Breastfeeding works by supply and demand; as long as your baby suckles frequently the milk will be there for him as he needs it. The keys to success in the early days are frequent feeding and correct positioning.

During pregnancy, you might have found that you started to produce a little breast milk which leaked out from time to time. This is quite normal, but it is equally normal not to produce any. You may find that if you gently squeeze your nipple, some drops of milk will appear towards the end of your pregnancy.

There is no need to make any physical preparations for breastfeeding. You can ignore any old wives’ tales that you hear about toughening up your nipples (thank goodness!). However, finding out about breastfeeding from someone who has breastfed their children, and having the phone number of a breastfeeding counsellor, will mean that you are as well prepared as you can be.

Many first-time mothers find getting breastfeeding established difficult and combined with the baby blues it can be a very emotional time. Problems will not go away on their own so ask for help and support immediately, or you may be put off breastfeeding altogether.

First feeds

After your baby is born, you should offer him a feed as soon he is interested. Many mothers feed immediately after delivery, and there is evidence that the sooner breastfeeding begins, the more likely you are to be successful. But don’t worry if you don’t get off to a text-book start. A strong desire to breastfeed will make up for any delay. If you are keen to breastfeed, you should write this down in your birth plan, so the hospital staff can help you.

Your baby will follow his own pattern of feeding, but it is not unusual for the first 24 hours to be fairly quiet, as he rests after the birth. After that, you may find that he is feeding erratically; maybe every hour for five hours, and then a four-hour sleep. But there is no pattern, no rights and wrongs, apart from letting your baby feed when he wants to. Don’t expect any routine to be emerging at this stage, and just rest when you can.

A good feeding position is vital during these first days. While a certain amount of discomfort at the beginning of a feed is not unusual, severe pain throughout the feed is sending you a message that something is wrong. Very often, the pain is caused by the baby being poorly positioned at the breast, which can be quickly remedied.

First milk

For the first few days your breasts contain colostrum, a highly concentrated creamy milk which is brimming with antibodies, proteins, vitamins and anti-infective agents.

At this stage your breasts won’t look any different, and because the amount of colostrum your baby needs is small, you may think that you’re not producing anything. But you are, and you should let the baby suckle whenever he wants to. His suckling will stimulate your system into producing mature milk, and frequent suckling in these first few days will help prevent engorgement when the milk does come in.

Mature milk

After two or three days mature milk will appear. You will notice your breasts getting bigger and heavier as the volume of milk being produced increases, and that the milk becomes thinner and whiter.

At every feed your milk will include foremilk and hindmilk. The foremilk is a thirst-quenching drink, high in lactose (milk sugar) but low in fat, while the hindmilk that follows on is higher in fat and very important for your baby’s growth.

Restricting the time your baby is at the breast can mean he gets too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk. This means he will become hungry again quite quickly, and may make him colicky. Let him feed for as long as he wants at one breast, to ensure he gets sufficient hindmilk.

Making plenty of milk

The more you feed your baby, the more milk you will make. Suckling acts as a trigger for producing more of it. Therefore, so long as your baby is well positioned on the breast and feeding regularly, he will be getting plenty of food.

If your baby isn’t properly latched on, not only will you find it very painful, but also he won’t be able to take the milk he is ordering. You will make more and more milk, but he won’t be removing it, which may lead to you becoming engorged, or developing mastitis.

If you are uncertain about the positioning, please ask your midwife – you’ll be amazed at the difference finding the correct position can make.

Some mothers worry about the amount of milk their baby is getting because it’s impossible to see how much the baby takes. There are other ways of identifying whether your baby is feeding well and has plenty of breast milk. If he’s producing plenty of wet nappies, is bright and alert and gaining weight steadily, then you can be reassured that he is getting all the milk he needs. If you feel concerned, ask your midwife or health visitor for advice.

