Geraldine's 'Lets BreastFeed' Blog

Exciting News!

2009-02-14T05:57:00.002Z

Hi everyone!

You may have noticed that things have been a little slow on the site for a little while - that is because we are just about to launch our new site! Hurray!

I am getting back into the swing of things now that the house is looking more like a home than an Access Storage Unit packed with boxes!

In fact, we are so settled, I have already seen a few moms at my home as I trial a new way of working. I know that finances are high on everyone's priority list right now, so to ensure that I am not restricting anyone from accessing my services, I have offered to see moms at home for a reduced rate. Infact, it is half the price of an in home visit! So if you live in South West London or are willing to travela little to benefit from a reduced rate, just drop me a line and we will sort it out.

I will start answering all your questions again in a couple of weeks. Many of you have had your emails answered personally and not published on the site, simply due to current work load. keep sending them in though, if there is anything I can do to help - just let me know.

Wishing you all every success to establishing a happy and painfree breastfeeding experience!

Busy outline for 2009!

2009-01-21T16:50:00.006Z

It is a belated Happy New Year, but I thought it would be best if I got it in before the end of January! Something that seemed less and less likely as time just whizzes by....

Thank you for all your well wishes over the Christmas period. For those of you don't know what on earth I am talking about, I am referring to my December wedding! Yes, I am now a married woman, something I was really looking forward to, as I can now start planning the arrival of 'little Miss Gs' as my pastor kids call them. Not that that will be happening too soon, as I have a lot in the pipe line for 2009. Starting witha move to a larger home this coming weekend!

Some of you may be finding the site slightly out of date. I apologise for that but assure you that everything will be bang up to date, fresh and sparkly within the next few days.

You see, I have had so many letters from you telling me how useful the Let's Breastfeed Program is, that I have decided to expand. I wanted to make the information that you were looking for clearer and more relevant, so I am about to launch mini books that will look at single topics, such as sore nipples, mastitis, express to start with. This means that moms who already have babies and are looking for practical help for specific problems, will find it in one place without reading a whole book!

I am currently typing out a conprehensive mini book on low milk supply, techniques for getting baby to take a bottle, positioning and attachment for individuals which will hopefully be accompanied by video footage, but that is not going to be ready for a 3-4 weeks yet, so bare with me please.

I should be back on track to answer your questions within the next couple of weeks, once I have had the chance to unpack the mountain of boxes behind me.

Until then, I wish you all success and pain free feeds!

With love,

Geraldine

It's the season to be Merry!

2008-10-23T15:19:00.006+01:00

As we draw closer to Christmas, many moms are asking me about drinking alcohol whilst breastfeeding, so I thought this would be a good thing to address on my blog.

Like with everything concerning pregnancy, newborns and babies, there are many conflicting opinions about what is considered safe or not safe with regards to drinking and breastfeeding.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee considers small amounts of alcohol consumption compatible with breastfeeding. Moms having one unit or less each day is fine, whilst drinking in large doses is not recomended.

However, you will find many moms boasting of feeding babies in all states of anebriation in some of the chat rooms online. Not very safe, as more moms than you may think have dropped baby whilst feeding under the influence compounded by weeks of broken sleep, so please be careful!

Alcohol passes freely into the mothers milk and peaks between 30 and 60 minutes when just having alcohol on its own. It takes a little longer to peak when consumed with food taking between 60 and 90 minutes.

The length of time it takes your body to eliminate alcohol from your blood stream will vary according to body mass. Schulte (1995) found that a woman with a body mass of 120 pounds, consuming one glass of wine or beer, needed 2-3 hours to eliminate alcohol from the body.

However, I have just stumbled onto something I hadn't really considered before though, which is alcohol free wines and beers.

As I am getting married and holding my reception in my local Baptist church which has a no alcohol policy, I having been looking for ways to make alcohol free mulled wine to offer guests on arrival.

The more I look, the more I find. Marks and Spencers do an alcohol free mulled wine and you can even pick up some alcohol free wine and bubbly at Tescos! I have some I will try later and will let you know what it is like....

You don't have to feel left out this year just because you have a baby or one on the way, there are actually quite a few options open to you.

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can't see in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program!

In hospital with nobody to help...

2008-10-16T07:21:00.003+01:00

Hospitals used to be a place new mothers found support and rest, these days though, many moms can't wait to get out!

This is due to the number of babies being born every year with the staff stretched way beyond capacity and with the run up to Christmas and the New Year, hospitals are only going to get busier.

It is no wonder then that new moms, whether it be the first, second or third baby, struggle to find the breastfeeding help and support that they need. Breastfeeding support can't be rushed or fitted into a quick 15minute slot, babies just don't work that way. Sometimes it can moms a lot longer to articulate what they are feeling, to discuss what they feel the problem is having spent time with their baby trying to establish breast feeds.

So what can we do? Well, I believe that there is very little point playing the blame game, though I do appreciate one needs to address the downfall of the system that results in many moms giving up breastfeeding in the first 2 weeks.

We simply can't blame the midwives for their lack of knowledge - it is not their field of expertise, though we can refuse to be bullied and man handled by them as this only causes damage.

