Once Society sees that breastfeeding is a natural and sustainable activity it is going to be easier for mothers and for those who are passionate about it.
We do not have to teach our babies to feed, we should allow them to follow their instincts and take the natural course.
We want to help each mother to believe that the beautiful body that brought that baby into this World can feed that baby without any barriers.
One of the greatest joys of our profession is working with families, helping them to remove those barriers and to make breastfeeding experience something that they will treasure for life.
What is a Lactation Consultant?
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is someone who is professionally qualified to provide breastfeeding support to mothers and babies. IBCLC is the only internationally recognized credential of expertise in breastfeeding
Antenatal (during the last trimester)
Topics covered include:
- Benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby
- How breastfeeding works (some aspects of anatomy and physiology)
- How to have a good start. (Skin-to-skin contact, Baby Led Feeding and feeding cues).
- Effective positioning and attachment
- Expressing and safe milk storage
- Feeding routines
- Tandem feeding
- Feeding aids and equipment (effect of teats, dummies and nipple shields)
During the first consultation you and your partner will be able to learn more about breastfeeding including its joys and challenges.
If you have had baby before it would be relevant to chat about your birth and breastfeeding experience.
Postnatal (following birth)
Topics covered include:
- Position and attachment
- Signs of the good milk transfer
- Normal weight gain
- Do I produce enough milk?
- What to eat to increase milk supply?
- How and when to express?
- Which equipment is best?
- How to use the equipment?
- Allergies and breastfeeding?
- Breastfeeding in public
- Breastfeeding and the workplace
- When to introduce solids?
- Baby Led Weaning and a lot more....
A detailed breastfeeding history will be taken, including an assessment of the feed and an action plan to follow.
The aim of the postnatal consultation is to give the best possible start and is a great opportunity to express concerns, and to answer the questions, which may arise.
The issues, which are worrying you or your partner will be listened to and respected.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Message from Me to Mums
- Available on demand anywhere and any time
- Experiencing engorgement, blocked ducts or even mastitis, your baby will help you. Eat, rest and plenty of breast!
- Protects against breast & ovarian cancer
- Reduces the risk of Osteoporosis (brittle bones) in later life
- We are design to breastfeed our babies
- Please, don't worry about the shape and form of your breast and nipples. Your baby will adapt, if not immediately with the right support and guidance this will come very quickly.
- KEEP CALM & CARRY ON
Message from Me to Baby
- Breast milk designed for your baby
- Fewer ear infections
- Fewer chest and urinary infections
- Less sickness and diarrhea
- Breastfed babies are never constipated
- Jaundice (yellow skin discoloration) will clear easier if you baby is breast feeding
- Few drops of colostrum will stabilase in no time
- Helps to protect your baby against childhood diabetes
- Helps to protect your baby against allergies (including asthma and eczema)
- It's produced at the right temperature, and the "bugs" don't multiply easily in it
- Batter jaw and teeth development
- Higher IQ (earlier mental development)
- KEEP HAPPY & GROW
Message from Me to Mums and Babies
- Skin to skin for as long and as often as possible, especially if you had a Caesarean section or have a medical condition such as Diabetes
- Early initiation of the feeds, ideally within first hour
- At least 8-10 feeds in 24 hours
- Look for sucking & swallowing pattern (you may not always hear swallowing, especially if it is first few days)
- Safe demand feeding from the moment baby re-gains its initial weight and it is usually first two weeks following birth
- Support and guidance of the professionals required with other breastfeeding aids like nipple shields & feeding devices of various types
- In case your baby is not feeding directly for reasons such as prematurity, sore nipples or medical/structural conditions (cleft lip/palate, down syndrome), you have to seek professional support but meanwhile breastfeeding pump can be used to help lactation going
- Pay attention to your baby's body language during the feed. It may tell you a lot about your baby's physical and psychological state
- Nobody knows your baby better then you
- Trust your parental instincts
- KEEP CALM & ASK FOR HELP
Message from Baby to Mum
- Keep me in the same room with you
- I love skin to skin it keeps me warm. I can hear your heart beat, feel safe and loved
- I can feed when I feel like because I am near you
- I may not feed as often as I should, especially if you had medication to feel comfortable during my birth. Please, wake me up and feed me frequently.
- Do not time the feeds, I will stop myself if I feel I have had enough.
- Please do offer me both breasts, especially in the first few weeks
- KEEP CALM & FEED ON
Message from Me and Babies for Partners
- Mum's breast milk like Gold & Free
- Always served at the right temperature
- Always on tap-when I need it
- There is always a supply
- You don't have to run to the supermarket at the middle of the night
- Please, don't try to bottle feed me as breastfeeding is nicer
- You can have me skin to skin and offer so much more....
- You can become a nappy expert
- You can make a dinner and do the washing up, while I am breastfeeding or just have a little snooze if you are tired
- KEEP CALM & KEEP MAKING HEALTHY SNACKS
What can I do for you, where and when?
- What will you do when coming home in early days after giving birth?
- How will you know things are alright?
- What if your baby hasn't breastfed?
- Does the baby feel like your baby?
- Was the breastfeeding going well and is now suddenly painful?
- Is your baby very fussy?
- Is your baby gaining enough weight?
- And a lot more....
When you may find MumMeBaby/Brestfeeding Services Helpful?
Expressing for the Special Care Baby
- When to start?
- Benefits for Mothers and Babies
- The early days
- Massage techniques to help lactation
- Hand expressing
- When to use an Electric Pump?
- Why double pump?
- How long to express for?
- Frequency of expressing
- At night
- What to do if the supply decreases?
- Preventing infection
- Storing your milk
FAQ
- How to demand feed safely?
- How often do I feed my baby?
- One or two breast at the time?
- How do I know if my baby getting enough milk?
- My baby refuses and very reluctant to feed
- Weight loss of >10% in the first few days from birth
- Wet and solid nappies, what is right?
- Jaundice baby, when do I worry?
- What are the feeding clues, I have no clue?
- What is effective feeding?
- What is effective feeding position?
- When can I give my baby dummy?
- I am expressing: syringe, cup, bottle or Champaign glass?
- Nipple shields. Pros and cons?
- Nipple / teat confusion is myth or true?
- How can I mix feed?
- Can I give my baby formula and how much?
- Can I drink alcohol while breastfeeding?
- What food is good to increase lactation?
- Colic, reflex could it be anything else?
You may also choose to visit MumMeBaby Clinic instead of a home visit.
The clinic runs alongside with a professional and experience team of Cranial Osteopaths with post graduate training in Cranial Osteopathy in neonates and paediatric osteopathy.
Their work can be invaluable especially if you have experienced a difficult birth such as ventouse, forceps, elective or emergency caesarean section.
If you had precipitous birth or prolonged second stage of labour (more than an hour of pushing). This may have an effect on your baby's behaviour such as ability to feed effectively, settle in between feeds and sleeping time.
Some babies may appear irritable for long periods without obvious reason and may cause a lot of anxiety to those who care for them.
MumMeBaby consultations
MumMeBaby Clinic by appointment
The Waterview Clinic
Unit 7, Admirals Landing
Schooner Way, Atlantic Wharf
Cardiff
CF10 4DW
By appointment
For Infant Feeding Assessment, please bring with you
- Your Red book
- GP name and address including postcode.
- If your baby is not breastfeeding, please bring expressed milk or formula.
Appointment times range from 30 minutes but may last up to an hour.