Here’s how to maximise the amount of milk you make for your baby:

Get the positioning checked by your breastfeeding counsellor or midwife
Put the baby to the breast frequently
Rest more. Have a ‘babymoon’; go back to bed with your baby for 24 hours and just rest and feed together
If your baby is very sleepy, ill or premature, express milk after a feed to keep your supply up
If your problems have lasted some time, start all over again. Imagine that your baby is newborn, help him to latch on correctly and offer him lots of feeds

Positions for breastfeeding

Finding a feeding position that is comfortable is very important. There will be times when you are feeding for some time, and if you don’t feel relaxed and comfortable, you will want to end the feed as soon as possible, rather than when your baby has finished.

In the first few days you may find it helps to sit in an upright chair and bring the baby up to the right height by lying him on one or two pillows
You should have plenty of support for your back and neck – try leaning against a pillow or two
You may also want to raise the level of your feet so that your lap isn’t sloping downwards. Use a low stool, some magazines or a cushion under your feet
Mothers who have had a Caesarean section often prefer to feed lying down in order to avoid the baby pressing on the wound
For the first few feeds you may need the help and support of your midwife to position the baby properly

By experimenting you will quickly find positions that feel comfortable for you and will be able to feed your baby either sitting up or lying down.

Your baby’s position is also important:

Your baby’s whole body should be facing your breast, so he should be lying on his side rather than on his back whether you are feeding him sitting up or lying down
His body should be in a straight line, so that he doesn’t have to turn his head to feed
He should be tucked in as close to you as possible

So long as you remember these three rules, you can feed in any position you choose. As you become more confident you will be able to feed standing up, or sitting cross legged, but most mothers take a few weeks to get to that stage, so take your time finding the right way for you.

Latching on

A vital ingredient of successful breastfeeding is getting your baby properly latched on, which means attaching him to the breast with a wide open mouth.

Some babies seem to do this instinctively from the start, and others need to be encouraged. Your baby will learn the right method quickly if you always wait for his open mouth before he latches on.

When you are ready to start a feed:

Make sure your baby’s nose is opposite your nipple
Move your baby close to you and stroke his mouth or cheek with your finger or nipple. He should respond by opening his mouth and turning towards the stimulus. This is the rooting reflex
Move your baby towards you so he can take the breast. He should take as much as possible, so that your nipple rests against his upper palate and his tongue is underneath. If the nipple is far enough back in his mouth, it won’t move during the feed, and shouldn’t get sore

Look for the following evidence of a good latch:

Open mouth, with bottom lip curled back
Baby’s chin touching your breast
Mouth and jaw movement
Tops of ears wiggling slightly as he sucks
Most of the areola (the pigmented area of skin around the nipple) in the baby’s mouth

He isn’t well latched on if:

You can hear a clicking noise
You can see his cheeks are sucked in
You feel pain throughout the feed rather than a slight initial soreness

If he isn’t latched on correctly, take him off and start again.

Let-down

There will always be some foremilk ready for your baby to drink when he latches on to the breast. When he starts to suck, the milk-producing cells then start to squeeze hindmilk forward into the ducts leading to the nipple so that it is there for him to take.

This is called the let-down reflex. A tingling sensation or pins and needles in your breast, as well as some leaking of milk in the non-feeding breast, sometimes accompany it. You may also feel a sense of calm and relaxation come over you. It isn’t always obvious, so don’t worry if you don’t feel anything. So long as your baby is thriving on your milk, it will be happening anyway.

In the first few days after the birth, you may feel stomach cramps when the let-down takes place. This is because the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the let-down, also causes the womb to contract, helping it to return to its original shape. These contractions will only last for a day or so, if at all; many first-time mothers don’t experience them.

As your body adjusts to breastfeeding, you may find that the let-down is triggered by hearing a baby crying, or even just thinking about your baby.

Initial soreness

For the first week or so many women experience some initial soreness. This is not surprising really since your breasts and have been safely tucked away inside bras for years. Good positioning will prevent soreness developing into a problem and your breasts will become less sensitive.