You can prepare yourself better before having your baby, so that once the baby arrives, you know which practical steps need to be taken to ensure the best possible outcome for both you and your baby!
Many moms will tell me that they are doing a breastfeeding workshop with their local NCT branch which is fantastic for building confidence and highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding. But that is not enough to fully prepare you.

I believe you need to know:
1. how to hold your baby
2. how to help your baby open his or her mouth
3. how to tell when your baby is swallowing - the muscles down the side of baby's face move regardless of whether your baby is swallowing!
4. What to do if your baby is not able to latch
5. how to hand express to get the tiny drops of colostrum and how to give this to your baby so that he/she does not end up back in hospital on a re-hydration drip

If you don't know how to do these 5 things, you are setting yourself up for heart ache. Midwives simply don't have the time to do your preparation for you!

Going into the Christmas period, the hospitals are getting busier and busier. If you are expecting a baby, get hold of my Let's Breastfeed Program and get prepared as you may well find yourself in hospital with nobody to help!

Winter Wonder Bugs!

2008-10-09T07:17:00.005+01:00

I love this time of the year as the days gradually get darker and we edge closer to Christmas and New Year. This year is especially special, as I am planning my very own winter wedding for the 13th December!

So whilst I am looking forward to the cold dark December days, I wanted to help you enjoy them too by preparing you for what may lie ahead.

Unfortunately, this time of the year also brings with it many bugs and lurgies, which make breastfeeding young babies all the more challenging. If you know what to expect and how to manage colds and snuffles if/when they do affect you and your little one, it may not seem too bad.

Your baby.....

Colds and chest infections in young infants may affect their ability to breathe whilst breastfeeding. This could lead to your baby pulling off the breast frequently and possibly not going back onto the breast again, once he/she has pulled off. You may find that feeds become shorter and a lot more frequent, as your baby struggles to get the nutrients and calories needed in a 24hour period. This all adds up to a tired, hungry and very frustrated baby (and mother!)

You..

You may worry that your baby is not getting enough milk and may try to offer baby more breast feeds, with or without much success. Offering the breast more frequently is a good thing to do, but please don't feel panicked if your baby is not interested. When a baby is sick, the appetite is suppressed, so that the body does not need to focus on digesting food, when all energy is needed to fight the infection. All the padding your baby has accumulated comes into play when he/she is sick and not feeding.

You may initially find that your breasts feel uncomfortably full but then you begin to worry that your supply is drying up as your baby is not feeding. If your breasts feel very full and your baby is not breastfeeding, you should express your breasts as frequently as your baby usually feeds. This will maintain your supply until your baby is well enough to breastfeed again. This will also give you a back up of milk in the fridge, that you can offer baby instead of the breast - to ensure that he/she is getting some milk. Expressing the breasts frequently will also prevent you from developing mastitis, which is always a good thing. Once your baby goes back onto the breast, your supply will readjust to meet your baby's demands.

If you feel that your supply has significantly decreased, I would suggest that you get onto my milk increasing routine - which is outlined in my on line breastfeeding program, Chapter 10 ' Sensible routines for Breastfeeding mothers - Increase my milk routine' www.letsbreastfeed.com/post-natal.shtml#order as soon as possible for best results.

Old fashioned steaming is great for unblocking little noses as well as nasal saline solution drops, warmed in your bra and dropped into baby's nose just before feeding.

I hope this will help you to avoid developing mastitis or unnecessary declining milk supply.

With much love,

Geraldine

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to helping your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program.
www.letsbreastfeed.com/post-natal.shtml#order

Will it all get better in time?

2008-09-05T06:02:00.003+01:00

It has been a while since I last wrote, time seems to fly by so quickly and before you blink, you find yourself 3 months down the line. However, 3 months will seem like 3 years when experiencing painful nipples, so I wanted to address a question I am asked almost daily, "Will it all get better in time?"

There are some breastfeeding problems that will only get better in time and in the interim, there is very little one can do, apart from maintaining your supply and ensuring your baby is getting enough milk.

For instance, moms who feel that their nipples are too big for their baby's mouth will find that until the baby is big enough to scoop in areola as well as nipple tissue, they will need to compress the breast to push the milk into the baby's mouth, as their baby will not be able to actively milk the areola. BUT in time, the baby will be able to do this himself. If this mom was to find that her nipples were being chewed to pieces, her options would be to express to drain and accumulate milk to feed her baby, either by cup or bottle, thus maintaining her supply and ensuring her baby was fed.

The one problem that just won't get better in time, is sore nipples. Usually sore nipples will get worse. Wounds that were bleeding will turn into cracks that are closed in between feeds but open again as soon as the baby latches onto the breast. Your nipples won't toughen up, that is a myth, so if you are experiencing sore nipples, get some professional help and sort it out! Breastfeeding is meant to be a lovely experience, not a chore.

If you need any help, have a look at the Let's Breastfeed Program. I will be launching my Bite Size Range in a few weeks time that will look at individual problems in each mini book, saving you time reading and giving you information in the topic required.

I hope it won't be too long until I write again, but do remember you are welcome to contact me if you are experiencing pain and need a little advice.

