Calories and Hind Milk. Exposing the Myth with the Numbers
Mammæ
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3y ago
A few months ago I wrote a blog on Foremilk and Hindmilk.  That blog was inspired by the fact that I was frequently visiting mums of low weight gain babies who had been advised to keep baby on one side for various lengths of time in order to get the "hind milk".  There was a big focus on the hind milk being fatty and therefore important for weight gain.  I wrote the Foremilk and Hindmilk blog in order to explain how this was not actually helpful, and in fact was generally detrimental for those low weight gain babies.  I explained how our bodies do not make ..read more
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Experiences of Tongue Tie Treatment in Northern Ireland
Mammæ
by
3y ago
As an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), I work a lot with tongue tie or anklyglossia and deal with many families who come to see me because they suspect a tongue tie.  I may be educating families about tongue tie, working through complex breastfeeding issues that aren't resolving through basic support,  assessing a baby's tongue movement during a consultation, referring babies to a surgeon / tongue tie clinic, or helping with breastfeeding after the tongue tie has been released.  More and more however I find that I am being contacted by parents who hav ..read more
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How much milk does a breastfed baby drink in first week? Your body may be producing much more than you think!
Mammæ
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3y ago
Most people are familiar with the fact that in the very first days after birth small quantities of colostrum are produced, and babies are therefore drinking small volumes.  Many of us have seen "belly balls" in antenatal classes or online sites, which often have a small marble representing day 1 and something like a ping pong ball for day 10.  The balls are usually described as representing the size of a newborn's stomach, and the small size of the ball and stomach is emphasised in order to reassure new parents that their newborn needs very small amounts of milk.  The aim is to ..read more
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Having problems with getting a comfortable latch? - Don't forget your baby's feet!
Mammæ
by
3y ago
Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash Positioning and attachment is key to allowing a baby to open the mouth wide and attach deeply to the breast, and in turn that deep attachment is key to a comfortable, pain-free breastfeed.  We want some breast to be in baby's mouth rather than just the nipple, so that the nipple is positioned away from hard tissues like the gums and instead is framed by the wide palate and a soft tongue. In earlier blogs I have talked about the importance of laid back feeding positions in order to trigger a baby's innate feeding reflexes to ..read more
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Quick Thoughts from Northern Ireland Breastfeeding Research
Mammæ
by
3y ago
This morning I attended the Advancing Breastfeeding Research & Practice conference organised by NIPHRN (Northern Ireland Public Health Research Network) and DMRS (Doctoral Midwifery Research Society) which was held at Ulster University.  This event looked at current research, and meta-analyses of breastfeeding interventions aimed at increasing breastfeeding rates, as well as discussing the importance of online peer support. A common theme that came through the day is that what is currently being done to increase breastfeeding rates is not working.  Interventions which work in ot ..read more
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Breast Shaping - It is ok to hold your breast!
Mammæ
by
3y ago
Breast shaping (shaping / holding your breast with your hand in order to help your baby get a deeper latch can be very helpful for many babies in the early weeks of breastfeeding.  Recently, however, when I've suggested breast shaping to women, they are more and more frequently saying to me, "But is it ok to do that?  Won't I get blocked ducts?"  Generally they have been told by someone to stop doing it.  I am really uncomfortable with women being made to feel like they cannot put their own hands on their own body to help them with breastfeeding.  So let's talk about b ..read more
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World Breastfeeding Week 2017 - A Call To Action
Mammæ
by
3y ago
I've been pretty quiet over World Breastfeeding Week, as I am most years, to be honest.  I'm conflicted by it, and I think many people don't fully understand what WBW is.   Perhaps it's only through writing this blog that I've gained a much clearer sense myself.  There seems to be this idea that it is simply about celebrating breastfeeding, and so we should talk about it, and share pics and stories.  In fact, each year World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) has a defined purpose and intent.  So, yes of course we should celebrate breastfeeding but that's not the core of what WB ..read more
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Breastfeeding, Fertility and SubFertility: Breastfeeding in Pregnancy - are there risks?
Mammæ
by
3y ago
This is part 3 of a blog series on Breastfeeding, Fertility & Subfertilty.  Part 1 looked at breastfeeding and the menstrual cycle.  Part 2 looked at fertility and avoiding or getting pregnant while breastfeeding.  This third part looks at breastfeeding while pregnant, whether it can pose any risk to the pregnancy, things to consider about breastfeeding and common experiences. Breastfeeding while pregnant may be an odd concept to some that don't know that it's possible, but many women do feed while pregnant.  Some will wean while pregnant, either through choice or the ..read more
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Breastfeeding, Fertility and SubFertility - Getting Pregnant and Avoiding Pregnancy
Mammæ
by
3y ago
Image under creative commons from https://tinyurl.com/y867elsb This is part 2 of a blog dealing with breastfeeding and fertility.  Part 1 covered the menstrual cycle andhow breastfeeding affects the cycle and the gradual return of fertility during breastfeeding.  In part 2 I will discuss birth control and trying to conceive while breastfeeding. So let's start with birth control.. Breastfeeding as Birth Control Breastfeeding is actually a very effective form of birth control in the months following birth, providing a few simple rules are followed.  No contraceptive is 1 ..read more
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Breastfeeding, Fertility and Subfertility - How Breastfeeding affects your menstrual cycle
Mammæ
by
3y ago
Breastfeeding is part of the reproductive cycle.  This cycle begins at the start of a menstrual period, progresses through ovulation, conception of a baby, pregnancy, and birth.  Lactation completes the cycle whether or not you choose to breastfeed.  All women will begin to produce milk in pregnancy and will produce milk after birth. For most women who breastfeed, her fertility is suppressed for some time after birth, as her body continues to devote energy to grow her new nursling.  In this way lactation is a continuation of the work of pregnancy.  At some later stage ..read more
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