Have you been told, ‘you are creating bad habits’ by allowing your baby to fall asleep on the breast? Although you may like to use other sleep cues as well as breastfeeding your baby to sleep, advice that letting your...

The benefits of continuing to breastfeed a child beyond their first birthday, or what’s known in Western cultures as ‘extended’ breastfeeding, are widely recognised. The list of benefits include nourishment, comfort,...

So, you’ve decided to wean your toddler from breastfeeding for whatever reason. Your little one doesn’t see breastfeeding as an issue - for them, it’s their wonderful (and probably favourite) source of comfort - so when...

In the first few days after birth it is very common for a baby to be frequently breastfeeding, probably around 12 or more times per 24 hours! Yes you heard that right! Your baby is not feeding ferociously often because there...

Returning to work is a time of change for you and your baby. Well done on finding the best solution for you so that you can continue on your wonderful breastfeeding journey. First steps towards breastfeeding and working ...

When your baby is first born, it can seem overwhelming; so many things to remember and such a tiny bundle gazing up at you. Expressing milk can seem like just another job on your ever growing to-do list. The good news is...

In an uninterrupted physiological birth, babies are naturally exposed to their mother's gut microbiome, first in the birth canal (specific vagina flora and some fecal flora), and then via skin and breast milk after birth. ...

Often the causes behind recurrent mastitis can be attributed to lifestyle stresses such as overdoing things and becoming exhausted or stressed. Stress and health issues such as low iron (anaemia) can lead to a depressed...

Breastfeeding is biologically natural, but it's definitely not always easy. In fact, most new mothers struggle with it at some stage. It’s a skill that requires patience, preparation, and practice, but most importantly, for...

Water is not a suitable drink for babies before six months of age, even in warmer weather. Breastmilk and formula provides both their necessary food and liquids. Giving your baby water may mean they drink less milk, which can...

Breastfeeding may be biologically natural, but that doesn’t mean that it comes naturally to all women. It’s a learned skill, and sometimes problems (painful ones) can pop up along the way. Even if things are going...

As you get the hang of breastfeeding your newborn, it’s not uncommon to experience sore, tender, cracked, blistered, and even bleeding nipples. Luckily, there are steps you can take to help prevent such discomfort, as well...

To ensure that the start to your breastfeeding journey is as comfortable as possible for you and your baby, there are several things you can do to prepare. If this is your first baby, and you’ve possibly never even held...

There is an abundance of information in the community regarding alcohol consumption when pregnant. Many studies have been carried out on pregnant women who consume alcohol and the damaging effects on the developing foetus are...

There are many reasons to want to combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding. What ever choice you make, it will be the right one for you and your baby. Some women worry by mixed feeding and introducing formula or expressed...

Dummies (also called pacifiers or soothers) have been used for centuries to help settle babies. If you’re considering introducing a dummy to baby, you will first want to weigh up the potential associated advantages and...

There are endless new things to learn when you become a parent, and in case breastfeeding hasn’t been the biggest learning curve for you so far...you soon discover that pumping is a whole new world! First you need to decide...

Gut microbiome & breastfeeding? Really? Believe it or not – your gut microbiome has a BIG influence over your breastfeeding outcomes. How so? Let me explain; The Microbiome is a buzz topic for a reason. The...

Did you know that there are a few key ingredients which new mums swear-by to increase their breast milk supply? While there isn’t scientific evidence on these ingredients increasing supply, new mums are heading to the shops...

A guide to tandem breastfeeding: you can start by eating more calories per day! Breastfeeding is like a full-time job - one mum recently added up the time she spent breastfeeding her little one over a year and found she...

Breastfeeding is one of the most amazing parts of new motherhood. But at some point, whether it’s your decision or your baby’s, breastfeeding will come to an end, and you’ll need to think about weaning. This can be a...

Vasospasms occur with the constriction of blood vessels resulting in extreme pain, which worsens in the cold weather. While vasospasms can take place in any blood vessels within the body, including the heart, brain or, ...

The food we eat doesn’t just impact our own bodies.  The food we eat is metabolised and enters our bloodstream and breast milk is made from the blood.  So, for breastfeeding mothers, traces of your diet will pass...

Lactose intolerance is a well-known condition, experienced by high numbers of adults. But it can also be an issue for babies, placing those who are intolerant at risk of adverse reaction when breastfeeding. What is lactose...

There can of course be a variety of reasons to use a breast pump. For many mothers, it is the perfect solution to maintain breastfeeding when they return to work. For other mums, they need to use a breast pump for nearly all...

In the first month after birth, your milk cells are turning on to make milk for both now and the future. Over the next 2-4 weeks your body will make the exact amount your baby or babies need to drink each day. From the end of...

These early days with your new baby are some of the most beautiful and precious of your life together. It’s all about focusing on your new baby, breastfeeding, and bonding. This is often referred to as the 4th trimester!...

Most mums-to-be have planned their birth plan a several weeks in advance of the big (birth) day but how many of us create a birth plan for breastfeeding - A breastfeeding plan? What is a Birth Plan? A birth plan is a...

It’s probably one of those subjects which was definitely not talked about at the dinner table or in polite conversation; baby poo! But I’m sure you have now realised that having a baby...

