Welcome to the Baby-Thrive
Blog
6 tips for improved baby sleep
Before I was at Lactation Consultant, and before I was a mother, I was a nanny for 20 years working in London, Sussex, Australia and America. I looked after lots of babies from newborn and especially during their first year or two.
It's really common that new parents ask me about baby sleep, and baby sleep & feeding seem to be intertwined.
Breastfed baby policies for nursery/childcare in the UK
Breastfeeding baby policies are typically for formal childcare such as a daycare or nursery settings.
They're more common in America, I guess because maternity leave is normally shorter and breastfeeding rates are higher.
What to expect from a Lactation Consultant home visit
You might be wondering if booking a home visit is right for you?
Is it worth itIs it worth it?
How long does it take?
Will you needIs it worth it?
How long does it take?
What does a lactation consultant do?
Is it Worth Getting a Lactation Consultant?
Have you been breastfeeding for a while but not confident your baby is feeding effectively?
Are you struggling to produce enough breastmilk? Or worried abut your baby’s weight gain?
If so, you may want to consider getting a lactation consultant.
A lactation consultant has the highest qualification in breastfeeding, globally. More than a midwife or paediatric dietitian.
A lot of my work includes supporting with common problems such as low milk supply, positioning and attachment or pumping plan for returning to employment.
However Lactation consultants are qualified to support mothers with some very specialist situations such as inducing lactation (for instance in cases of surrogacy or adoption some mothers induce breast milk supply without a pregnancy) or with using supplementary nursing systems when supply is low.
My journey to becoming a lactation consultant.
It’s been quite a journey to become a private IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant).
IBCLC is the gold-standard professional qualification in breastfeeding, globally recognised.
I first became a breastfeeding counsellor, completed more than 130 hours advanced training in breastfeeding and lactation, logged 1,000 hours working with breastfeeding mothers & babies and completed a 4 hour exam.
What is an IBCLC Lactation Consultant?
What is an IBCLC lactation consultant? What is IBCLCE? What training does a lactation Consultant have?
Tummy Time.
Babies tend to spend a lot of time on their backs they go from the car seat in the bassinet to the play mat, may be a “babygym” but still they're on their back.
Tummy time helps to prevent flat head syndrome builds strengthens muscles in the neck back and tummy as well as shoulder stability for head control and motor skills.
Tummy time aids digestion reducing symptoms of colic reflux and wind.
How is tongue-tie diagnosed?
How do I assess for tongue tie? How is tongue tie diagnosed?
Skin to skin
Your newborn is so neurologically immature that they cannot actually regulate their body temperature, heart-rate or breathing without being in your presence*.
Many parents are familiar with “the golden hour” immediately after birth and understand the importance of skin-to-skin at that stage.
But really skin to skin in the early days should be as much as possible day and night (see my blog on sleep re bed-sharing)
Where babies sleep
Many parents find their baby won't sleep alone, the baby will not settle in a crib, cot or bassinet despite safe sleep advice. Parents are often concerned about SIDS and cot-death if they share the bed with their baby. Here you will find information and research about how breastfeeding reduces risk of sudden infant death syndrome by approximately 50% at all ages throughout infancy.
Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding in public
Parents frequently tell me after they have been to my breastfeeding support group that it was their first experience of breastfeeding in public. If you feel a little unsure about breastfeeding in public then a baby group or family friendly local cafe can be a really good opportunity to practice. Top tips if you’re feeling little trepidatious. What are your rights? What to wear? How to do it
Can you drink coffee when you are breastfeeding?
Does caffeine pass through your milk when you breastfeed? How long does it take for caffeine to clear young baby's system as compared with an older baby? The half life of caffeine. Is fussy behaviour, irritability, jitteriness and restlessness caused by caffeine?
Washing and sterilising pumping equipment
How do you sterilise your breast pump, nipple shields, Hakka? Is it necessary to sterilise or breast pumps? Can breast pump parts go in the dishwasher? How often do you need to sterilise your baby's bottles? Can you use the same flanges again and again? What to NHS advise?
Manage cluster feeding or pumping with headspace.
Mothers share tips on how best to cope with cluster feeding or pumping. Baby growth spurts, sleep regressions. Mindfulness and headspace which can enhance positive attitude to make long feeds more bearable.
How to make pumping work for you.
How to make breast pumping comfortable.
How to get the most milk with an electric breast pump?
Are there breast pump parts which need changing?
Wonder how to get the most out of a pumping session?
Should you warm your breasts before pumping?
Is hand expression enough?
How to do power pumping?
How to get your breastfed baby to take a bottle
Baby won't drink from a bottle? Is your breastfed baby refusing formula or expressed milk?
Becoming a mother & dealing with criticism
They forgot to tell you, when your baby was born you will meet a new person and that person will be you
How to know if breastfeeding is going well
Unsure if your baby is feeding effectively or concerned about low milk supply? Consider consulting a qualified lactation consultant—the highest credential in breastfeeding globally.