breastfeeding mother

How often have you been told, just give your breastfed baby a bottle of formula at bedtime to make him sleep? Although this advice is almost some kind of ‘folk-lore’ among the believers, there are some health professionals who may advise you to do this, even with a newborn. Some will tell you that giving a bottle is a great way for fathers to…

"I breastfeed my son who has just turned one. I’ve never given birth." Sandra's story of inducing lactation and sharing breastfeeding with her wife, who birthed their son.

It’s scary isn’t it, being a new mum and feeling pressured from all directions to resist cuddling, rocking (or heaven forbid!), feeding your  baby to sleep – in case you create’ bad habits’?

However long you breastfeed or how much breast-milk you are able to give your baby, this magic potion made by mums is like medicine. See what gifts you have given your baby already.

I haven’t been overly vocal about my breastfeeding story, rather choosing to cheer from the sidelines in support of the brave mamas – particularly in the Instagram community -who have made it their mission to #normalizebreastfeeding. You see, although I obviously applaud and support this movement, I feel it’s much easier to be loud and proud when…

Nobody tells you ‘breast is best’ any more (even though it is!). Instead, you hear “are you STILL breastfeeding” or “you will be going to school to feed him at lunchtime.” (Tell them, ‘only if I am on canteen duty’) The positioning mantra ‘chest to chest and chin to breast’ no longer applies – now it’s ‘gymnurstics’ with their feet in your face,…

From new mothers, I often hear comments like: “I can’t even have a shower because I don’t know how long she will sleep for.” Or: “It takes so long to get him to sleep that we start cooking dinner at 9 p.m.” If your baby hasn’t yet been born, these sorts of things may sound ridiculous. However, managing your day around a newborn can be a challenge,…

Today,  I was called to advocate in court (in my capacity as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant)  for an illiterate migrant woman who had her baby removed whilst a patient in a psychiatric ward. This poor mama had been fully breastfeeding her 4 month old when she reported that she had been raped. While in a police station the…