Babies learn and mature their sucking and swallowing reflexes usually in the womb. In the last trimester of pregnancy, a baby is swallowing around 700ml of amniotic fluid per day! Perfect practice for when a full-term baby is...

Can a baby who has not been able to breastfeed since birth go back to breastfeeding? The answer to this question is a yes and no, I’m afraid. As all of our babies are different and all of our babies have had a different...

You may have heard this term or even the words “the witching hours”, they both mean a period in the day when a baby feeds very frequently and not always for a clear reason (well a clear reason for us adults to decipher...

Breast refusal can happen when the baby finds it difficult to latch on to the breast properly because he’s previously had a traditional bottle to feed from or a pacifier (dummy) to suck on. The reason for this is that...

Tongue Tie, if you look anywhere on the internet these days about tongue tie you will be bombarded with information and stories. When I googled Tongue Tie, 1.5million options came up! But what should you trust? What is a...

You may have seen them in the shops and thought “what is that?!” I must admit I think nipple shields look a bit like a silicone sombrero hat! Nipple shields can be a brilliant tool for some mums and babies, while other...

Breastfeeding can be one of the most wonderful and rewarding experiences of motherhood, but it can also be very challenging for many new mums. Learning to breastfeed is exciting but like anything it takes time to learn. It...

Between 24 and 72 hours after birth your milk will come in, enlarging and filling your breasts. For most mums if their baby is feeding well and frequently the breasts will become fuller and heavier but probably won’t become...

Many women feel that they may not have enough milk for their baby. In fact, 40% of Australian mums actually stop breastfeeding before six months due to feeling like there was “not enough milk”. There can be several...

If you need to give your baby an expressed breast milk feed, it’s helpful to have an idea of the volumes you will need. Babies who are feeding from the breast will have some feeds where they drink lots of milk and other...

While not having to contend with your period for nine months while you're pregnant is a bonus, the uncertainty of when it will return post-birth is not so great. There are many myths around breastfeeding, menstruation after...

One of the biggest concerns that new mothers have is wondering "is my baby getting enough milk?". This concern seems to be the most common reason for mothers starting formula supplementation, and also for early weaning...

Most common questions asked about expressing and breastfeeding

Breast feeding is a fraught topic and most people will have an opinion on it. It can be very emotionally charged, and many mothers worry about their milk supply and whether they have enough breast milk to feed their baby. ...

Mastitis is the inflammation (and sometimes infection) caused by a blocked milk duct. When the breast isn't emptied completely the ducts can get blocked. Breastfeeding mothers are most at risk of mastitis in the second or...

Breastmilk is the best choice for babies because it provides all the nutrients in the right quantities to allow them to grow and develop normally.  In addition, breastfeeding allows wonderful opportunities for bonding as...

Breastfeeding through breast and nipple problems Even though some tenderness in the early days of breastfeeding is rather common, breastfeeding should not generally hurt. Sore nipples can be caused by the baby not being...

It’s the feed you offer your baby, while they sleep! Yes, we are saying you can pick your sleeping baby up, and offer milk. Most babies just suck away happily and snuggle back to sleep. Why To ensure they have a �...

A baby will stop waking for overnight feeds when they are no longer needing a feed or your reassurance. Most babies will be able to take more milk around the same time the circadian rhythm hormones become influential. ...

Breast milk is very precious. Follow the guidelines and tips below to store and thaw your breast milk so that you can preserve all the important nutrients and minimise bacterial contamination. Guidelines for storing and...

One of the first decisions that you will make about your baby is whether or not to breastfeed. Certainly, every healthcare professional will tell you that breastmilk is the healthiest baby milk out there and that...

The best way of feeding your baby is to give your natural breast milk. This is an easy and inexpensive way for you to take care of, bond and feed your baby. Milk from the breast contains a balance of nutrients that...

Nearly all new mums choose to breastfeed their baby from birth here in Australia. Breastfeeding can be easy as pie from the beginning for some women yet for others it takes quite a bit of support and help to get breastfeeding...

Breast Expression There can of course be a variety of reasons to express. Expressing breast milk can be done by hand, with a manual breast pump or an electric breast pump. For many mothers, it is the perfect solution to...

If you’re breastfeeding but feel you aren’t producing enough milk to keep your baby full and happy, the good news is there are many natural ways to provide your body with what it needs to increase your breastmilk supply. ...

There comes a time in every baby’s life when it’s time to start on solid food and start to reduce breastmilk feeds. This is weaning and it’s going to be different for every baby, but this article can give you some...

As your due date approaches, the prospect of meeting your unborn baby can be both exhilarating and terrifying. You know you’re about to meet the love of your life, but you also know you’re facing a whole new world of...

Many studies have been carried out on pregnant women who consume alcohol, and it has been conclusively shown that alcohol is very detrimental to the unborn baby. However, the risks associated with drinking alcohol whilst...

If you nurse for any length of time, sooner or later, you're going to get bitten. Biting occurs for many reasons. Learning why a baby bites and learning to recognise when a baby is likely to bite can save a nursing mother...

If you are a lactating mother, and you have not yet been introduced to herbal teas for nursing, then tune in and get inspired! Even if you have been using herbal teas already to support you in motherhood, it's always...