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program!

Hot Weather & Sore Nipples

2008-08-02T08:15:00.004+01:00

There is never a good time to experience pain in the form of sore nipples, so it is frustrating that both hot and cold weather can actually create more complications or intensify the pain you are already experiencing.

The weather affects us all whether we are conscious of it or not. It is, however, more noticeable if it is leading to misery.

Little babies don't seem to cope with the heat very well. They become very sleepy, making it difficult to wake and feed them properly and frequently. Their sleepiness can lead to moms missing feeds and becoming engorged, leaving moms prone to developing breast tenderness and possibly mastitis.

It can also lead to babies not feeding effectively at feeding times and then not settling well for good periods of sleep. This cycle develops very quickly and before you know it, you have a baby who is not feeding well, but seems to feed every hour or so, breasts that are not being drained well and are becoming sore and tender and a great deal of pain as the baby is too sleepy to wake and latch onto the breast properly.

If this isn't tricky enough, many moms suffering with sore nipples are actually also harboring a bacterial infection which is delaying healing of wounds on the nipples. When this happens, you will experience pain regardless of how well you are positioning and attaching your baby.

SO BEFORE YOU CONSIDER GIVING UP BREASTFEEDING, PAY YOUR GP A VISIT AND ASK WHETHER HE/SHE THINKS YOU MAY HAVE A SLIGHT BACTERIAL INFECTION ON THE NIPPLE. THIS IS EASILY TREATED, IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR BABY AND YOU WILL SEE RESULTS WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have visited 23 moms, of which 12 were suffering from sore nipples that needed a course of antibiotics to aid and complete the healing process. This is a lot higher than normal and from experience I know that the heat we are currently experiencing, is playing a big part in moms developing a bacterial infection on the nipple, which is delaying healing time.

If you have any further questions, I would suggest that you find your local Breastfeeding Specialist and consult with her for good advice. Alternatively, you know my number, either contact me by email or mobile.

I hope this helps.

Happy Feeding!

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program! www.letsbreastfeed.com/post-natal.shtml#order

Found yourself 'tongue tied' recently?

2008-07-02T16:34:00.003+01:00

Isn't it funny how a phrase that is so commonly used, can actually denote quite a serious problem for breastfeeding mothers! What is more interesting, is that even though the phrase is used to describe one's inability to speak properly or at all, due to the tongue not able to move, it is still not considered a viable threat to the breastfeeding infant - many doctors shrugging it off as an 'opportunity to move with life and get baby onto a bottle if you can't breastfeed'.

I have seen 4 tongue tied babies this week, with various degrees of the tongue being tied and held down in the floor of baby's mouth, but guess what? Not one of them was diagnosed by either the midwife or paediatrician who checked the baby's oral cavity after delivery. So, I began to wonder, how many mums are out there, struggling to understand why breastfeeding is so difficult, why feeds go on for hours and then baby glugs down an entire bottle of formula, why their nipples are chewed to pieces?

I want to highlight some of the problems a tongue tie can cause. If you suffer from one or more of these symptoms, find a breastfeeding specialist who can help you and refer you to the right place to have it divided. It may not be a tongue tie that is causing your problems, but at least you know what to ask for.

Problems a tongue tie can cause are as follows:

Baby
Long and frequent feeds - resulting in an unsatisfied fractious baby
Slow weight gain - or a sharp drop in weight after birth
Spinach green poos - this tells us that your baby is not getting to the hind milk
Breast refusal and fractiousness at the breast due to low milk supply and a hungry baby

Mom
Sore cracked or bleeding nipples - though the positioning and attachment looks right
Full breasts that don't seem any emptier after long feeds
Mastitis
Eventually a low milk supply as your baby has not been able to drain milk from the breast, so the less your baby takes off the breast, the less you produce!

What does a tongue tie look like? When you baby cries, have a look under your baby's tongue. if your baby is not able to lift his/her tongue right up to touch the roof of the mouth, and you can see a membrane that runs vertically, from the floor of baby's mouth to the base of the tongue, your baby has a tongue tie.

It usually runs in families, though it may be difficult to spot now, as many tongue ties were divided by a midwife's long jagged nail many years ago. As it is only a membrane, it has no feeling and having it divided, is a 2 second procedure and is not painful at all.

If you think your baby has a tongue tie, or would like to have one divided, feel free to contact me at blog@letsbreastfeed.com

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program!

If you feel like a FAILURE, this one is for you!

2008-06-27T14:54:00.002+01:00

It has been a couple of weeks now since I have been able to sit down and write.

Work has kept me busy these last few weeks, I have worked with mums who needed to increase their supply, or decrease their supply, mums who struggled to get baby onto the breast or off the breast and onto the bottle, some mums have had thrush, some mastitis, 2 had to have abscesses drained.

The incredible commonality these very different mums share, is that they all feel like FAILURES!

FAILURES?! REALLY?! WHY?

I sit back and just can't imagine how mums who have been so let down by poor advice, support or teaching can place such a huge burden on themselves and feel responsible for the problems they have encountered.

