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Breast Checking for Breastmilk Supply

18 May, 2015 by admin

It is really good to get used to how your breasts are feeling just before a feed. When you do this you are learning to read what they are telling you!

You will feel some areas denser and fuller than other areas, which is normal. What you want to get used to is working out if between both breasts you feel it will be a good breastfeed. You are also giving yourself a clue as to whether the next feed is likely to only be in a couple of hours or more 3-4 hours from when you are starting this feed. The fuller you feel, the longer until the next feed is needed.

When you feel more confident with assessing your breastmilk supply, you have given yourself the confidence on how to act in between feeds. For example, if the feed was a great full feed and your baby is awake and crying sooner rather than later, you don’t have to jump in and feel it needs to be fed again. If on the other hand you had felt your breasts were soft at the previous feed, of course you will feed again!

As a breastfeeding Mum we always query our supply. Gaining confidence in what you are feeling your breasts ‘tell’ you is very empowering!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: baby, breastfeeding, breastfeeding confidence, breastfeeding instruction, breastfeeding tips, breastmilk, breastmilk supply, check breasts, full breasts, Kate Hale, Kate Hale Lactation Consultant, lactating, lactation, lactation consultant, Low Breastmilk Supply, newborn

Low Breastmilk Supply

19 April, 2015 by admin

Did you know that a painful latch can lead to low milk supply? The more you are in pain at feed time the less you relax, the less oxytocin you release (that’s the hormone you need to help the milk letdown), you then tend to stop the feed sooner than you would have, had it been a pleasant experience. All those factors can contribute to the supply of breast milk being reduced!

What can you do about it?

1. Sit as comfortably as you can.
2. Get your baby latching as deeply as possible,with as much nipple & areola in its mouth as possible.
3. Drain your breasts as best as possible at each feed.
4. ‘switch feed’ ie. first breast until it feels soft, second breast until it is soft, then back to the first again, followed by second, until you feel your breasts are very soft and your baby has been doing slow, sleepy suck/swallows for a good 5 minutes.
5. Feed your baby as often as it needs to.
6. Post feed 3-4 times per day, try to express for another 10 minutes per side. Do this ASAP feed over, allowing then maximum time for breasts to fill again for next feed.
7. Eat and drink well. Try to rest when you can too.
8. If the above are not sufficient to increase your supply, talk to your health care provider, about maybe drinking some ‘Nursing tea’. This tea would have in it, fennel, anise seed and fenugreek. It is recommended to have up to 3 cups per day. It might also be worth starting on extra fenugreek tablets taking up to 3 Grams per day.

I know all this sounds like an enormous job! Think about how long you had thought you would actually breastfeed for, then think about how short a time you have had trying to learn this new skill, don’t be too hard on yourself!
Good luck.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: baby, breast, breastfeeding, breastmilk, fenugreek, lactation, Low Breastmilk Supply, low supply, newborn, oxytocin

Breastfeeding Tips – Kate’s top 5

10 April, 2015 by admin

1. We keep hearing ‘breast is best’! Well, yes it is for all the right reasons, starting with the colostrum. This fantastic first milk your baby will get after it is born, is packed full of antibodies, designed to help stop your baby getting sick in the early months. It will also provide your baby with the perfect recipe feed. So, my tip is give breastfeeding a go!

2. A lot of mums start breastfeeding in hospital, only to find they end up with grazed, sore nipples. Sadly, when you’re sore and tired it is easy to decide you don’t want to breastfeed. So, my next tip is, learn how to get the attachment or latch right!

3. It is always difficult to work out how much milk our baby has had at a breastfeed. When we can work it out a bit we have more confidence with our feeding. So, try and ‘learn’ your breasts!

4. Watch how your baby is sucking and swallowing. They are supposed to have pauses and rests through the feed. You want to be able to see some good swallowing as well. So, ‘learn’ your baby.

5. When you understand as much as possible about what you are doing at a breastfeed, you will feel more in control with the way you manage your baby. So, trust your own confidence and’ gut feeling

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: attachment, baby, breast milk, breastfeeding, breastfeeding help, breastfeeding tips, breastmilk, Kate Hale, Kate Hale Lactation Consultant, lactating, lactation, latching, newborn

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