Breastfeeding Resources

Ahhh breastfeeding! Just when you think all the confusion is over, post birth, out comes a bub who seems to want to be attached to your nipple ALL THE TIME.

The first days and weeks of breastfeeding your newborn, be it the first or fifth time, can be tough. It doesn’t matter whether bub takes to the breast like a pro or needs a little bit of extra help, it’s an exhausting, emotional process that takes time.

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?!

So you’ve decided the time has come to get back on the exercise horse. GO MAMA. But how to keep those brand new breastfeeding boobs under control? THAT can be tricky.

Breast tissue is a sensitive beast at the best of times, prone to stretching and damage if not treated with enough TLC. Add breastfeeding into the equation and the right support becomes absolutely essential. 

As a mama-of-three who has breastfed two of my three munchkins well into toddlerhood (#ripnipples), it’s safe to say that I’ve logged some solid hours on the boob beat. In fact, at last estimate, I’d spent around 54 months (and counting) in a maternity bra. I’ve learnt a few (dozen) things along the way. And while these days it comes as easily as, well, pouring a cup of milk, it wasn’t always that way. Not at all.

Do lactation cookies REALLY work? When is a cookie not JUST a cookie? When it’s a bona-fide boobie filling lactation cookie, that’s when!

As any mother will tell you, worrying about your breastmilk supply is at the very top of the list of new mummy concerns. Am I making enough milk? Is my newborn getting enough of the good stuff? Add in a healthy helping of sleep deprivation and post-birth hormones and it’s not surprising that there’s a very real chance of tears.

At Milkbar we are often asked how to create your very first stash of breastmilk. It can be a nervous time as a new mum as you juggle breastfeeding your baby and the thought of having to pump between breastfeeds is the last thing you feel like doing. The excitement of a date night or a few extra z's can quickly be replaced by  dread at the thought of pumping and working out how to collect some extra breastmilk when you have a baby glued to you 24-7.

It's now mid December (can you believe it!) so you may be thinking can I have an alcoholic drink (or two ) if I'm breastfeeding? 

The Australian Breastfeeding Association has a great app called ‘Feed Safe’ which estimates when alcohol has completely left your system. While the safest option when breastfeeding is to avoid alcohol, there have been studies to suggest that the alcohol content that passes into your breastmilk is small. 

Let’s say you want an all in one bra that covers a bust that is a DD+, one that is supportive enough for high impact exercise and comfort is a must!

I spent so long trying to find a bra that fit that description, being a 12F I struggled and the bras I tried had shoulder straps that were too thin, cups that just didn’t cover enough boob or just left me feeling completely unsupported.

Amberley Harris is Melbourne’s own Midwife/Breastfeeding Consultant extraordinaire, my interview with Amberley has left me so inspired and wanting to know more about her and the amazing work she does for our community.

Finding the most natural positon and attachment for you, your breasts, your baby and your lifestyle can sometimes be a simple case of trial and error.  We receive lots of information about the ‘best’ way to feed our little ones, but sometimes the ‘best’ way should simply be – ‘what works for you?’ We’ve put together a guide on the most common breastfeeding positions so that you can figure out the most comfortable method to nourish and connect with your little milk monster!

When buying a new breast pump it is important to make sure that the breast shield not only works for your expressing needs and lifestyle, but also that it’s comfortable and easy to use, so you can get the maximum milk for your efforts.

My grandmother used to say that there was nothing that couldn’t be fixed by a cuppa and a biscuit.  It might be an ‘old wives tale’ but there’s something to be said for the humble cup of tea.