World Breastfeeding Week 2023
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A quick round up of some essential breastfeeding terms, perfect for new breastfeeding mums:
Areola
The dark, round area that surrounds your nipple.
Blocked milk ducts
When the milk ducts become clogged or blocked and milk is unable to flow freely. This condition may lead to mastitis if left unresolved.
Breast pump
A specially designed machine that draws breast milk from the breast using suction. There are a few different types of breast pumps available:
Manual or electric
Single or double – so you can pump one or two breasts at a time
Cord-free or plugin
Commercial or hospital grade
Breast pads
Small absorbent pads that can be tucked inside a bra to help absorb any leaked breast milk to prevent this seeping through to your top. You can buy disposable or reusable breast pads, have a look at our reusable bamboo ones here.
Colostrum
A thick, creamy, yellow substance that is produced by the breast post birth and for the first 3 or so days after the baby is born. This is the baby’s first feed/s and is jam packed with valuable nutrients and immune boosting enzymes designed to give the baby the best start in life.
Cluster feeding
When your baby wants a lot of food in a short amount of time. Usually occurs prior to a growth spurt.
Engorgement
When the breast becomes sore, swollen and feel very firm. This is a result of the breasts being overfull. This can occur at any time during breastfeeding; most often within the 36 hours after delivery when milk supply is being established or when mums first wake up in the morning if their babies don’t feed at night
Expressing
When you pump or hand express to produce breast milk.
Feeding on demand
Baby is fed when they are hungry. Feeding is not timed to a clock or specific schedule, but to your baby’s appetite.
Flange
If you’ve been using a breast pump you might have heard of this one. It fits over your nipple and areola to form a seal, helping to pull milk through your milk ducts and out your nipple.
Foremilk
This is the first milk released by the breast at the beginning of every feed. This milk is much more watery and will quench baby’s thirst.
Fourth Trimester
The 12-week period immediately after you have your baby. Not everyone has heard of it, but every mother and their newborn baby will go through it. It is a time of great physical and emotional change as your baby adjusts to being outside the womb, and you adjust to your new life as a mum.
Hind milk
This is the milk the breast produces during the middle of the feed. It is much thicker and richer and contains the beneficial nutrients and fats that baby needs to develop and grow.
Lactation
The secretion of breastmilk.
Lactation consultant
A trained professional who specialises in breastfeeding support.
Lanolin
Extracted from the wool of sheep, this cream has soothing, moisturizing and healing properties and is often used to help ease painful nipples after breastfeeding.
Latch
This is the attachment of your baby's mouth to your breast in order to feed. A good latch is important for comfortable and efficient feeding.
La Leche League
Breastfeeding support group
Liquid gold
A nickname for breastmilk given because of the high concentration of nutrients contained in it.
Let down
This is the initial sensation felt when the milk is released from the breast. Sometimes you can feel it (occasionally it may be painful) and sometimes you can’t.
Mastitis
A painful infection in the breast caused by blocked milk ducts. A woman can become very unwell and suffer from flu-like symptoms and a rash and should seek medical assistance.
Milk blister
When a blocked duct appears close to the skin on your nipple and cells form over the top of it making a bubble or a blister.
Nip lash
When your baby gets distracted and turns his head to look around but he still has your nipple in his mouth and he clamps down so it doesn’t fall out but stretches your nipple and areola area.
Nipple shield
A protective plastic cup used to shield the nipple when the baby breastfeeds. Some women use it to aid in protecting the nipple against damage caused by breastfeeding in the early weeks.
Overactive Let-Down
A forceful ejection of milk from the breasts during feeding that may cause issues while breastfeeding.
Oxytocin
Hormone that is released from your brain when you breastfeed. Oxytocin is also known as the ‘love’ or ‘feel good’ hormone. Oxytocin is important for creating a bond with your baby, decreasing pain and stress in both parent and baby, and helping you recover from childbirth.
Reflux
Infant reflux occurs when food backs up (refluxes) from a baby's stomach, causing the baby to spit up. Sometimes called gastroesophageal reflux (GER)
Rooting
The natural instinct of a newborn to try to seek out the breast. You baby will snuffle around your chest looking for milk.
Tandem breastfeeding
When a mother breastfeeds two children at once.
Thrush
Thrush is a yeast fungus that often flares up in babies. A possible sign is white patches in your baby’s mouth and fussiness that makes feeding difficult. You and your baby will likely both need to be treated with antifungal medication for thrush since you can pass it back and forth.
Tongue tie
A condition where the tissue connecting the baby’s tongue to the floor of the mouth is short and tight. This can restrict a baby’s breastfeeding ability as they may not be able to properly latch. It can be difficult to see if your baby has a tongue tie yourself so it’s worth talking to a lactation consultant to advise on this.
Weaning
When a baby is weaned from its mothers breast milk and introduced to solid foods.
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Breastfeeding is a bit of a minefield, all of a sudden you find youself faced with things you've never even hear of before. Mastitis might well be one of them. It's an inflammation of the breast, usually caused by a build up of milk in the breast leading to an infection. It often happens while a woman is breastfeeding, especially during the first 6-12 weeks.
Symptoms
- A swollen area on your breast that may feel hot and painful to touch – the area may become red but this can be harder to see if you have darker skin. It usually only affects one breastand symptoms can begin rapidly.
- A wedge-shaped breast lump or a hard area on your breast
- A burning pain in your breast that might be constant or only when you breastfeed
nipple discharge, which may be white or contain streaks of blood
- You may also get flu-like symptoms, such as chills, nausea, aches, a high temperature, tiredness or even vomiting.
What can you do?
- Soak a cloth in warm water and place it on your breast to help relieve the pain – a warm shower or bath may also help.
- Rest and drink lots of fluids.
- Continue to breastfeed.
- Start feeds with the sore breast first.
- Express milk from your breast in between feeds.
- Make sure your breast is completely drained after a feed. You may need to check your baby's latch as a poor latch may mean your baby struggles to do this.
- Massage your breast to help clear any blockages – stroke from the lumpy or sore area towards your nipple to help the milk flow.
- Apply heat prior to feedings to promote breast drainage.
- Wear comfortable clothing and a wireless bra.
- See a GP if you do not feel better within 24 hours despite continuing to breastfeed, they will usually be able to prescribe you antibiotics.
(Sources, LaLeche League, NHS, Medela)
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The week promotes breastfeeding and encourages women across the globe to breastfeed their children for a certain period.
The week aims to recognize why breastfeeding is essential for newborns as well as their mothers. It also reveals the advantages of the process.
During World Breastfeeding Week, several facts regarding breastfeeding come to the forefront, including what a nursing mother should eat, when she should feed the child, etc.