This is a much debated topic of conversation, so I want to show you the benefits of waking your little one in the early days. We already looked at how waking your baby will help you in the first 3 days, so today I want to look at the next few.

Waking your baby to get you through engorgement – day 3-7.

If you have been waking your baby to feed for the last three days, you should hopefully see that he or she has not lost too much birth weight. Your baby should be getting rid of a lot of the meconium and should have moved onto producing spinach green poos. If your baby is 3 days old and this is not the case – you need to feed more frequently.

A few days after your baby is born, your breasts will become hot, tight, lumpy and very full. This is called engorgement and to perfectly normal. It can lead to other complications if not managed correctly, so you need to stay in control here.

On day 3-4, your colostrum becomes more dilute. It increases in volume and can travel down toward the nipple a lot quicker. Your baby has had a few days to practice his or her suck, swallow, breathe sequence and can cope with a faster flowing fluid. This is all wonderful, but you may still have super full breasts, which can make it difficult for your baby to latch.

It is important to wake baby and feed frequently for the next few days, so that the breasts are drained often and the tightness begins to subside. If you are not waking your baby to feed frequently at this stage, your breasts will become fuller and could lead to mastitis.

The more your baby feeds, the better your breasts will drain and will soon regulate to produce the amount of milk your baby needs.

If you are struggling to wake your baby, do a little winding or if that fails, a nappy change is sure to get the little one awake quickly.
When the breast is very full, babies can create a lot of nipple damage which understandably, makes feeding seem less attractive.

If you are suffering with sore nipples, have a look at my Sore Nipples eBook for practical tips and a fast recovery.

Breastfeeding Workshop
Wednesday 29 September 3pm – 5pm
Let’s Breastfeed Practice – Twickenham

We are having so much fun with the water theme, I have decided to continue with it a little longer!

Join my fun and interactive September Breastfeeding Workshop and learn the practicalities of breastfeeding through play!
This workshop is totally different to any other workshop out there, even mums who have done the NCT courses can’t believe how incredibly useful this workshop is! (I keep them small so that I can teach you more)

We cover and practice everything from holding, positioning, attaching, winding, expressing, bottle feeding and we also cover potential problems, how to recognize and avoid them.

Due to popular demand, you can also get all the products you need while you are here. Not only are they the best (tried & tested by thousands of clients) but I can also give you expert advice on how and when to use them, so that you don’t create more damage, OUCH!

Book early as places go quickly!

Breastfeeding Workshop
Saturday 9th October 10.30am – 12.30pm
Earthlife

We are sticking with the water theme – learning is always easier when you are having fun, right?

Join my fun and interactive October Breastfeeding Workshop and learn the practicalities of breastfeeding through play!
This workshop is totally different to any other workshop out there, even mums who have done the NCT and hospital courses, can’t believe how incredibly useful this workshop is! (I keep them small so that I can teach you more)

We cover and practice everything from holding, positioning, attaching, winding, expressing, bottle feeding and we also cover potential problems, how to recognize and avoid them.

Due to popular demand, you can also get all the products you need while you are here. Not only are they the best (tried & tested by thousands of clients) but I can also give you expert advice on how and when to use them, so that you don’t create more damage, OUCH!

Book early as places go quickly!

Yes, it does feel mean and harsh to wake a little baby who looks so super peaceful, but there are good reasons why one should wake a baby to feed….and when you realize what they are, all that guilt will instantly melt away. So here are some of the reasons you should wake your little one.

The early days – day 0 – day 3

• Your baby needs colostrum to get rid of the bilirubin accumulating in his/her gut.
  When your baby is inside the womb, lots of red blood cells transport oxygen around the body. Once your baby is born, the body needs to get rid of some of these red blood cells, so that body begins to break them down. The waste product is called bilirubin and if it is not excreted, it is reabsorbed into the body and this leads to jaundice. The only way the body can excrete this waste is via the gut, in the form of poo. Colostrum is an amazing laxative. So the more colostrum your baby gets, the more nappy action you will have and the less jaundiced your baby will be.
• The more your baby feeds in the early days, the more milk you will have long term.
  In the breast, right next to the milk producing cells, you have little cells called prolactin receptor cells. These are dormant, but each time your baby feeds, a few more are activated and are able to catch the prolactin molecules and encourage milk production. These cells are most responsive in the first 3 days, especially after the birth. So the more you feed (or express if you need to) the more cells you will activate and the more productive your breast will be.
• Colostrum is a fantastic pain killer.
  Depending on how the birth went – you may find relief through various forms of painkillers. But what about your baby? Sure the baby is build to cope with the birthing process but what about the excess pressure of a ventouse or forceps delivery? Well, thankfully you don’t have to worry about it, as your body will take care of that.

