Milkmaker Must Have

15/12/2022

I've been busy this evening preparing for tomorrow's Baby Café. It is important for families to know that our Baby Café (& all our support options) is open to ALL parents. You do not have to be a Breastfeeding parent to attend and many of our regular attendees mix-feed or fully feed their babies donor milk, formula &/or have weaned from Breastfeeding.

It is important and necessary for me as an IBCLC Lactation Consultant to advocate for Breastfeeding mothers, the benefits of Breastfeeding and the need for quality support for those that wish to do so. It is quite literally part of my code of conduct & a requirement of my registration. However I also advocate for and believe in informed choice & supports all families in whatever decision they choose. Those who have attended the Baby Café we run alongside & have received 1:1 support from us in their homes or our clinic will know this.

As we discuss in our Starting Solids workshop with we are NOT about the mummy wars. We aim to support parents to make an informed and safe choice that they feel confident in, whatever that choice may be.

Our tagline will always remain the same, there is no shying away from it, research tells us very clearly that mothers milk is the ultimate nutrition for babies. But we also recognise the vast array of challenges this presents many families and we believe that all families deserve the utmost in support when it comes to infant feeding, however you choose to do this. We are also incredibly privileged to live in a place where these choices can be made safely.

If you want a safe non-judgemental space to access support then please know this is what we provide. We don't always know each others stories, what has led us to certain decisions or the troubles we may have endured. Kindness and compassion is what you will always find at our café and any other support service you receive from us.

We are so excited to be welcoming so many of you back to the café tomorrow and to our Christmas lunch! 🎄 We have some fun activities and prizes planned and a few spaces still available if you want to book last minute!

30/11/2022

Do silicone pumps stimulate your milk supply?

Silicone pumps are one of the "must-have" breastfeeding gadgets. However they can cause some problems if not used correctly, so its important you understand how they work. When they have been used too early and too frequently, or when they are used in place of a proper pump they can cause big issues.

Silicone pumps do stimulate your milk supply. Many people seem to think that they just catch the leaks. But the suction when you apply them to the breast does actively remove the milk. And when milk is removed from the breast, breasts make more to replace it! So this increases your milk supply. If this is being done frequently this could create quite an over-supply issue. If this pattern is started in the early weeks, before the milk supply is regulated to what baby needs, it can cause a major over-supply issue! One mum I supported was storing 400ml per day on top of what her baby was taking. The baby was really struggling with the flow but she couldn't stop using it as she would get so engorged. It took around a month to sort her out!

Conversely, silicone pumps are actually not efficient enough to stimulate milk supply when baby is either not latching or is breastfeeding ineffectively. In these circumstances a silicone pump is unlikely to be able to help establish a full milk supply. This is where you need to use a hospital grade pump.

Another issue is that they work best when used whilst baby is feeding on the other side. But we usually suggest prioritising baby having both breasts. If you use a silicon pump whilst baby is feeding on the first breast you remove the easy flow milk they would have on the second side. This is less worrisome for a strong baby who is feeding well as they likely be able to trigger another let down and take the milk they need, but for a sleepy baby who isn't feeding well, this may mean they need more top ups!

Don't get me wrong, they are a great bit of kit if you need to collect a bit of milk occasionally, cheap and easy to clean. But use should be limited and not started until after baby is around 6 weeks old, once milk supply is regulated.

30/11/2022

Second hand gifting is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint!! Instead of shopping on Amazon consider shopping on your local Buy and Sell!! It can really help to reduce unnecessary spending, reduced unnecessary debt and lessen the stress of gift giving at Christmas. This also helps our neighbours un clutter and give life back to toys that have lots of life left in them. I’ve managed to buy my daughter 9 Disney princess dolls from Vinted for only £13 I was going to spend £150 from Disney store for them new 🤯 I hope we can reduce the shame in second hand gifting! I’m searching the marketplace for an outdoor play house for my kids for Christmas and I’ve genuinely no shame in that because I can’t justify or afford £600 for a brand new one. Yes brand new and shiny is great! Yes some things are better new (electrical’s etc) but when it comes to little kids I think pre loved toys are great!!

30/11/2022

💚Learn early hunger cues and don't wait until baby is crying. Frequent & effective milk removal = good milk supply.

💚Put baby to breast often in the early days and weeks. If he looks interested in eating, put him to breast.

💚Get help right away if latch is painful. If baby is not latched on deeply, breastfeeding will probably hurt and your breast may not get adequately drained.

💚Make a special nursing area for yourself at home. Keep healthy snacks and a big water bottle nearby! Adequate caloric intake and hydration is important for milk production.

💚While nursing, sit back or lay down. Relax your shoulders and neck.

💚If baby never seems satisfied after a feeding, call a lactation specialist. Nursing should be enjoyable 🙂 If you are struggling, call for help.

25/09/2022

Absolutely love this from Sensitivity Project:

"One of the strongest predictors of how well a child will cope with stress and adversity as he/she grows is how sensitively they are cared for by their parents. Parental sensitivity includes gentleness but also refers to a caregiver’s ability to accurately read and effectively respond to their child’s behavioural signals and needs (e.g., comfort, autonomy, exploration, play, safety). Growing up within the security of a sensitive and attuned parent-child relationship is like having a second skin that helps protect us during stress and struggle throughout life.
Soft hands equal strong children."

❄️❄️ Our gorgeous winter issue is out now, packed full of treats for you and your little ones! You can pick up TNP from your local countdown or selected stockists in NZ or for our Aussie Friends - check out your local newsagent. Plus it’s available to purchase locally and internationally online here: https://thenaturalparentmagazine.com/product-category/magazine/❄️❄️

08/09/2022

Mamas, after you give birth, do you carry your LO skin-to-skin? 🤱

Did you know that there are a lot of benefits to doing this, not just for your baby but also for you too? 🤔

So snuggle up with your baby and enjoy every minute of it. 💙

🤱: Join our Babymama Viber Community https://bit.ly/BabymamaPhCommunityViber and shop your breastfeeding essentials at www.babymama.ph

08/09/2022