Breastfeeding

It's one thing to have breastfeeding sorted. It's quite another to have breastfeeding while TRAVELLING sorted! Breastfeeding when you're on-the-move brings with it a whole host of new challenges that can test even the most confident and experienced boob-er. We've got 5 top tips from mum's who've tackled trains, planes and automobiles and lived to tell the tale.

Breastfeeding can be tough at the best of times. From the first few weeks when they're learning to latch to the ongoing challenges that arise (mastitis anyone?), it's not always smooth sailing. Thankfully, there comes a time when you finally find your groove and the pieces all click together. Things run along smoothly and you smugly begin to think that you've got this parenting thing sorted. Then, as if the Gods of karma were watching, your baby gets sick. And the fun really begins.

You know what's not fair? Falling ill when you're a mother. There really should be a law against it. But let's face it; generally, mamas are at the germ-filled frontline. This is especially true for breastfeeding mums. Thing is, you can't just stop breastfeeding because you feel like rubbish. Very few babies (or toddlers for that matter) will accept a 'sorry, mummy doesn't feel like feeding right now, can you leave me alone to sleep for 12 hours?' So what's a boobin' mama to do? We've pulled together our best tips to help you survive, at least until the Ibuprofen kicks in!

You've had your baby! Hooray! However your birth unfolded, it's likely you're a combination of exhausted/exhilarated/sore/bewildered/in shock/excited/confused (and about a thousand other emotions!)  While the actual 'birth' part it over, your new life as a mama is JUST getting started. And there's a whole bunch of things that you may not have expected.

Mastitis. It's the dreaded breast infection that, at best can leave you shivery and aching with a burning hot boob that is agonising to feed from and, at worst, in hospital hooked up to an IV. There's no getting around it; mastitis is nasty. The correct management and treatment of the infection (and knowing how to prevent it occurring) is super important for breastfeeding mamas who want to stay well and avoid the burning boob for the duration of their breastfeeding journey.

There isn't much to like about engorgement. Hard, ultra-tender, swollen boobs AKA the calling cards for engorgement, aren't much fun. Unfortunately the majority of breastfeeding mums will experience engorgement at some point during their feeding journey. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to help manage it.

As many mamas can attest, our feeding journeys often don't end up being straight forward. This was Danielle's experience after the arrival of her baby girl when a number of issues in the early days and weeks after birth saw Danielle end up exclusively pumping for her baby.

The decision to continue breastfeeding after returning to work can also pose some new challenges. Expressing or pumping means that your baby continues to receive the nutrition and goodness of breastmilk and allows you to continue breastfeeding when you're at home as well.

While the predominant 'S' word of the festive season may be the big man in the red suit, there's another 'S' word that crops up regularly; stress. Yes, the holidays are a time of celebration, merriment, family and food but sometimes it can be too much of a good thing, especially as a new parent, and even more so when you're breastfeeding. Here are our best tips, from parents who have been there, for managing the most common conversations you might have to tackle during the festive fun as a new mama.

Establishing breastfeeding after birth can take time, support and a whole heap of patience. For c-section mamas however, there may be a number of extra challenges to tackle. Fear not however! Successful breastfeeding can absolutely be initiated after a cesarean. We spoke to Zoe Robson, Midwife and founder of website and ebook 'Midwife in My Pocket' to get the lowdown on what to expect after a c-section and how to get breastfeeding off on the right foot.

Letdown with the strength of a firehose? Engorged boobies that seem to fill up in front of your eyes? Sounds like you may be dealing with an oversupply of breastmilk. Let's take a look at what an over supply is, how it is caused and (most importantly!) how to effectively manage it and regulate your supply.

Worried about your milk supply? You're not alone! Fears about milk supply, primarily not making enough of the good stuff, are one of the primary reasons that women stop breastfeeding. Here is how to find out if you've got low supply AND what to do about it.