Breastfeeding is wonderful when it is going well, but just like you need to learn how to drive a car before you go cruising with music blearing and the wind in your hair, you need to learn skills that will set you up for breastfeeding success and enjoyment. The people who teach you these skills, need teaching themselves by somebody who knows what they are talking about, or your skills will ultimately be faulty.

If the skills you have acquired have been faulty, it is not your fault things have gone pear shaped. How on earth should you know about an area that has become so specialized it is considered a medical science?

So, for all you wonderful women out there who feel like it is your fault that your baby is not gaining weight, or who are suffering painful feeds, or quite frankly just don't know which way is up any more, you have come to the right place.

Please take a deep breath and think about it for a minute. You would do anything for your baby, right.
You want the best for your baby which is one of the reasons you are so keen to get breastfeeding right for both of you. If your baby could talk, he/she would urge your to try for both of you, as apart from all the benefits, there is very little a baby would like to do more than breastfeed and be close to you.

Over the next few weeks, I will be releasing Bite Size eBooks that specifically cover the most common problems mums face in detail, in a bid to help as many mums out there, discover how truly fantastic and flexible breastfeeding can be.

In the mean time, you are welcome to touch base with me if there is something I can help with.

With love,

Geraldine

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program!

Feeling HOT HOT HOT!!

2008-06-11T07:25:00.005+01:00

Thank you for all your emails and comments. I have been receiving quite a few emails from moms whose breastfeeding patterns have gone crazy with the onset of the hot weather, so I thought a few more of you may benefit from a little advice about feeding in the heat.

As the temperature rises, your milk will dilute slightly, to ensure that your baby is getting all the fluid he/she needs. You will notice that your milk is more 'watery' when you express. This is not a sign that the quality of your milk is poor, is is just nature's way of looking after you and little one.

The heat may aslo make your baby feel more sleepy while feeding at the breast, so use your breast compression to help push the milk down toward the nipple, so that it is easier for your baby to access. Undress your baby to the nappy. As you both become hot, you will also become sticky, so it may be easier to drape a muslin over your arm before picking baby up to feed. This will make moving him/her easier, a lot more comfortable and less sticky!

If your baby asks for feeds more frequently than his/her usual feeding pattern, this is absolutely fine. Most babies will ask for food and then only feed for 5 minutes before falling asleep. This feed should be considered as a thirst quenching feed, not a full feed. So, don't worry about pushing your baby to feed longer as these feeds, pop them down. They will wake soon enough for their full feed.

This may play havoc with routines, but just go with it. Ensure that your baby is always in a cool part of the house and lightly dressed. During the day, you could even just have him/her in a little short sleeve vest or nappy.

If you are out, don't leave your baby in the stroller unless it is parked in the shade. Most strollers are dark and this will attract heat. Many moms are hanging a blanket over the hood of the stroller to stop the sun from piercing baby's eyes, just remember that this is creating oven conditions in the stroller and will result in a very hot, thirsty and unhappy baby. Use something incredibly light, such as a muslin, if anything at all and remove as quickly as possible once you are out of sunlight.

Crying makes your baby thirsty, so if your little one is crying for whatever reason, you may find that offering the breast will calm and settle him/her well before putting down.

SUNNY SIDE UP!

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program!

Don't be blinded by rose tinted glasses

2008-05-27T15:13:00.006+01:00

I sometimes wonder whether rose tinted glasses are part of a standard uniform issued to breastfeeding antenatal teachers or whether we are just very optimistic people?

Don't get me wrong, it is important to be positive about your possible breastfeeding outcome, but I wouldn't try driving a bus, having watched an 80's version "HOW TO.." 10 minute DVD, sooped up on 10 tons of positive thinking and the fact that having driven a car for years, it should come naturally.

Surely I would need a little practical advice, preferably offered in bite size chunks, focussing on getting the basics right - before being expected to nip down Kings Road picking up paying customers, without any squashing, crashing, scraping, squishing of cars and padestrians - from day 1!!

So, why do we think that by telling moms everything is going to be alright, they are not going to find themselves stressed out and frazzled and most possibly in a lot of pain very early on?

Is it because breastfeeding is so incredibly natural for all, or that we have such brilliant support in the hospitals where midwives have endless hours to sit and teach them how to get things right, or is it that we just hope that by installing a little confidence in the new mom, she will persist until everything eventually falls into place?

Well whatever the reason, I think we should change the way we prepare moms for breastfeeding by telling them how to get their positioning and attachment right to suit their individual needs from day one! This needs to be practical, easy to remember and simple enough, so that we not at risk of conjuring up conflicting advice!

With so many babies being born each day and hospitals and midwives stretched to capacity, surely we can teach moms what they need to know before they have their baby, so that they can merely benefit from additional support once the baby arrives, rather than being totally reliant on health professional and completely in the dark about the practicalities of breastfeeding!

If you are a mom who has breastfed and would like to make changes or are happy with a service you received, please drop me a line. I would love to hear from you!

Let's breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program. www.letsbreastfeed.com

Sore nipples and conflicting advice...Going nowhere fast?

2008-05-19T17:02:00.004+01:00

Many moms are asking me why so many moms are experiencing sore nipples when breastfeeding is supposed to be such a natural activity for both mom and baby. This is a good question and one that really needs to be addressed!