Okay, you now you have 3 good reasons to wake the baby up – but let’s just tie it all together for you.
If your baby doesn’t feed well and frequently in the first 3 days, he/she will not benefit from the laxative properties of colostrum. This means your baby will have less bowel movement and the bilirubin will be re-absorbed – resulting in jaundice. When a baby develops jaundice, waking to feed becomes a lot harder as baby is very sleep, and this makes the situation worse.

Many babies find feeding after their birth quite difficult and if you have had a c section, you will know that often a baby will have so much mucus in their tummy, feeding is not very high on their list of priorities. So encouraging baby to feed and offering the breast, will quickly highlight whether you need additional help.

If you are still expecting your baby, have a look at the Beginners Guide to Breastfeeding eBook. I cover the early days in a lot more detail.

I do cringe a little as I write this post, but having learnt something that will shed light on many mums breastfeeding problems, I feel it needs to be flung into the public domain. The question is, has anyone told you that your baby has a high arched palate and are you still having breastfeeding problems? Well, there is one more thing you can explore which will help you fully resolve breastfeeding problems.

The art and science of breastfeeding is a very new and recent development. This makes studying the subject and applying what you have learnt a lot trickier. Why? Well, there is always new information or research which alters the way you practice. As the subject is so new, we find that what we thought was right (and have told mums was right) actually is not right at all, in light of new research.

One example is how a baby breastfeeds. We used to think that babies used their tongue in a peristalsis motion to compress the breast against their palate in order to transfer milk. Now we know that the baby uses the front part of the tongue to stabilize the breast whilst lapping it to create a negative pressure/suction at the back of the mouth, which then transfers milk from the breast into the mouth, when the tongue drops.

Another example is a high arched palate. I was taught that a high arched palate is just how you are made. In fact many times when I pointed out a high arched palate, either mum or dad would say, ‘Yes, that is just like my palate’. So it may run in the family but on closer inspection of a book I recently purchased, I have discovered that a tongue tie can lead to the development of a high arched palate.

HMMM? Okay let me explain. When your baby is in the womb and developing, there are certain things that he or she will be doing in preparation for life in the big wide world. You have seen how babies suck their fingers, hiccough, burp in the womb haven’t you, so we know your baby is active. Well another thing your baby will be doing is moving his or her tongue across the upper palate. This creates a nice wide dome shaped palate which is great for breastfeeding.

However, when your baby is not able to move his or her tongue, the palate is shaped around the tongue, and this forms an arch. Usually the more pronounced the tongue tie, the more pronounced the arch of the palate. Now, as with everything in life, there are variations of tongue tie.

For instance, the tongue tie or membrane tying the tongue to the floor of the mouth, can be found right at the tip of the tongue, or further back, close to the base of the tongue. The membrane itself can also vary greatly. Sometimes it is elastic and flexible and other times it is short, thick and tight.

If you are struggling to feed your baby, have your baby checked for a tongue tie. If you close to me in Twickenham, I can have a look for you and refer you to the right people to have the tongue tie assessed and divided if need be.

More mums are discovering the Let’s Breastfeed Practice in Twickenham each day. With the number of births soaring, many mums are looking for one to one care in a calm, relaxed and femimine environment. It is therefore no wonder that this little practice is buzzing with activity.

Geraldine Miskin, who is an independent breastfeeding specialist started practicing from her home at the beginning of February this year. ‘ I wanted to create a ‘safe place’ where mums could find unbiased practical answers, relevant to their breastfeeding questions and peace of mind that they weren’t doing anything ‘wrong’ because they deviated from what was ‘expected of them’.’

Her methods are so successful, mums travel into Twickenham from all over the country. ‘Yes mums do travel to see me, some as far as Milton Keynes and Brighton. I enjoy serving my local community and am excited for the opportunity. Practicing from home allows me to see mums on the same day or within 24hours, which is essential when babies are very young.’