You can help minimise soreness by:

Making sure the baby is properly latched on. Get help from your midwife or breastfeeding counsellor if you are not sure
Leaving your bra off for short periods, unless you find it uncomfortable, so your breasts get some fresh air
Rubbing in a little expressed breast milk at the end of a feed and allowing it to dry on the skin
Some women like to use nipple creams, but these can cause problems. They may need to be washed off before a feed, which can be uncomfortable if you are sore. Any cream left on the nipple can make the breast slippery, so the baby does not latch on properly. If you do find using a cream helps, choose one that can be put on after a feed and allowed to soak in before the next feed (homeopathic creams work in this way). Use it sparingly.

Taking your baby off

One of the most frequently asked questions about breastfeeding is: how do I know when my baby has finished a feed? Very often, your baby appears to be fast asleep at the end of the feed, but as soon as you try to gently extricate yourself, he starts to suck vigorously again.

As you get to know your baby better, a pattern will begin to emerge, and you will see how long he tends to take for a feed. You are an important factor in this as well. There may be times when you are able to let him doze and suck for an extra half hour, and other times when that isn’t possible.

The baby’s grip on the breast can be very firm, so it is important to break the suction before moving him. If you try to pull your nipple out of his mouth, you may find you get very sore.

You should break the suction by putting a clean little finger in the corner of his mouth, which will release the hold and allow you to gently remove him.

Baby-led feeding

Breastfeeding is governed by the principle of supply and demand, which your baby will instinctively be able to control. The action of feeding triggers a reaction by your body to make more milk for the next feed.

This is why it works best to feed your baby on demand, when he indicates that he wants to feed, rather than by the clock. If you do this your body will be perfectly attuned to the nutritional needs of your baby and will make the correct amount of milk.

This does mean that you will be doing a lot of feeding in the first week or two, perhaps more than you anticipated. If you can, use this time to rest and relax. As your baby grows, there will be more room in his stomach to accommodate a larger feed, and he will also be able to take a feed more quickly, so this phase shouldn’t last too long.

By feeding on demand, your milk supply will quickly become established, and within weeks you should start to see a pattern emerging.

Preventing Endometriosis with Extended Breastfeeding marley 2017-12-14T16:49:37+00:00

Endometriosis is a medical condition in which lining of the uterus (endometrium) starts to grow in other places such as ovaries, fallopian tubes or with the pelvis. The problem starts when the lining breaks down and as a result woman has to face severe cramps, heavy periods, and other major fertility problem.

According to a new study, it is thought that there are fewer chances of endometriosis developing in women who breastfeed their babies and the chances reduce even further if women nurse their babies for long enough.

Dr. Leslie V. Farland from Harvard Medical School in the US emphasised on it by saying that if women want to reduce the risks of having endometriosis, the most adaptable way for them is through breastfeeding.

Currently, around 10% women have endometriosis and unfortunately it currently has no cure. There is however conservative measures to control the discomfort and ease symptoms such as hormone therapy, pain medication, and even surgery to remove all the misplaced uterine tissues.

Some researchers have theorised that that because the process of menstruation causes endometriosis, when this stops, so will the symptoms. The process of menstruation stops when women start nursing their babies, therefore it means that breastfeeding has a protective effect. Women who exclusively breastfeed their babies regularly will usually experience amenorrhea (absence of periods)

A study was conducted by Dr. Farland and her team, they observed 72,394 women who were pregnant for at least 6 months, and one of the prominent things to notice was that none of the women had endometriosis. In the follow-up, it was observed that women diagnosed with endometriosis were 3,296. It was observed that there were 40% fewer chances for women to have endometriosis who had been breastfeeding.

One thing which is noticeable is that each case of pregnancy, women who had been breastfeeding their babies had 8% lower risk of having endometriosis. Another important finding was that women who had stopped menstruating (after giving birth) for 6-12 months were 42% less likely to have the problem of endometriosis development than those who did not miss a period.