It is inevitable that you are going to receive a degree of conflicting advice, as individuals have their own way of interpreting studies, techniques or information a mother will give at a particular time regarding a particular problem. However, the scale of variation between one midwife and another regarding breastfeeding techniques or timings, is leading to a lot of confusion and frustration. Often, the combination of all the conflicting advice, does very little to support or teach the new mom anything! So moms struggle to see the point and ultimately give up searching, feeling sad at failing to establish breastfeeding!

Don't be mistaken about breastfeeding and pain, they do not go hand in hand. If you are experiencing pain, there is a problem, and there will be any alternative to what you are currently doing, if you would like to reduce pain but continue giving your baby the benefits of your breast milk! Breastfeeding is not as black and white as some people imply it is. Many of my clients combine a bit of breastfeeding, a bit of pumping, a bit of bottle feeding and enjoy full and rewarding months feeding their baby! The good news is that you can too!

Let's breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program! www letsbreastfeed.com

Let's explore sore nipples a little...

2008-05-08T17:32:00.004+01:00

If you are a breastfeeding mom and suffering with sore nipples, please believe me when I say that it is NOT normal! It may be a common occurrence, but any pain you are experiencing, should indicate that there is something wrong!

You may already have bought the Let's Breastfeed Program, but I just wanted to highlight certain aspects that are very real in everyday breastfeeding episodes, and touch on how and what the primary causes are!

For the next few days, I will answer some of the questions that have been coming through regarding sore nipples, as well as short informative articles, in the hope that this will help as many other moms out there that are suffering too!

Thank you for all your wonderful emails! Please do keep them coming at blog@letsbreastfeed.com!

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality! If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program. www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog

Causes of sore nipples...

2008-05-08T17:27:00.004+01:00

When breastfeeding is a new and undeveloped skill, minor mistakes can very quickly lead to complicated breastfeeding problems, leaving a new mom and hungry baby, frustrated and on the brink of tears!

Sore nipples are often overlooked by professionals, as they are considered part of the breastfeeding course. I believe this is where many moms are being let down as sore nipples can indicate that the breast is not being drained well, leading to blockages and mastitis for mom and a less than satisfactory meal for little one, resulting in frequent feeds!

Sore nipples do not only result from poor positioning or attachment. Often combining elements of your breast tissue with your baby’s oral cavity, can result in soreness of the nipples and breast pain. For instance, a mom with inverted nipples or flat nipples, may find that mastering the art of breastfeeding is a little more challenging than other moms. Whilst your baby is more reliant on scooping up the areola when breastfeeding, rather than the nipple, you may feel that having flat or inverted nipples mean your baby slips off the breast more easily, creating feeding problems.

This is quickly and simply corrected with careful and tailored positioning and attachment skills which you will find in my Let’s Breastfeed Program!

If you have sought breastfeeding help and have corrected and modified your technique, you can expect your nipples to feel a little tender at the beginning of the feed for up to 60 seconds. Provided your nipples are round at the end of a feed, you can rest assured that your sore nipples will soon be a thing of the past, as with the correct attachment, you can expect your nipples to heal in a couple of days!

If you are experiencing sore nipples, seek professional help. Pain is a good indicator that there is something wrong and ignoring your pain, will just lead to further complications.

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality! If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program! www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog

Treating sore nipples!

2008-05-08T17:22:00.002+01:00

There are no words to describe the raw pain one experiences when breastfeeding results in sore nipples. So, what is the most effective way of treating sore nipples?

There are so many lotions and potions moms are advised to buy to help prevent and treat sore nipples, but most of the time, the relief they seem to provide is minimal and in some cases, they actually exacerbate the problem, leading to a longer recovery time and a lot more pain.

Many professionals are dubious about recommending one particular brand of cream or gel, as nothing seems to have resounding results every time. Are there really creams that can help soothe sore nipples, or is it better to save your money and use some of the old fashioned tricks of years gone by.

You could argue that with the research that goes into the development of new products, one can assume that they will be effective. The lanolin products are incredibly popular at most of the breastfeeding networks and cafes, but they should be used sparingly, as overuse, will not only lead to the whole areola becoming lubricated and difficult for baby to grasp, but it can also lead to blockages of the pores, or cell growth over the pores. For a practical problem solving guide, visit www.letsbreastfeed.com

The once popular Camilosan, seems to be enjoying something of a rebirth, which gently hydrates and soothes the sore cracked area. Camomile is also known as a mild antifungal remedy, so this natural remedy has more than one useful quality.

The not so glamorous use of cabbage leaves to soothe hot and heavy breasts, is also enjoying a comeback. Many moms have found that by cutting out the base/stalk of the cabbage leaf, that has been cooled in the fridge and gently crushed before applying directly onto the nipple, provides a great amount of relief, not only to the nipple, but to the breast as well.

Other moms have found the humble used , slightly wet camomile tea bag applied to tender nipples, another source of comfort.

