Red Flags - how to know when to seek help
If your baby is feeding frequently and effectively and you answer yes to any of the below, see your LMC, GP or LC for further advice and guidance.
A letter from me, Renee Ball – Mum, wife, entrepreneur and proud owner of The Lactation Station
Milk Blebs
Milk Blebs are solidified milk that block the milk pores.
It occurs when a tiny bit of skin overgrows a milk duct opening and milk backs up behind it. A milk blister usually shows up as a painful white, clear or yellow dot on the nipple or areola, and the pain tends to be focused at that spot and just behind it.
Breast Refusal
Alchohol & breastfeeding
Can I drink alcohol if I am breastfeeding?
If you want to, you can enjoy a glass of wine, a beer or whatever it is that you choose to drink. The key is to plan ahead.
The concentration of alcohol in your blood is the concentration of alcohol in your milk. Alcohol gets into your breastmilk from your blood, moving freely from the blood to the breastmilk (and back out again).
Top 5 Breastfeeding Tips for a Successful Breastfeeding Journey
1. Feed your baby within the first hour of birth. Why? After this they become sleepy and have a recovery sleep. Get that colostrum in ASAP.
2. Skin to Skin ++ Strip your baby down to their nappy, pop them on your chest and have snuggles. As well as it being a super lovely time having these cuddles it will also benefit you both greatly. Skin to skin helps regulate
Breastmilk storage
● Store expressed breast milk in plastic or glass containers with airtight,
sealed lids. Use BPA‐free plastic wherever possible. Label each bottle or container with the date and time.
● You can also use expressing bags. These come in one time use or reusable
options. This is becoming increasingly popular.
● In the early days freezing your milk in ice cube trays and then popping them
out as ice cubes and storing them in a snap lock bag works well. Especially
as you will only need small amounts. This prevents wastage.
● Once breastfeeding is established, store milk in amounts from around 60 ml
to 200 ml, making sure there's some empty space at the top of the bottle or
bag. Milk expands when freezing, and if the bottle/bag is full it will spill over
the top.
Help my baby won’t take a bottle!
If you are thinking "How can I get my baby to take the bottle? They just keep "refusing", then this blog is for you! As a Registered Nurse and Lactation Consultant, I support a wide range of women in their transition to motherhood and want to share my tips with you.
How much milk do I express for my baby?
In exclusively breastfed babies, milk intake increases quickly during the first few weeks of life, then stays about the same between one and six months (though it likely increases short term during growth spurts).
Medications and Breastfeeding
Have you ever been told to stop breastfeeding to take a medication? Unfortunately this is not uncommon. The good news is that MOST medications are compatible with breastfeeding, and for those few medications that are a safety issue there are usually acceptable substitutions. Although mothers are frequently told they need to stop breastfeeding (temporarily or permanently) to take a medication, this is rarely necessary.
Breastfeeding & Covid19
Absolutely, please do!
Antenatal Colostrum Harvesting
Postpartum & breastfeeding nutrition
Birth control & Breastfeeding
Raynaud’s
Sore nipples
Why does my breastmilk look like a rainbow?
Breastfeeding your baby - The First Week Explained
Low Milk Supply
Periods & Milk supply
Cluster Feeding
Mastitis
Exercising while Breastfeeding
Caffeine while Breastfeeding
The good news is most breastfeeding mothers can drink caffeine in moderation, yay!!
Some babies, particularly those under 6 months, may be more sensitive to mum’s coffee drinking. This can be more obvious if you avoided coffee during pregnancy.
Hospital BagS