According to Dr. Farland, few menstrual periods are not the only thing that happens as a result of breastfeeding. There are other changes that happen such as lower estrogen levels and higher oxytocin levels. She did say that their results were not generalized for women who experienced endometriosis prior to pregnancy.

Therefore, it can be said that breastfeeding can actually play a role in preventing endometriosis in women. It is best that further researches are made to create awareness about the issue.

Breastfeeding – what if I can’t breastfeed? Debbie Bird 2017-12-14T16:49:38+00:00

There’s one subject “what if I can’t breastfeed” that’s guaranteed to provoke a reaction amongst new mums.

Whether you want to or don’t , whether you can or you can’t, whether you’ve tried it and loved it or struggled and decided to stop – it can have a profound effect on how worthy you feel as a mother.

For many women, breastfeeding just isn’t an option and not having a choice can make recent headlines suggesting a strong link between breastfeeding for an extended period with a higher IQ level incredibly hard to hear.

So what if you simply can’t breastfeed, if your little one won’t latch on?

Breastfeeding Specialist Geraldine Miskin gives her advice and shares her expertise…

What if I can’t breastfeed?

We know that breastfeeding provides far more than just baby’s milk. The close contact with you provides reassurance, whilst the physical act of breastfeeding develops your baby’s key oral muscles needed for speech, whilst providing a myriad of health benefits that will last for years.

Apart from all the health benefits that breastfeeding provides for your baby, extended breastfeeding also invests in your long term health by reducing the risk of ovarian and breast cancers when you feed for 6 months.

The average UK breastfeeding initiation rate is around 85% but roughly 30% of those mums are still exclusively breastfeeding by 6 weeks. By all accounts, you’d expect breastfeeding rates to be higher but clearly there is something very wrong.

Many mums I speak to complain about the constant conflicting advice that they receive, which makes navigating early day and week breastfeeding challenges unnecessarily difficult. Often mums are surprised to hear that a bumpy breastfeeding start is as ‘normal’ and ‘natural’ as the smooth easy start projected in so many antenatal classes.

Babies are born knowing what they need

Whilst it is true that many babies are born knowing what they need to do and putting it into action, many babies have their innate instincts dulled by elements, which are out of your hands.

Baby’s position in the womb is something you have no control over and yet it often has a direct bearing on how your baby is birthed and delivered. More interestingly I have found that baby’s position in utero can influence how well your baby is able to latch and transfer breast milk. Again, you have very little influence on this.

If you tried to breastfeed but found that it didn’t work, you may still find the thought of it all quite raw. It is tough and upsetting to think that you couldn’t do what so many mums seem so ‘easily’ able to achieve and your disappointment is valid but please don’t beat yourself up and think that it is down to something that you did or didn’t do.

Your baby breastfeeds, not you.

The pivotal point to breastfeeding is repeatedly missed and this is something I need all mums to know. Your baby breastfeeds, not you. When breastfeeding is tricky or not going well regardless of how beautifully you position or help him at the breast, it’s not your fault.

Some babies just need more time and guidance to learn to breastfeed and if the person helping you is not aware of that, you won’t get the help that you need.

If you are currently an expectant or breastfeeding mum, it is important to know that the more time you spend in skin to skin contact with your baby, the more time he’ll have to figure out what he needs to do. There is no rush to get him onto a routine or into his crib; the best place for him is with you.

Get help if you feel that something is not right. If you need help, speak to one person, so that you don’t get confused with tons of conflicting advice.

Trust your instinct.

If the advice you are given does not feel right, regardless of how many letters the giver has behind her name, it is not right.

You are your baby’s expert and anyone worth their salt will recognize that.

Remember that a bumpy breastfeeding start is as normal as a smooth start. Your baby may just choose to take the scenic route to established breastfeeding but you will both get there in the end.

Where to next

The global breastfeeding community must stop referring to ‘successful’ breastfeeding

“if we talk about success, we are also talking about failure.’

Breastfeeding families should work with goals, monthly, weekly or even daily goals to support them.

Prof Spatz’s commanding presentation was met with an overwhelming reception from the audience of more than 450 healthcare professionals from around the world. Her commitment to increasing breastfeeding rates on a global scale is very clear and her work to date is truly making a differences evidenced by her Lifetime Achievement Award in the USA and her testimony which has helped to shape the US Surgeon General’s National Breastfeeding Call to Action.

Prof Diane Spatz:

Prof Spatz Diane L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN

Prof Spatz Diane L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN educates and consults in the breastfeeding care of families, including special prenatal and post-delivery education for mothers with infants diagnosed with complex surgical and non-surgical anomalies. She has developed a DVD on skin-to-skin transfer of the ventilated infant, as well as the DVD –The Power of Pumping – both used in hospitals worldwide. A revered mentor, she involves students in all of her research projects.

[i] Neifert (2001) PREVENTION OF BREASTFEEDING TRAGEDIES, Paediatric Clinics of North America

Tea at the Ready…The Big Breastfeeding Café is Back Debbie Bird 2017-12-14T16:49:50+00:00

The Big Breastfeeding Café, led by breastfeeding brand Medela, is back for its second year! The hugely successful celebration of breastfeeding is set to engage the nation once again as families join together to chat all things breastfeeding, share experiences and support each other over a cuppa!

The world’s leading breastfeeding brand, Medela, is calling on mums (and dads) to join the fun on Tuesday 16^th May, by hosting a Breastfeeding Café in the comfort of home for family, friends and local mums. With more than x500 mums joining together and over 40 cafes held last year across the UK including Yorkshire, Norfolk, Nottingham and London, the brand is hoping to bring more mums together and make this the biggest ever Breastfeeding Café!

The Big Breastfeeding Café was a campaign inspired by a survey, which found that a significant 76% of mums believed chatting with other mums at support groups helped to support their feeding journey. This, teamed with the continued success of its weekly Breastfeeding Café on social media, led to the brand taking the concept on the road, actively reaching out to the parenting community and promoting the importance of essential mum to mum support

The team at Medela are passionate about supporting all breastfeeding mums, whether they are exclusively breastfeeding, expressing or a combination of both. This year’s Big Breastfeeding Café will mark yet another stride in not only encouraging breastfeeding talk amongst mums, but also increasing the awareness of breastfeeding within society.

“Breastfeeding has been proven again and again to be the best way to feed baby. However, although a part of human nature, it is not always as easy as first thought and can be challenging. Having a supportive, reassuring and caring network around you is vital, if not essential to a successful breastfeeding journey. Chatting with other breastfeeding mums specifically, is a brilliant way to get advice and learn some new tips from those who have experienced breastfeeding and expressing first hand.

“We’re so looking forward to The Big Breastfeeding Café 2017. We hope that mums across the UK will once again join us to celebrate breastfeeding and vital mum to mum support. After all, what a fantastic excuse to get together and make some new mummy friends, while chatting all things feeding over some much deserved tea and cake!”

Medela UK’s Education Manager and in-house Lactation Consultant, Sioned Hilton

Medela will provide mums with a complete package enabling them to host their very own Breastfeeding Café in the comfort of home. The Big Breastfeeding Café packs will include a handy breastfeeding guide featuring expert advice from in-house Lactation Consultant Sioned Hilton, Medela samples, posters, invitations and of course, tea and biscuits!

To sign up for a Big Breastfeeding Café pack, mums simply need to register their interest by emailing medelamums@gmail.com

About Medela

Medela have been supporting breastfeeding mothers for over 50 years, and thanks to their extensive research into the science of breastfeeding their breastpumps are trusted and loved by parents, celebrities and healthcare professionals across the globe. Their breastpumps have won countless awards, including a Which? Best Buy, and are found in 94% of UK hospitals.

Medela are dedicated to providing the best possible support to mothers, and their In-House Lactation Consultant Sioned Hilton is always on hand to offer advice and support. The brand run a weekly Breastfeeding Café via their social media pages to ensure mums can access expert advice wherever they are. The regular sessions have become an invaluable resource for mums and have created a community where mums can not only openly share their experiences, difficulties and challenges but also share advice and tips that have worked well for them.

Breastfeeding – helping to enable mothers – it’s more than just food Debbie Bird 2017-12-14T16:49:56+00:00

Breastfeeding – it is more than just food…

But the responsibility for the acceptance, encouragement and support of breastfeeding needs to change from just being directed at the parents.

Unicef UK’s Baby Friendly Initiative is calling on the UK and devolved governments to take urgent steps to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in the UK.

It is time to shift responsibility for tackling this public health issue away from individual parents, and change the conversation away from guilt and blame.

Instead, we need to acknowledge the role we can all play in creating a supportive, informed environment for all parents, enabling mothers to breastfeed for as long as they wish.

Breastfeeding – it is more than just food

Sadly many parents are simply not confident about breastfeeding, with one of the biggest worries for new mums being that they’re not producing enough milk.

But a newborn’s stomach is only the size of a cherry and therefore can only take a very small amount of milk at each feed in the early days.

Breastfeeding your baby - size of your newborn's stomach

Unfounded worry like this could be avoided if more women were given this information around the time of the birth of their baby.

Despite Department of Health recommendations that babies should be breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of life, the UK has the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe and this is in part due to a lack of confidence in women that they can breastfeed.

Unicef – #BFICalltoAction campaign

Unicef Call to Action campaign for breastfeeding is urging the UK and devolved governments to take four key steps to create a supportive, enabling environment for women who want to breastfeed.

Read more about the key steps here: www.unicef.uk/bficalltoaction

Helping a breastfeeding mum Debbie Bird 2017-12-14T16:49:59+00:00

How can you help support a breastfeeding mum?….

A good baby is a perception held by our society that babies should act in a certain way. Some baby care books take advantage of this by suggesting parents should encourage babies to be in a strict routine for their feeding and sleep.

There is no need to make any physical preparations for breastfeeding. However, finding out about feeding from someone who has breastfed their children, and having the phone number of a breastfeeding counsellor, will mean that you are as well prepared as you can be.

Watch the video to give you some advice and support on how you don’t have to be in control all of the time.

Raising Breasteeding rates is really important

Video by Dr Amy Brown Associate Professor
Programme Director MSc Child Public Health Department of Public Health, Policy and Social Sciences Swansea University

Dr Amy Brown says Raising breastfeeding rates is really important

@Dr_AmyBrown

**New Book: Breastfeeding Uncovered (Out September 2016)**

Win a breastfeeding prize bundle! Debbie Bird 2017-12-14T16:50:13+00:00

Having good breastfeeding accessories is essential for every mum, and we’re very excited to be giving away some breastfeeding essentials!

Bravado Bra

The comfort and support of Bravado, allows easy access to feed your baby. The Body Silk Seamless Yoga nursing bra is the most comfortable bra in the world and is ideal for mums’ everyday active lifestyle. It’s the perfect choice for low impact activity – yoga, pilates, walking, keeping up with baby or simply to wear as an everyday bra. Available in a beautiful array of colours and designs, Bravado bras are elegant, stylish and provide ultimate comfort for the wearer.

breastvest

Not only does mum need the support of a comfortable bra, but also the support of a comfortable top. Breastvest is a revolutionary and award winning piece of breastfeeding underwear which makes any top a breastfeeding top to give you more confidence and comfort when breastfeeding your baby. Invented, tested and approved by breastfeeding mums, breastvest is shaped to sit comfortably just under your nursing bra and is held in place by shoulder straps, specially designed not to interfere with your bra straps. When feeding, all you have to do is unhook your nursing bra and lift your top up without worrying about exposing your postnatal tummy… breastvest has got you covered.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

www.bravadodesigns.eu | www.breastvest.co.uk

The Prize

We have ONE breastfeeding prize bundle to give away containing ONE Bravado Bra and ONE breastvest.

Create your own user feedback survey

You can also enter here.

Terms & Conditions

Save

Breastfeeding positions: are you sitting comfortably? Debbie Bird 2017-12-14T16:50:15+00:00

Whilst we’re told that it’s the most natural thing in the world, the truth is that for many of us, breastfeeding just doesn’t come naturally! Sore nipples, engorged breasts and a hungry baby aren’t a great combination, throw in a splash of tiredness and a dash of desperation and you’ve got all the ingredients for a breastfeeding meltdown. The key to breastfeeding really is in your positioning, your comfort and keeping relaxed (we know, more easily said than done!). We’ve got some great advice from Nikki Khan, a practising midwife since 1989 and is the perfect person to be advising Now Baby mums on how to make breastfeeding as comfortable as possible.

Are you sitting comfortably…?

The key to a successful, and enjoyable, breastfeed is getting the latching correct, which all comes down to positioning.

If baby is in the incorrect position whilst feeding not only could there be problems with latching and sore nipples, but baby could have issues with swallowing or may develop gastric reflux, and mum can easily start to get back and arm pain.

There are lots of different positions that work brilliantly for a successful breastfeed, whilst using a high quality nursing pillow will optimise the comfort of each position.

However, before you start thinking about positions and nursing pillows, remember these basics to a successful feed…

Make sure you are comfortable in a chair supporting your back with your bottom back in the chair rather than perched on the edge for the feed and your nursing pillow nearby, especially in the early days when baby needs more head support!
Have everything on a table near you – drinking water, telephone, pen and pad and a muslin cloth.
Ensure your feet are on the floor and you are not on tiptoe! Some mums use a footstool or another pillow under their feet to ensure the position is maintained
Remember: ‘Tummy to Tummy ‘
‘Nose to nipple’- Bring your baby to your breast, so he is facing your nipple, and does not have to turn his head to reach it. His nose, rather than his mouth, should be in line with your nipple, allowing your baby room to tip his head back before latching on

Nursing Pillows

Nursing pillows are designed to help support your baby in the correct position for breast-feeding, providing vertebral support for mum, or even helping dad during a bottle feed.

A good breast-feeding pillow can reduce slouching as you breastfeed, which will prevent back pain and help properly position baby tummy-to-tummy and at a good height to avoid slouching during a feed.

Breastfeeding Positions to Try

The preferred nursing position is a very personal choice, but some are better for you than others! Here are a selection that are great for both you and baby. Give each one a go, complete with your choice of nursing pillow, and see what works best for you.

1. Cradle Hold

The most common, ‘traditional’ hold. Place the nursing pillow on your lap, and hold the baby in the cradle hold with his or her tummy against yours. Use the nursing pillow to support the baby, and release your arm once your baby has latched on, allowing you to have a hand free during the feed!

This is an ideal position as your baby grows heavier.

2. Underarm/ ‘Rugby’ hold

This position is known as the ‘Rugby‘ or ‘Underarm’ hold as the mum is supporting her baby under her arm. Place the nursing pillow along the side that you will be feeding on and position baby with his feet facing your back, under your arm

Often used for mums who have had a caesarean section to avoid the little one kicking the wound!
Particularly useful for women with large breasts or for smaller babies
Allows baby’s head to tilt back, making attachment to the breast easier in the early days

3. Cross Cradle Hold

This position works well in the early days of feeding, or if mum has difficulty latching her baby on.

With nursing pillow on lap again, baby is supported with the arm opposite from the side mum is feeding from and is lying on his side, facing mum, leaving his head free to tilt back and latch on

4. Lying Down

This position is particularly useful for night feeds or when the mother is feeling unwell.

The same principals apply of ‘nose to nipple’ and ‘tummy facing mummy’s tummy’, but both are lying on their sides facing each other and the baby is held close by the mother’s upper hand.

Search results for: breastfeeding