breastfeeding

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.

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.

Can breastfeeding, especially at night and into toddlerhood cause tooth decay? Milkbar investigates to find out what the research says!

There’s a WHOLE heap of reasons why breastmilk is sometimes referred to as ‘liquid gold’. A living, constantly evolving fluid, breastmilk is jam packed with goodness that adapts to meet the ever changing needs of your bub. Science has shown that breastmilk contains millions of live cells per millimetre, including ‘leukocytes’ which can actually protect your baby from infection. Pretty nifty huh?!

While the vast majority of women can and do make enough milk to feed their baby, sometimes, even with a healthy, established supply, you might feel as if you need a little boost. Lactation cookies and teas can help give your supply a little boost and are packed with nutritious and delicious ingredients.

I’m having very mixed emotions. I didn’t think I’d wean my daughter until she was 18 months old. I assumed it would be a smooth and natural progression that would be led by her and her needs; a gradual increasing independence, as I looked on with a proud motherly glow.

 

I think more people have seen my breasts in the last nine months than in my entire life previously. Here's what life is like when you're breastfeeding here, there and everywhere

Everyone wants to know how you do it, when you do it, how often you do it, where you do it and how long you do it for.

It’s the focus of many detailed and in-depth discussions between friends as everyone struggles to discover – am I doing IT right?