You will also find a wide range of breastfeeding products at the practice. ‘Having products to hand that a mum may need, makes everything easier. Mums appreciate the expert advice about which products would work well, or not, saving them time, energy and ££’s. I have found a number of secret prodcuts that work magic on sore nipples which friends of clients pop round to purchase. The Medela Swing pumps are also a favourite with mums.’

If you need breastfeeding help, you can call 0208 744 8144 to book an appointment at the Let’s Breastfeed Practice in Twickenham or you can speak to Geraldine directly on her advice line. The eBooks are also popular and mums are enjoying great success with her practical tips.

I love this photo. Often when mums call to make an appointment with me, they tentatively ask whether or not their husband can be present during the consultation at my breastfeeding practice, to which I reply it ‘It goes without saying that he is more than welcome and possibly even expected to be there.’ Why? Because dads and the rest of the family play a very important role in breastfeeding!

We have all heard mums say that they chose to bottle feed baby, so that their other half could help and be involved with baby’s care from the start, so that they could bond and feel included. How a mum decides to feed her baby is her choice, but I just wanted to reassure expectant mums that there are very real ways dads can be involved and helpful without side stepping breastfeeding.

Just think about it for a minute. Women, the softer sex have babies and depending on the outcome of their delivery, will need a degree of looking after, supporting, nurturing and protecting. That leaves men, the stronger sex and perfect candidate, free to do just that. It is a man’s role to protect and care for his wife/partner and his young; it is not his role to feed his young.

So without sending him off to do the dishes, mopping and ironing, how can you get your husband or partner involved and bonding with his baby? You ask him to help you breastfeed.

Breastfeeding is a skill, a technique which is or can be quite intricate. There is also a logical method of allowing mum to latch baby onto the breast, feed and settle all of which the fathers in my practice understand and grasp far quicker than the mums. When I am able teach a dad how his baby needs to be positioned, latched and encouraged to stay focused during the feed, the success rate is incredibly high! Why? Because dad is taking control and is gently guiding his wife through the practicalities of nursing their baby.

Their conversation will usually go something like this:

Dad: Does it hurt?
Mum: No not at all, this is amazing. Can you see him swallowing? I am not sure if I can tell the difference between his sucks and swallows.
Dad: There, did you see that? Compress, okay, did you see that swallow? Look, you can see this bit dropping further when he swallows, can you see? Man he is really getting so much milk now. This little guy is going to sleep for weeks! I am so proud of you!
Mum: This is so amazing.

It is one of the most heart melting scenes to see a mum nursing her little one comfortably whilst a beaming dad looks on at what they have achieved together.

Yes there is the winding and the nappy changes that dads are better able to manage as they have not just birthed a baby, but I believe the extreme bonding happens at breastfeeds.

Breastfeeding workshop
Wednesday 3pm-5pm 25th August
Let’s Breastfeed Practice, Twickenham
Cost £49 per mum

This is the last breastfeeding workshop in the water theme.

The mums on the June breastfeeding workshop loved the new theme and felt that it increased their understanding and grasp of breastfeeding, how to keep their baby awake during feeds, the frequency of feeds and how this changed, how to hold, position and attach their baby – according to their anatomy and much more.

All mums attending had already completed other breastfeeding workshops and couldn’t believe how much more there was to learn.

There are still a couple of spaces left on this workshop. If you would like to reserve your place, please call Let’s Breastfeed on 0208 7448144

27 August 3-5pm
Feed Fab Friday! in partnership with Leia in Richmond

The lovely Amber and I are working hard to provide a well rounded service for breastfeeding mums in Richmond. We would like our Feed Fab Fridays to become a regular event, combining great breastfeeding advice, with expert bra fitting service and the opportunity to buy beautiful nursing bra.

If you are a client – pop down and say hi, enjoy an expert fit and get your goody bag with more discounts. Look forward to seeing you there!

I am really excited about this find!

Crave maternity wear has come to Richmond and has brought with it monutain loads of sparkle in time for Christmas and New Years Eve! Maternity wear is becoming more feminine and tailored, but usually costs an absolute fortune.
The current collection at Crave has the elegance and szooj one would expect at a boutique but without the boutique price tags! I could easily have bought a few bits for my wardrobe but I think I will save that for when I am expecting myself!

Go and have a look down Duke Street or look out for Jigsaw and then turn left and walk down toward the green.

Now you can have a very Merry Christmas!