2008-05-06T17:26:00.004+01:00

There is so much conflicting advice out there regarding breastfeeding practices and from your emails, I can see that some of the information you are being given is not always true, however well intentioned. I hope you are all learning and benefiting from the practical advice you are finding on my Blog!

Keeping with the inverted nipple theme - as there are so many questions being asked, you can read about alternate breastfeeding options when faced with inverted nipples!

As always, I hope this is useful and look forward to receiving more questions and emails!

Happy feeding,

Geraldine

www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog

Inverted nipples and the use of nipple shields

2008-05-06T17:23:00.003+01:00

When moms first start reading up about breastfeeding, there seems to be a lot of bad press surrounding the introduction of bottles and nipple shields, as this could lead to sore nipples as well as nipple/teat confusion. However, for some moms, the introduction of nipple shields could be what saves breastfeeding in the long term, so if you have inverted nipples, keep an open mind.

It is really important that your baby has an opportunity to learn to breastfeed well before the introduction of nipple shields, as many moms with inverted nipples find they are able to breastfeed well, with the correct attachment technique as well as a comfortable position that optimises baby’s ability to scoop up as much breast tissue as possible.

If you do choose to use nipple shields during breastfeeds and you are able to feed well with little breast or nipple pain, make sure to keep an eye on your baby’s poos. Breastfeeding moms are usually able to tell whether baby is latched and feeding well by assessing how breastfeeding feels, but as you will have a breastfeeding tool which may prevent sore nipples, you will need to use additional tools to assess how well your baby is emptying the breast.

The colour and frequency of poos will help you gauge how much food your baby is getting through the nipple shield at each feed. You should be seeing between 6-8 yellow poos a day until your baby is roughly 3-4 weeks old. As your baby gets bigger, you may find that dirty nappies are a less frequent event. This is normal, provided your baby is gaining weight and has plenty clear, heavy wet nappies throughout the day.

Many moms are told that the use of nipple shields should only be considered a temporary measure as it can lead to your milk drying up, however I have not found this to be true in my practice!

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program! www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog

Cup feeding whilst establishing breastfeeding with inverted nipples

2008-05-06T17:17:00.006+01:00

When breastfeeding doesn’t go well from the beginning, there many ways that you can protect your baby’s milking reflex, so that when you are both more confident, you can reintroduce breastfeeding with little trouble.

One way of protecting your baby’s milking reflex is to cup feed instead of introducing a bottle or nipple shield. Introducing a cup feed will ensure that your baby is still milking or lapping the milk from a little cup, instead of learning a whole new sucking action, commonly associated with bottle feeds.

Moms who would usually consider the introduction of cup feeds, would be moms experiencing breastfeeding problems, sore breasts, sore nipples, or even moms with inverted nipples.

As there are various degrees of inverted nipples, we can expect various time frames in which a baby and mom will master breastfeeding. For example, a mom with slightly inverted nipples, may only have minimal breastfeeding challenges in the early days. The use of a cup, will ensure that baby is able to get enough food and maintain interest in breastfeeding, until he/she is able to master latching onto the breast and milking it efficiently.

Moms who are presenting with true inverted nipples, may take a longer to master breastfeeding and so it is not uncommon for these moms to consider the use of a cup in the early days. Usually by day 5 or 6 as the baby starts to demand more food, moms will explore feeding with a nipple shield or possibly even nipple shields. Many moms do persist with cup feeding until their baby is 2 weeks or older before moving onto a Dr Browns bottle to save time and protect the baby’s milking action, whilst trying to master breastfeeding with inverted nipples.

Ultimately, I believe that you need to do what is right for your family as you will naturally want what is best for your baby!

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program! www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog

2008-05-02T07:03:00.004+01:00

In keeping with the inverted nipple theme, I thought I would share this case study with you as it seems to be one of the more common struggles moms with inverted nipples encounter. The characters in this next Q&A are fictional but the problem very real.

Hi Geraldine,

I hope you can help me as I am at my wits end. Breastfeeding has been really tricky from day one as my baby struggled to latch onto the breast. This resulted in hours of frustration and a number of midwives trying to help my, all with different techniques and advice, unfortunately non of which resulted in baby latching onto my breast. As Luke wasn't feeding, I was advised to give him formula by cup feeding to protect his milking reflex, but the formula went everywhere and in the end, I gave in a offered him a bottle which he drained within minutes.

Feeling guilty for starving him, I decided to try him on the breast at each feed and then give him a bottle of formula afterwards. Luke manages to latch onto the breast, but then the breast quickly slips out of his mouth, so I know he is struggling to hold onto the breast during feeds. I have inverted nipples and was told I may not be able to breastfeed, but I am hoping that there is a way I could get around this.

I would also feel much happier if I knew that he was getting my breast milk instead of formula at each feed, instead of formula. My milk came in on day 3 and I was very engorged, which made latching on more difficult for Luke. Unfortunately, I am not sure whether my supply is still high enough to satisfy him if he were to ever latch onto my breast.

Please help.

Jenny.

Hi Jenny,

It is not easy to learn a skill if you don't have clear and effective guidelines. Breastfeeding is a learned skill and as we are all individuals, we each face different challenges when learning how to feed our babies. There are many moms who have been very successful at breastfeeding even with inverted nipples, so I would like to share some of the techniques we used to get those babies onto the breast.

Inverted nipples retract when pressure is applied to the areola, the darkened area around the nipple. When Luke latches onto the breast, he will apply pressure to the areola with his upper and lower gum and this causes you nipple to retract, making it harder for him to hold onto and milk the breast tissue. Often feeding him in the underarm position or rugby hold, with him lying on his back and coming up onto the breast is helpful as gravity will pull the breast tissue down and allow it to fall into his mouth.

If you have smaller breasts, this may not work for you as your nipples will point forward. You may find the use of nipple shields more successful, as the shield sits over the nipple and creates a firm teat for your baby to hold onto. Over time, the use of a nipple shield may help to stretch the nipple tissue and result in a degree of protrusion.

The other option you do have is to express and bottle feed your baby, as you currently are. Expressing will ensure that your breasts are well drained and this will protect or increase your supply as you creating a greater demand. Be sure to express both breasts every 3 hours from the beginning of one feed to the beginning of the next. This should synchronise your supply cycle with Luke's feeds, so that when you do offer him the breast, there is enough milk to keep him interested and focused.

With the increase of your supply, you may find that latching him onto the breast becomes a little trickier as your milk starts to flow and causes the breast to become slippery. Stay calm, place a muslin over the nipple and apply firm pressure with your hand, pushing into the breast. This will stop the flow temporarily.

I hope this helps.

Geraldine

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program! www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog

Inverted nipples - could I express and bottle feed?

2008-04-25T17:52:00.008+01:00

There are many moms who breastfeed their babies successfully with inverted nipples. However, many moms assume there is no point in trying to breastfeed, as they believe they will experience extreme pain and give up breastfeeding after weeks of guilt and tears!

If you are considering this option, I would like to offer you a couple of options. Naturally you may be more concerned about your baby’s well being – as often mothers are, but there is a way that you can still give your baby the benefits of your amazing milk without the tears and long nights.

Whilst your baby will drain the breast more efficiently than any breast pump, this is true for baby’s who are breastfeeding without any problems. So, once you have had your baby, still get your baby onto your chest as soon as possible and see what happens. If your baby latches and the nipple pain is bearable, you may be able to correct your nipple over time and enjoy pain free breastfeeding. If your nipples begin to crack and bleed within a couple of feeds, you could start to hand express both breasts every 2-3 hours. Your midwife will show you how to do this if you ask her. Collect your droplets of colostrum in a syringe and give this to your baby.

As your supply increases, you can start to express using a double pump. This will reduce the amount of time required and will also increase your supply substantially as you are stimulating both breasts simultaneously! The more you express, either by hand or pump in the first 2 weeks, the more you will produce long term. This is good to remember, as your baby will grow and will be able to scoop up more breast tissue over time.

Ultimately, the more breast tissue your baby can scoop up, the more milk he/she will be able to drain from the breast and the less pain you will experience!

There are many reasons for breastfeeding, but one that is often overlooked is that breastfeeding can be extremely enjoyable!

Inverted nipples and slow weight gain

2008-04-25T17:35:00.005+01:00

There are many reasons why a baby is not able to gain as much weight as he should. When I visit a mom who is presenting with this particular problem, I ask myself, is there really a milk supply issue, or is there a problem with the transfer of breast milk from the breast into baby’s tummy.

Low milk supply is often a result of poor milk transfer, so if your baby is having problems gaining weight and you have inverted nipples, read on and let’s see if I can help.

Naturally, I would start by saying that positioning and attachment is key, so that your baby is in the best possible position to maximise his/her milking of the breast. As you have inverted nipples, you may struggle to get baby to latch onto the breast well and then keep it in place with his/her tongue, as your nipple pulls back when the breast is compressed. Remember that yellow poos tell you he/she is getting to the hind milk – so as long as this is the case, don’t worry about feeding from both breasts, just get as much into your baby as possible. The more he/she eats, the quicker he/she will grow and the simpler your feeds will become!

If your baby is little and tires easily, you will need to express after feeds to ensure that your breast has been drained completely, so that your supply increases. You may consider hiring/purchasing a double pump. As your baby gets older and stronger, he/she will be able to latch onto the breast and feed more efficiently – so this is more than likely only going to be a temporary option.

Feeding from both breasts will stimulate your breasts more frequently and so lead to an increase in supply as well. You can offer this to your baby after feeding either from a cup, or I find the Dr Browns bottle breastfeeding mothers first choice.

I hope this helps. Remember, you are more than welcome to email me directly at g@letsbreastfeed.com if you would like me to answer your question in my blog.

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dream become a reality. If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program! www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog

Treating inverted nipples - how, when and what with?

2008-04-24T18:48:00.009+01:00

You know, I do find it amazing that there is such an emphasis on inverted nipples and all the breastfeeding difficulties you are likely to face. As I point out to my clients though, it is only a problem if your baby is not able to manage to latch on. As your baby is more reliant on getting the breast tissue into his/her mouth rather than the nipple, I do feel that we are getting into a sweat about this unnecessarily.

Your baby has not been chilling in the womb for the last 9 months, dreaming up ideas of what your nipples will look like, or the size and shape of your breast, so when he/she is presented with an inverted nipple, he/she is neither going to be impressed or annoyed, babies just get on with the job to hand – breastfeeding.

But what if you were unable to feed your first baby because you had inverted nipples, what can I tell you to do in preparation for the next little friend?

Well, if you wanted help your nipples protrude more, you could use a little tool called the Nipplette. You would use this when you were neither breastfeeding nor pregnant. To use properly, you will apply the little device to your nipple for roughly 6 hours a day, on the days in between your period. This will help to pull the nipple out, stretching the little filaments that pull the nipple back into the breast. Using in the first or third trimester can induce an early labour – be sure to read the instructions carefully.

If you are trying to manage breastfeeding with inverted nipples, expressing for a few minutes just before a feed will help to pull the nipple out, as well as rolling the nipple between your thumb and fore finger. Overtime you should start to see that the pain dissipates during/after feeds and the nipples remain ‘out’ in between feeds.

Let’s Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can’t see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let’s Breastfeed Program! www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog

Variations of inverted nipples

2008-04-24T18:46:00.002+01:00

Just as there are many shades of blond or brown hair, you will always have a variety in types of nipples, each carrying with it a new or different challenge. Having worked with thousands of breastfeeding mothers over the years, I have come across 4 main variations of inverted nipples. They include: true inverted nipples, pseudo inverted nipples, folded nipples and dimpled nipples.

True inverted nipples are diagnosed when you pinch the areola just behind the nipple and the nipple pulls back into the breast, rather than popping forward.

Pseudo inverted nipples, look inverted and drawn into the breast, but when you pinch the areola just behind the nipple, they actually pop forward.

Folded nipples and dimpled nipples vary only in their appearance. What has often happened in these nipples is that the center bit of the nipple is inverted and is pulled into the breast right down the middle, giving the nipple a straight crease in the middle of the nipple, or the appearance of a donut where only a small section is inverted.

Ultimately, the better you are able to latch baby onto the breast, the less pain you will experience. However, this is one area where I do feel breastfeeding can be expected to be a little painful from the start. The inversion is caused by little filaments in the nipple, remaining really tightly wound and are not very stretchy.

There are two likely outcomes with inverted nipples. Either the filaments pulling the nipple back into the breast will start to stretch and so allow the nipple to pull out during a feed or after a number of feeds, which is great.

Secondly, the filaments can remain tight and the skin on the tip of the nipple will begin to pull away – this is not pleasant and can lead to bleeding nipples but will heal over time.

I don’t like to shy away from the truth when it comes to pain and breastfeeding as there are many options you can choose from once you know what they are!

Don’t be put off breastfeeding, as many moms breastfeed perfectly well. Be prepared and get off to a sound footing from the start!

How easy is it to breastfeed with inverted nipples?

2008-04-24T18:43:00.004+01:00

Believe it or not, breastfeeding with inverted nipples can be as simple as breastfeeding with protruding nipples! You do however need good support when learning how to position and attach your baby to the breast, right from the beginning.

Many mothers are told that the only way to breastfeed when they have inverted nipples, is to use nipple shields. Nipple shields are useful, if the nipple is totally inverted and baby has a weak suck and is not able to draw the nipple out. It is important to at least try to latch baby onto the breast without a nipple shield a few times a day, as babies do become stronger and will actively try to latch onto the breast.

Often, using nipple shields too frequently in the early days, can alter the manner in which the baby milks the breast, which could lead to breastfeeding problems and sore nipples later on.

If you are trying to latch your baby onto the breast, make sure that your baby is positioned properly to start with, i.e. that he/she is positioned nose to nipple. This will ensure that your breast tissue i.e. the areola, will be able to fall into baby’s mouth and the nipple will inevitably follow. Depending on the size of your breast, if you have a pronounced inverted nipple, you may be better having baby positioned in the underarm or rugby hold, lying more on his/her back and coming up onto the breast. Nature and gravity will naturally pull the nipple down further to the back of baby’s mouth and thus protecting the nipple from becoming sore and cracked.

Whilst there is a lot of attention paid to the size and shape of mom’s breast, it is also important to remember that there are two people involved in the act of breastfeeding. So be sure to ask a professional to have a look in your baby’s mouth, to assess how far back the nipple will be able to go into baby’s mouth, or whether you would be better off using a nipple shield temporarily or expressing and bottle feeding as a last resort!

Let's look at inverted nipples!

2008-04-24T18:17:00.004+01:00

Isn't it amazing how we put ourselves under the microscope when trying to get breastfeeding right! We really give ourselves a hard time if our breasts aren't quite the right size or our nipples are too big or small or heaven forbid...inverted!

I wanted to run a theme to teach you about different breastfeeding areas, starting with inverted nipples! Please drop me a line if you breastfed beautifully with inverted nipples, or if you struggled to breastfeed with inverted nipples - remember, there is no right or wrong. I want to prove that there is no stereotype - and pleasurable breastfeeding is always possible regardless of the pitfalls we think we need to overcome!

Look forward to hearing from you,

Geraldine

www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog