Motherhood Blooms Lactation™

How Do I Get My Breastfed Baby to Stop Biting?

It doesn’t mean weaning or switching to bottles

Updated February 27th 2024

Fear not! Teething and biting does not mean the end of your breastfeeding relationship if you don’t want it to. It also doesn’t mean that you need to wean onto bottles (if you’re not already using them) though it may feel like that at first. Cutting teeth and breastfeeding can co-exist!

When does teething start?

You might start to notice sign of teething as early as 8-12 weeks. This does not mean they’re about to cut a tooth. The first two teeth that show up are the bottom two followed by the top two. You won’t actually see those bottom two teeth until much closer to 6 months.

Seeing your baby begin drooling, chewing more on their hands, on toys, or trying to stick things into their mouth can be signs of teething. As your baby is teething and around the time teeth start to cut through, you may notice their latch change. I’ve had many moms come to me worried as their baby now has a shallow latch.

If you notice your baby’s latch suddenly seems shallow and they happen to be teething, discomfort could be one cause. Often, putting gentle pressure on their gums (tracing where the teeth would grow in) can help soothe them prior to a feeding. Skin to skin time during these feedings can also be helpful. This releases oxytocin which is a natural pain reliever. Offering a cold washcloth (that has been dampened with breastmilk or water) to chew before feedings can also help get a deeper latch by reliving some pain. You also have the option of offering a teething toy before breastfeeding which you can keep in the fridge or freezer.

What if my baby bites?

First, don’t panic. When your little one begins cutting teeth and more likely after that first tooth grows in a little, it’s almost inevitable that he or she will bite. While this might sound terrifying, it’s normal baby behaviour and I’m here to help you navigate it.

Many babies and toddlers all over the word nurse long after their teeth come in. Some babies bite and some don’t. Your baby is learning what it’s like to have teeth so you can expect them to want to explore.

The biggest tip I can give you is to watch your baby’s body language. With my first son, when the flow of milk started to slow towards the end of a feeding, he would begin to chew and or bite. This is also true of all the clients I’ve supported through biting babies.

Babies cannot physically bite if they are drinking milk. This is because in order to feed at breast, a baby’s tongue needs to extend past their gum line (where teeth grow in), cup around the nipple, lift the nipple to the roof of their mouth and draw it to the back of their mouth. This means, if they are feeding, their tongue is over their gums/teeth and they physically cannot bite down. The biting down happens after they pull their tongue back. Most of the time, if your are watching your baby while they are nursing, you can see this shift happen and unlatch them before they bite.

Other techniques you can use:

I like to first try breast compressions when you see your baby’s swallowing start to slow down. In general this is an important practice in breastfeeding because it helps increase the flow of milk and can keep your baby drinking a little longer which helps them get more milk.

When swallows aren’t happening anymore, and before your baby has the chance to shallow their latch and bite, put your finger in the corner of their mouth to break the seal they have on the breast and unlatch them. Switch them to the other side if they usually nurse on both sides.

I have also found a calming nursing environment helpful for the families I work with. Distractions often amplify wanting to play at the breast rather than drink especially in babies older than 3 months where they are much more distracted at breast. The reality is this is not always possible especially if there’s older children in the home or you are not in your own space.

And if the bite happens…

If and when my baby bites, I unlatch them and follow it up with a gentle but firm “we don’t bite”. It’s important to talk to your baby. They will learn it’s not ok to bite but we need to be the teacher. Often if your baby gets a big reaction out of you, they may just do it again for the reaction. It’s incredibly difficult not to shout or yell when it happens but the more you can remain calm, the easier it will be to teach your baby not to bite again.

I also wanted to add that if you’re reading this and freaking out thinking a bite means they will break the skin and draw blood, that’s generally not the case. Yes, a bite will hurt but often they’re just exploring and your body will “sound the alarms” and stop the process before the skin is broken. That said, I have worked with moms after their baby did break the skin but there’s often other factors involved such as a shallow latch creating more difficulties. IF that happens to you, get an IBCLC to help you heal the wound and stop the bites from happening.

As for toddlers, when a full set of teeth have grown in, if they continue to have a good deep latch, you won’t feel their teeth.

And if none of that is working for you, reach out for support. Lactation consultants aren’t just for brand new babies. This message was from a client of mine who had an 8 month old who was always biting. The biting would cause a small wound that mom would need to heal while also nursing.

We put some plans in place for their unique breastfeeding relationship and she was able to continue nursing and prevent future biting.

If you need 1-1 support help with latching, painful breastfeeding, milk supply, plugged ducts, pumping or anything else related to feeding your baby I’m here to help you. You can click here to work with me.

How to bring back your milk supply after it drops

Updated January 30th 2024

It’s an awful feeling to feel like *or know for sure* your milk supply has dropped. Especially if you’ve already been having a hard time with your milk supply. You feel defeated, sad, worried. I completely understand and that’s why I want to provide you some reassurance and walk you through what you can do to help bring your supply back.

Why did my supply drop?

Your milk production can slow down for many reasons. Because milk is made 24/7, the speed is what is changing but you see it as a drop in supply when it begins to slow. So why does this happen in the first place?

Getting your period back can reduce your milk supply. The hormones needed for ovulation compete (essentially) with the hormones needed for lactation. So when your body decides it’s ready to menstruate again, it can impact your milk supply. You might notice your baby is fussier at breast or you’re not pumping as much in the few days leading up to your bleed and the few days into your bleed.

This is quite common and considered normal. It will take your body two to three cycles before you stop noticing this dip before each period.

Your supply might also drop after a bought of sickness. If you had a cold or the flu and were really run down, you might not be pumping or nursing as often. You might not be eating or drinking as much and let’s face it, it can also feel stressful. This can all reduce your milk supply.

Your supply might have dropped because you decided to cut out night pumps or night feeds before your baby was ready. It might have dropped because you started a new medication such as birth control. It might have dropped because you had mastitis. There are many reasons you may see your supply drop.

What can I do to bring my supply back?

First, you want to find out what caused the drop because that will determine how to best approach increasing your supply. For example, if it was because of a cold, you can introduce power pumping for a little while to create a boost and/or add a pump session or two if you’re nursing. If it was because of a medication (birth control, decongestants and some anxiety meds) then you would need to speak with your doctor and discuss if there are any other appropriate options for you. In this situation I would also encourage you to work with an IBCLC (a Board Certified Lactation Consultant).

Power pumping is a technique that most people can use to act as a “boost” for your milk supply. It mimics a cluster feed essentially. You get lots of stimulation over a long period of time which sends the feedback the body needs to increase milk production. I guide you through how to do this inside my free Make More Milk Video series. You can click here to sign up.

How to power pump to increase supply

Power pumping is fairly straightforward. There’s several methods of power pumping/cluster pumping. I’ve shared the most common below.

With my clients, I suggest it 1x/day for 3-5 days in a row and then see how volumes have changed. Keep in mind in these situations, I’m also taking their health history into account and assessing the full picture of feeding and what’s going because there’s often more than one factor that’s affecting milk supply. I also look at their pump equipment to make sure it’s being used in the best way possible.

Power pumping takes 1 hour of on and off pumping as follows:

20 minutes of pumping
10 minutes off – just turn the pump off but leave it attached to your body. You have to be using a double electric pump for this. Not a wearable pump like Elvie, Willow, MomCozy or anything similar
10 minutes of pumping
10 minutes off
10 minutes of pumping
You’re done!

Tips to get the most out of your power pumping session

While pumping, use gentle compressions and massage to maximize your output. This technique is called hands on pumping and helps your breasts empty. The research demonstrates that this increases how much milk you collect as well as the fat content.

Remember to always be gentle. Your breast tissue is not muscle. You cannot massage it as hard as you would other parts of your body. If you’re pushing really hard and being really vigorous with your massage, you can damage the very delicate breast tissue. This can lead to inflammation which could lead to plugged ducts and possibly mastitis. Not to mention you breast will feel sore and tender. So please be gentle.

The massage helps to unstick any of the fattier parts of milk. Basically, more milk is being removed which in turn means more will be made because an empty breast makes milk faster. You can also hand express after the pump session to ensure you’ve removed as much milk as possible.

Power-pumping sessions should be as enjoyable as possible since you have to devote an hour to them. Listen to your favorite podcast or music, watch a tv show or movie, or just lean back and enjoy some silence (if possible!). Have a snack or a drink as well because it’s important that you’re eating and drinking enough. You can do them anytime of day that works for you there’s no one time that works for everyone. With my clients, they often choose the evening hours because their partner is home and it means their partner can look after their baby while mom works on power pumping.

SIGN UP to get FREE instant access to the Make More Milk video series and learn…

What might be sabotaging your supply
How stress impacts your milk production
If lactation teas and treats are really the answer
Includes tips for pumping to increase supply

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Alex Wachelka is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and mother of two. She is the founder of Motherhood Blooms Lactation, a private practice dedicated to helping mothers feel seen, heard and validated while helping them reach their breastfeeding goals. She provides care with a non-judgmental, evidence-based and holistic approach. With the birth of her first child and her own challenges breastfeeding for the first time, she found her passion for lactation support and education. She is dedicated to ensuring you feel well supported and confident in how you feed your baby.

27 Reasons Your Baby Wants To Breastfeed

Updated January 22nd 2024

You’ve likely had someone question how often your baby was nursing or maybe you’ve been wondering “what’s normal”? This is so common especially because someone likely told you a breastfed baby eats every 2-3 hours so when your baby wants to nurse more often than that, it makes you wonder. You might have even been taught that in a prenatal class somewhere. The hard truth is, however, this is not accurate for most babies.

Most babies, especially newborns, eat more frequently than this. This is because baby’s are driven by biology. They want to eat when they are hungry. Just like you or me. Unlike you or me, they don’t understand schedules, and do not operate off of them.

Some days they will want to eat very often. Some days they may go that 2-3 hours between feedings. Some days however, they won’t want to eat much but they will want to be at the breast all the time.

Babies seek out the breast for so many reasons. Reasons far beyond just food or thirst. You are your baby’s safe space. Their home. You are the place they go to for comfort. How special is that?!

Yes, your baby will want the breast when they are hungry or thirsty but they may also want it if they are overwhelmed or stressed. If babies become overstimulated and overwhelmed with their environment, they will seek the breast as a familiar safe space that will comfort them. This is not a bad habit. It’s our biology.

Because of this, I’ve put together a list of 27 different reasons your baby may want to breastfeed. It’s mainly for fun but I’ve experienced these with my own two children as well as had clients experience these. Every single one of these reasons is a valid reason to want to nurse. We have to stop thinking of breastfeeding as just “food” and see it for what it truly is a relationship. It’s a connection between parent and baby, a way to mother our children; a bond. It is so far beyond just food and hydration (though it’s the best tailor-made nutrition you’ll find for your baby).

27 Reasons Your Baby Wants to Breastfeed

Hungry
Thirsty
Tired
Scared
Sad
Hurt
Overwhelmed
Stressed
Have a cold
Have a fever
Teething
Had a bad dream
They love you
Trying to poop
Settle their stomach
Feels like a good time to breastfeed
They saw your boobs
To fall asleep
They met a stranger
To spend time with you
It makes them happy
It makes them feel safe
They’re hot
Breastmilk is sweet
They need a quick snack
They were separated from you
They’re frustrated

Alex Wachelka

Alex Wachelka is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, mother of two, educator, writer and podcast host. She works with families locally and across the globe to help them feed their babies.

Learn More About Me

Breastfeeding During Pregnancy: what you need to know

Updated January 15th 2024

Maybe you’ve already found out you’re pregnant or you’re currently nursing your baby or toddler and are planning for your next pregnancy. Whatever your situation, I’m going to walk you through what you need to know to breastfeed during your pregnancy.

What can you expect?

There are many people all over the world who continue to breastfeed their baby or toddler through their pregnancy. Your body is preparing to feed the newborn so your body is going to go through some changes. Many moms experience very tender and sore nipples. This happens during pregnancy and this can make nursing feel uncomfortable or painful. Depending on how often your older child is nursing, it might be something you need to take precautions around. If you have a toddler, you can set some boundaries around feeding them.

Another big change that happens is that your milk will transition back to colostrum. When you are around 16-20 weeks along in your pregnancy, your body is going to change your milk. The nutrition will change and the volume will drop because it’s changing back to colostrum in preparation for the newborn. This means your supply will drop. There isn’t anything you can do to try and keep your supply up, unfortunately. Biology and hormones will be making those changes for you.

This is important because if your older child is under 12 months old when you reach 16-20 weeks in your pregnancy, you’ll need a plan for supplementing them. Either introducing formula or using donor milk depending on what your goals for feeding them are. They can absolutely still drink the colostrum. It will be full of antibodies to continue to protect their immune system.

Colostrum is also very salty. It’s not sweet like mature breast milk so some older babies and toddlers will choose not to nurse as often with the change and some end up weaning. Though, it is very common and normal for your older child to continue to want to nurse throughout your pregnancy.

Colostrum also has a laxative effect. It helps your newborn pass their first poop (called meconium) and this will also affect your toddler. Be on the lookout for loose stools as this is just likely the result of the colostrum.

Is it safe?

Breastfeeding releases the love hormone, oxytocin. Oxytocin is what pushes milk out of your nipple so it flows and your baby can drink it. Oxytocin is also the hormone needed during labour for contractions. Because of this, you might be wondering if nursing your older child during your pregnancy is safe.

Generally speaking, yes, it is safe. If you have a low risk pregnancy, you can continue especially if it’s desired by both you and your older child. Always speak with your primary care provider if you have any concerns.

mother breastfeeding her baby — Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels.com

Tandem Breastfeeding

You can also begin to think about what your next breastfeeding journey is going to look like. Will you be tandem breastfeeding your children? This means nursing both your newborn and your toddler. Sometimes it’s at the same time, sometimes it’s separate but it’s your body feeding both children.

You can do whatever feels right for you. Some moms choose to wean their older child closer to their due date while others continue to nurse both their newborn and their toddler. Your toddler will not take milk away from the newborn. You can give each child one breast to feed from or allow the newborn to nurse first, followed by your toddler.

If you have a toddler who seems less interested as your pregnancy progresses whether it’s due to the drop in milk supply or the change in taste, you may notice they change their mind when the new baby arrives. Many moms report their toddler being more interested in nursing again because they see their newborn sibling nursing.

The drop in milk supply

The reason your supply will drop around 16-20 weeks is because biology is taking over. You are pregnant. Your hormone levels have changed. High levels of progesterone reduce milk supply and progesterone is naturally very high during pregnancy to help grow your baby and your placenta.

It’s not until the placenta is born that your supply will begin to increase again. Just as it did with your previous baby and breastfeeding journey. Because it’s hormonal, our usual “go-to’s” for increasing supply like pumping, won’t work. This is why it’s important to have a plan for your older baby as your pregnancy progresses.

If you need help

If you need some help for challenges that might come up while you’re breastfeeding like painful latches, low milk supply, pumping issues and more, the Bumps + Breastfeeding Academy is there for you. This is a virtual group space where you can get the breastfeeding help you need from a Board Certified Lactation Consultant. There’s an entire video library of common challenges and how to overcome them step-by-step. There’s also a community of other moms going through what you are. You are not alone in this. If you want to know more about the Bumps + Breastfeeding Academy, click here.

Breastfeeding to sleep: why it’s not a bad habit

A Lactation Consultant’s Story

Updated January 8th 2024

Breastfeeding and sleep looked very different from my first child to my second. It was dangerous sleep circumstances with my firstborn that led me to make changes and then completely changed how my second born slept.

When my first was born, I wasn’t really prepared for how frequently he would need to eat. That he would eat on a 24 hour clock. I knew babies ate often (even though I wasn’t a Lactation Consultant then) and I knew he would eat during the night (which meant interrupted sleep) but I didn’t really know how that would feel.

It didn’t take long before I was feeling the effects of changes to my sleep patterns. I had this perfect, new little human who was entirely dependent upon me for food, warmth and safety and he was hungry whether it was daytime or night time.

He needed me.

I set up a sleep space for him in my bedroom thinking he’d sleep there, next to me but on his own because that’s what people on the internet said would happen. Needless to say, that’s not what happened (at first). I set up his sleep space in my room because The World Health Organization recommends rooming-in for the first 6 months of your baby’s life. This encourages better breastfeeding rates because you can easily and quickly respond to their early hunger cues and for me, it felt best to have him near me all the time.

Despite having a bassinet for him in my room, I found myself in many dangerous and scary unsafe sleep situations with my first born when it came to breastfeeding and sleeping.

Your baby’s body doesn’t make melatonin (a hormone secreted by the brain in darkness to signal sleep) until they are 3 months old. They rely on your milk. The oxytocin release during breastfeeding is designed to make both you and your baby sleepy. Add a lack of sleep to that and things can get pretty hairy if you’re on an unsafe sleep surface like a couch or a rocking chair.

I would often fall asleep holding my newborn. Think about falling asleep for a minute. Your body relaxes. If you’re holding a new infant on a chair or on your couch, and your arms relax, it’s unsafe. I fell asleep on the couch, in the nursing chair and in my bed. None of these were a safe sleep space despite the fact that beds can be a safe space when set up properly. But mine wasn’t, at first, so falling asleep on these spaces significantly increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The moment I realized I needed to make a plan

I remember waking one time (on my bed) to find he had slid down off my body and was wedged down by my waist, face down with a pillow next to him. I immediately grabbed him, held him up in the air and in that moment it felt like I watched his skin turn from a bluish hue at the time to pink. I will never know if it was my imagination or not but it was the scariest moment of my life. I knew something needed to change and from that moment, I practiced safe sleep with my baby as well as gradually worked on having him sleep in his bassinet and crib as he got older.

photo of father carrying newborn baby — Photo by Laura Garcia on Pexels.com

So how do you practice safe sleep?

Our western societies expectations don’t match normal infant physiology which makes becoming a new parent feel incredibly difficult at times. Sleeping through the night for example, is actually 5-6 hours (not 12) and is a developmental milestone, just like walking, it happens when baby is ready and not before.

This bugs the sleep trainors but sleep cannot be taught. If you think about it, all mammals know how to sleep. Dogs, cats, lions, giraffes – they all KNOW how to fall asleep and stay asleep. They wake up if they need something and then get right back to sleep. Same goes for you, me and our babies.

But the reality is, it’s hard to have your sleep interrupted so often. How are you supposed to feed your baby on demand and also sleep?! The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine recently released new evidence-based protocols around breastfeeding and infant sleep and sleeping within arms reach to your baby is best for you both (linked below).

It allows you both to return to sleep sooner and actually get more sleep overall. Arms reach could mean a bassinet in your room, a sidecar crib or safe sleep in your bed. The research shows that breastfeeding infants sleeping next to their mothers (in a side lying position in the absence of risk factors) ‘may be the safest strategy for maternal and infant wellbeing‘.

How do you set up for safe bed sharing?

Safe bedsharing literally means you’re sleeping on the same surface as your baby, usually your bed. There are many cultures throughout the world where this is the norm and for some families, it’s the only option because they don’t have multiple empty bedrooms in their home.

In order for your bed to be a safe space for your baby, you need to make a few changes including:

Having a firm mattress (your pillow top has to go) that doesn’t have any gaps around it (e.g. the gap between a bed and night table)
Removing pillows and extra blankets. The comforter should only cover you up to your waist so wear something up top that will keep you warm
Your baby needs to be exclusively breastfeed if you’re going to sleep together and they should be lying on their back if they are not nursing
You cannot be a smoker or consuming large amounts of alcohol or taking medications that will make you drowsy
Your baby should be lightly dressed to prevent overheating (a risk factors for SIDS)

La Leche League calls these the Safe Sleep 7

Nursing to sleep can be a superpower – don’t let anyone tell you it’s a bad habit

Nursing my first to sleep was my superpower. 99% of the time, I could nurse him before a nap or bedtime (or in the middle of the night) and he’d go to sleep. It made things easier

My second – not always. Sometimes I nurse him thinking “ok, great this is it. He’ll fall asleep now” only to have him stop and look at me and smile – and stay awake

But with my first, I used my superpower every chance I got, even when he was a toddler. Even when society told me not to. Even when some IG accounts told me otherwise. Even when I didn’t know anyone else nursing a baby. Even when I felt alone at the 3:30am feeding

I continued to use my superpower to nurse my baby to sleep because lactation is made to work this way

If nursing to sleep was a bad habit, your body wouldn’t adjust the hormones in your milk come night time.

The release of oxytocin wouldn’t make you both sleepy.

Prolactin levels wouldn’t increase at night to increase your production.

Your baby wouldn’t need to be 3 months before they were able to make melatonin and a circadian rhythm developed.

Human lactation would look very different if we weren’t meant to feed our babies to sleep and at night.

Don’t let anyone tell you nursing your baby to sleep is a bad habit (or a negative sleep association or a sleep prop or sleep crutch). If it’s working for YOU and YOU like it that way, then keep doing what’s working

ALL babies and toddlers stop breastfeeding to sleep at some point. I know it’s cliche for me to say but it’s factually true. For my oldest, he was 11 months. I would nurse him before nap and most often, he would still be awake. I weaned him completely around 17 months and it’s not a surprise that he was still able to fall asleep. We showed him love and connection in other ways.

My youngest at the time I’m writing this is 18 months and he nurses to sleep for his nap and bedtime. He’s able to fall asleep without nursing however and does so when he’s home with my husband and I’m not there. Supporting our children to sleep has always been important to us.

But what if it’s not working?

What if you feel like something is wrong or you’re having a really hard time trying to help your baby fall asleep all the time. What if they’re waking so often it’s making you feel like there are no other options?

There are people out there who want you to believe that leaving your baby to cry it out is the best way to support them. That somehow removing support is supporting. It doesn’t make any sense to me and we have research that tells us otherwise.

Our babies need to borrow our nervous systems to help themselves regulate. They co-regulate with us.

Our babies need to borrow our nervous systems to help themselves regulate. They co-regulate with us. So if you’re feeling like there could be some changes or improvements to your little one’s sleep and you’re not a fan of just leaving them to cry, I’d like to introduce you to Isla-Grace.

Sleep Without Sleep Training from Isla-Grace was created to help you navigate the challenges and frustrations around baby sleep in the first 18 months.

“There is so much information out there on parenting and sleep and it can be overwhelming. It can be hard to filter out all of the “should’s” and really follow your heart…we will walk you through 44 modules that cover everything you need to know about NORMAL INFANT sleep, common sleep challenges and how to navigate these, as well as making changes to the parts of your nighttime parenting routine that are no longer working. We will give you SCIENCE and FACT-BASED information to help you make your own decisions about what works best for your UNIQUE family.”
ISLA GRACE SLEEP

I support the approach that Isla-Grace has because it is evidenced based and designed to help you find the confidence that you need to follow your instincts and your heart to navigate your baby’s sleep, all without sleep training meaning you’re not ever leaving your baby to cry or taking away any connection, comfort or support from them.

Click here to explore the 0-18 months sleep course

mother breastfeeding her child — Photo by Wendy Wei on Pexels.com

References:

ABM Clinical Protocol #37: Physiological Infant Care—Managing Nighttime
Breastfeeding in Young Infants: https://abm.memberclicks.net/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/Physiologic%20Infant%20Care%20Protocol%2037.pdf

Extra Resources:

Night Weaning

Disclosure: This post includes an affiliate link. If you resonate with Isla-Grace and their approach to infant sleep and make the decision to invest in a course, I earn a small commission. It helps me to continue writing free content like this. I would never support something I wouldn’t personally purchase and use myself. https://islagrace.ca/sleep-without-sleep-training/ref/motherhoodbloomslactation/

How soon will my milk come in?

Updated December 18th 2023

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re pregnant and you’ve already heard some stories, from friends or family, about their milk coming in after birth. Some might have said it happened on day 3. Another might have shared it took almost a week. So what does it actually mean and why is there such a difference?

The thing is that your milk isn’t really “coming in”. It’s technically already there. It’s just that not many people realize this and too many people don’t get the help they need after birth to breastfeed.

Your body begins producing your baby’s first milk as early as 16 weeks during pregnancy! Yes, milk is already being made way ahead of your baby being born. But it’s normal if you don’t really notice because your body has a system in place that stops the milk from being made in large quantities or very quickly because baby isn’t here yet to feed.

This first milk is called colostrum. It’s often what people refer to as liquid gold because it can be a very deep yellow colour. But it’s also normal for colostrum to be a pale straw colour or even clear. This first milk is filled with antibodies to protect your newborn. Because this milk is made during pregnancy, it’s already there when your baby is born.

So why don’t some people see it or think it’s there? Well, there’s a lot if factors that impact this. The first is that it’s made in very small quantities. Your baby’s first feeding will only be about 5-7 mL total! That’s about one teaspoon! If you can imagine one teaspoon right now, it’s a very small amount. This is all your baby needs. Another reason is because this milk is very thick and sticky so it’s not exactly flowing. It takes effort to remove. When your baby is drinking, they may only swallow 4 or 5 times that first whole feeding so it’s very easy to feel like there isn’t milk or there’s not enough of it even when there is.

Because colostrum is made during pregnancy, it’s there after you give birth. But because the volume is so low and it’s very thick, it takes a little while to begin to transition into thinner, faster flowing milk. This is what people will call “milk coming in”. It’s the change that happens turning colostrum (gradually) into mature milk. But it’s important to remember it’s a gradual change. And that you do have milk after birth.

Another factor is the types of interventions used during labour and birth. Things like IV fluids, a caesarean birth or separation after birth, can affect how quickly you see this milk start to increase in volume. This is why some moms experience a delay.

With my firstborn, I believe my milk volume increased (“came in”) around the end of day 3 maybe early morning day 4. This is pretty average for first time moms but now as a mom of two and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, I know there’s a common reason for this.

It’s because we’re not taught how to make it happen faster! With my second child, my milk started to increase (the colostrum started to transition) at the end of day 2. 48 hours instead of 72+ because I did something different.

My body had more milk making tissue because I already lactated once before but I made the effort to work with my body and make the transition happen sooner. I didn’t buy any specific supplements nor did I buy any device or gadget or tool to help it happen. I used hand expression. You can watch a video about how to do hand expression at the end of this post.

The reason most first time moms don’t know about this technique is because it’s not covered in hospital prenatal classes and nurses and midwives aren’t talking about it early enough. Learning hand expression before your baby is born is the best time! It gives you time to practice to get comfortable with how to do it as well as get comfortable with your body.

Hand expression made a massive difference for me and it’s the key reason why my milk transitioned so much faster after the birth of my second child. This is why I teach all of my prenatal clients how to hand express. It’s another reason I have a lesson on and expression inside the Baby Bump to Breastfeeding Academy. Because you should know how to do this before your baby is born to set you up for success.

The results below are from a first time mom who had a c-section birth. She used my method of hand expression and colostrum collection before birth as well as after birth and even with separation from her baby after birth was able to have her husband provide colostrum to their baby and have her milk transition sooner.

How to Hand Express & Collect Colostrum

If you found this helpful and want to help your milk come in sooner and get breastfeeding off to a strong start, I invite you to sign up for my free peaceful postpartum guide

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The Top 10 Must Have Baby Registry Items: planning to breastfeed edition

Updated November 23rd 2023

If putting your registry together has you overwhelmed, don’t worry! You’re in the right place. When I was putting together my baby registry for the first time, I had no idea what I needed to add. I relied entirely on google and random lists I found on the internet to help me figure out what I needed for my baby because it felt really overwhelming.

And to be honest with you, I ended up with several items that I didn’t ever use. There’s so much baby gear out there that you end up with registry items that you really don’t need. And on the flip side, there’s many that are invaluable that just don’t get included because the value of them isn’t seen right away.

But building your baby registry doesn’t have to be confusing. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be a streamlined process when you know what you’re looking for.

As a mother of two and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant I’m going to let you know the key items that you need to build your baby registry. While having cute onesies and burp cloths and the latest and greatest Tummy Time toys are helpful they’re not the best choice if you truly want to plan for your postpartum and create the breastfeeding relationship that you desire.

So the first item that you can add to your baby registry when you are planning to breastfeed is a baby carrier. Now this might sound a little unusual at first because why would you need a baby carrier to help you breastfeed but the reason behind this is because as humans we are carry mammals. Our babies are meant to be close to us. They are meant to be carried and be on our bodies for essentially that first year of their lives.

Having a carrier or something like a rap or a ring sling in those early weeks when your baby is small can help facilitate breastfeeding. Your baby gets to spend more time on your body. You release oxytocin and this actually helps to foster the bonding experience and the breastfeeding relationship. Adding a baby carrier to your registry will actually be helpful for your breastfeeding relationship in the long run.

A breastfeeding pillow is something that could be helpful for your breastfeeding relationship but also may not be helpful. I still included it in this list because it’s important that you feel comfortable while you feed your baby and this means making sure that your back and shoulders and body is supported while you are nursing. Sometimes these traditional nursing pillows can be very helpful to get you through the learning curve of breastfeeding.

I use them in different ways in my private practice. I’ll use them behind my client’s head or behind her back instead of having them in front of her. Traditional nursing pillows can cause a lot of leaning over and bending down and being in uncomfortable positions. That ends up affecting how well your baby feeds and how well they latch. This is why it’s important to use them only to bring baby closer to your body and then recline if/when you can.

A nursing bra is a very helpful thing to have because it allows easy access to your breast when your baby need to feed. Having a nursing bra is something many new moms like to have. It’s normal for your breasts to leak for a few weeks after your baby is born sometimes even a few months after your baby is born and having a pad inside of a bra can help that situation.

Having a nursing bra is important because nursing bras are designed specifically for lactating breasts. When your body is making milk, your breasts weigh more. They are heavier. There’s more blood flow to them than when you are not breastfeeding and these bras are specifically designed to support the delicate tissue of the breast and not create restrictions. Having a nursing bra can be really helpful for your breastfeeding.

pregnant woman holding baby s shoes — Photo by Andre Furtado on Pexels.com

Breastfeeding is going to not only increase your hunger but also increase your thirst. This has to do with the release of oxytocin. This causes you to feel more thirsty. I would encourage you to add a reusable water bottle to your registry something that is stainless steel that is insulated that’s going to help keep your water cold. The second part of that would be to have some kind of drink mix rich in electrolytes. A mineral rich drink mix will help replete your body and provide the necessary minerals that your body needs postpartum to support your body’s healing and to support lactation.

Having a diaper caddy is another essential registry item but not for the reasons you think. This diaper caddy is for breastfeeding. In this caddy you can put the electrolyte drink mix and the water bottle. You can add clothes for your baby as well as diapers and cream if you need to change them without leaving to head to their room. There’s usually extra pockets where you could put the remote for the television or have a phone charger or earbuds. Having this diaper candy will ensure that you can stay where you are you can rest you can recover. It’s also a great place to put snacks like protein bars, energy balls, granola or trail mix because breastfeeding makes you hungry. Having this caddy allows you to nurse your baby and settle in for cluster feedings because you have everything that you need at the ready when you need it

Bottles are often added to registries especially for families in the US or elsewhere in the world that might have a short maternity leave. I know I added bottles to my registry and I never ended up bottle feeding my child so I didn’t end up using the bottles at all. If you are adding bottles to your registry because your feeding goals include bottle feeding, I would encourage you to add small bottles.

I would encourage 5 oz bottles because a breastfed baby does not need an 8 oz bottle. The average intake for a breastfed baby is about 2 to 4 oz of milk per feeding after they’ve reached 4 weeks of age so having an 8 oz bottle can actually make you feel like you’re not producing enough milk. Looking for a bottle that also has a gradual slope and looks very different than a human breast would be helpful as well. The bottles that are shaped like breasts at rest can promote a shallow latch and a shallow latch at breast is painful and often babies have a hard time drinking milk.

Another helpful item to include on your registry if your shower is happening before 36 weeks pregnant is colostrum collection syringes. These are oral capped syringes that you can use to collect colostrum after 36 weeks pregnant. This allows you to have extra milk hand for when your baby is born in case there is separation or in case your baby may need to be supplemented. This way you have your own milk and don’t have to necessarily intervene with formula supplementation right away.

person covering infant with swaddling blanket — Photo by Isaac Taylor on Pexels.com

The final item I think is a must have is prenatal education. This might seem unusual to add to a registry but you can take up a collection from your friends and family. You can let them know you want to work with a lactation consultant for a prenatal consultation or you want to take a prenatal breastfeeding class and ask your friends and family to help fund this for you. Create a lactation fund where your friends and family who would otherwise be buying something from your registry, could just donate the money that they would spend on the registry into this fund.

Believe it or not, breastfeeding can be hard. While it’s a natural way to feed a baby, it doesn’t come naturally for most. If you’re feeling like “I’ll breastfeed if I can” or “I’ll worry about it when the times comes” you can benefit the most from prenatal breastfeeding support. Either take a course outside the hospital or work one-to-one privately with a lactation consultant. Hospital courses tend to focus a lot on latch and positions which is GOOD and needed but not enough to set you up for success.

As someone who’s been there, it’s way less overwhelming to learn about feeding your baby BEFORE they get here rather than waiting until they’re in your arms. If you have a baby on the way and are ready to prepare for and learn about breastfeeding there’s two ways you can learn from me.

My FREE Peaceful Postpartum Guide. You’ll learn some very important ways to set yourself up to heal and have a successful start to breastfeeding

A private 1:1 prenatal breastfeeding session with me to ask me all the questions on your mind and learn about feeding your baby from a Lactation Consultant. This package includes access to my full online prenatal breastfeeding course AND 4 weeks of messaging support with me. We can also talk about registry items!

BOOK A PRENATAL CONSULTATION

Recap: Top 10 Baby Registry Items: Breastfeeding Edition

Baby carrier/wrap/ring sling
Breastfeeding Pillow
Nursing bra
Breast pads
Water bottle
Electrolytes/mineral mix
Diaper Caddy
5 oz bottles
Colostrum syringes
Prenatal class/Appointment with lactation consultant – ask family and friends to help fund this

There’s many other items that might be helpful to you but it depends on how you’re planning to feed your baby and how your journey ends up unfolding. Your breastfeeding relationship is unique to you and your baby.

Is it OK to drink alcohol while breastfeeding?

Updated November 22nd 2023

Whether you’re wanting a sip of champagne in the delivery room or trying to plan ahead for when you’re able to go out for a girls night, alcohol and breastfeeding can mix when you know the facts.

After the birth of my firstborn, a sip of ice cold beer hit the spot for me but that’s where I stopped. I wasn’t interested drinking anything (especially since my tolerance had dropped way down) until much later. I think I had my first glass of wine when my baby was about 2-3 months old and even then, it was half of what I would have drank pre pregnancy.

There are a lot of strong opinions on drinking alcohol while breastfeeding. You can find everything from “you’re irresponsible if you drink a drop” to “if you can find the baby you can feed the baby”. That second one makes me sick to my stomach. As you’ll find out below, alcohol does pass into your breastmilk and if you’re intoxicated, there’s no way you should be nursing your baby.

How can you tell if there’s alcohol in your breastmilk?

You don’t need to spend your money on the breastmilk test strips. It can be safely assumed that if you’ve had a drink and it’s been less than 2 hours, there’s a small % of alcohol in your breastmilk.

When you drink alcohol, the alcohol level of your breastmilk matches the alcohol level in your blood because breastmilk is made from your blood. Because of this, the general rule is if you’re sober enough to drive where you would be under the legal limit you’re sober enough to breastfeed.

Anne Eglash is an IBCLC who likes to say “if your brain is tipsy, so are your breasts”.

Only time and your liver will clear the alcohol from your system. This is why pumping and dumping doesn’t work. What pumping and dumping does do is protect your milk supply but it does not remove the alcohol from your milk.

How much alcohol can I safely have while breastfeeding?

This is going to be different for each person. For most women, 1-2 drinks at a time can safely be enjoyed. This means you do not have to worry about the glass of wine you enjoyed with dinner, provided it was around 4oz. The general rule for alcohol consumption is a 4oz glass of wine, 1 oz of hard liquor or 8 oz of beer.

Remember to also drink water as alcohol is dehydrating and preferably enjoy the alcohol with a nutrient dense meal.

And remember that you went 10 months or more without drinking so your tolerance for alcohol has gone way down. You might have a glass half of what you’re used to and find that it’s too much. If you’re going to resume having a drink, start slow.

How long after alcohol can you breastfeed?

Of course I had to include this one as it’s a question on the mind of every breastfeeding mom who’s thinking about having a drink.

I’ll start by saying, alcohol levels in your milk will peak about 30-60 minutes after your drink. No you do not need to pump and dump. If you pump and dump, this will support your milk supply but it will not remove the alcohol from your milk.

If you’ve had a drink, or are planning to soon, there’s a few things to keep in mind.

If you are not sober, you should have someone else care for your baby. It’s dangerous to care for an infant while intoxicated.
You may also want to wait until you are sober to breastfeed. This could be several hours, if you find your breasts starting to feel very full, I would pump and discard that milk (since you were intoxicated) or freeze it clearly labelled for a milk bath and not consumption

Helpful info:

If you’ve only had 1-2 drinks and you are feeding your baby, you may find your breasts feel very full. This could actually be due to reduced transfer of milk (baby is drinking less)
The feeling of full breasts after drinking alcohol is because the baby is inefficiently transferring milk because it’s been found that alcohol blocks the release of oxytocin which is the hormone responsible for milk let down so it’s not that it’s increasing your supply but rather your baby is drinking less
Hand express after your baby feeds to ensure the breast is empty and offer your baby the breast frequently after you’re done drinking

What are the risks of alcohol while breastfeeding?

Because oxytocin is inhibited when alcohol is consumed, if you were to drink in excessive amounts, you could possibly end up with decreased milk production. The CDC reports that “excessive alcohol consumption could also affect the infant’s sleep patterns and early development”. And the obvious one I’ve mentioned is that if you’re drunk, it’s going to affect how you can care for your baby.

How much you choose to drink is a personal decision. Whether or not you have food with your drink, how quickly you drink your drink, how much you weigh, and how your body metabolizes alcohol will all affect how much is in your milk and for how long.

Here’s a link to a “Time to Zero” calculator from the Infant Risk Centre in Texas. This will help you determine how long it may take your body to eliminate the alcohol completely based off your body weight.

In summary, having a drink or two while breastfeeding is a personal decision. It’s a decision only you can make when you have all the information you need to feel informed enough.

References:

Alcohol and breastfeeding. (2023, April 18). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/vaccinations-medications-drugs/alcohol.html

Alcohol, Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501469/ (Accessed 1//22/2023)

Alcohol & Breastfeeding: What’s your time-to-zero? InfantRisk. (n.d.). https://infantrisk.com/content/alcohol-breastfeeding-whats-your-time-zero

Hetzel Campbell, S., Lauwers, J., Mannel, R., & Spencer, B. (2019). Core curriculum for interdisciplinary lactation care. Jones & Bartlett Learning

Newman, J., & Pitman, T. (2014). Dr. Jack Newman’s guide to breastfeeding. Harper Collins Publishers Ltd.

Letdown Reflex: why do I feel tingling when my baby nurses?

Updated August 12th 2023

Have you ever felt a tingling sensation in your breast while your baby is feeding or you are pumping? This sensation begins a few seconds after your nipples are stimulated and you feel it within the breast. You might wonder what’s going on, why you’re feeling it and why it’s happening at every single feeding.

This “pins and needles” feeling is your letdown reflex. The letdown reflex happens when your milk starts flowing. Many describe it as a tingling sensation, feeling similar to “pins and needles” like when your arm falls asleep or feeling a warmth in your breast. It is triggered by the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is also called the “love hormone”. This hormones is not only responsible for your letdown but also fosters bonding and reduces the size of your uterus after birth.

photo of a beautiful mother breastfeeding her baby — Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com

Oxytocin is released when your baby suckles at breast or when your pump turns on and the suction starts. It’s also triggered when you hear your baby cry or look at pictures of your baby (the reason you can let-down without your baby being on your breast!). It’s also released during orgasm so not uncommon to spray some milk then too.

Oxytocin causes the muscles around the milk sacs inside the breast to squeeze (contract) which effectively pushes out (ejects) the milk from the nipple. This can create a tingling sensation. Your letdown reflex is also known as the Milk Ejection Reflex.

When this happens, your baby isn’t actually sucking the milk out but rather working with your body and your let-down to remove the milk. They do this by creating a vacuum inside their mouth to effectively remove the milk as your body is helping by pushing it out. When there are challenges with latching, this can affect their ability to create a vacuum and effectively empty the breast. If you’re not sure if your baby’s latch is optimal, check out this post I wrote about 4 Signs Your Baby’s Latch Might Not Be Ideal.

Some have described feeling a warming sensation when letdown happens and some have described never feeling it and for some it’s painful or uncomfortable. Some women feel only one letdown during a feeding while often more than one happens.

What if you don’t feel your letdown?

This is completely normal as not everyone feels it. Your milk is still likely flowing and the best way to determine this if your baby is nursing is to watch them while they feed. Watch your baby for swallowing.

To watch your baby for swallowing, you want to be looking at their jawline from their chin up to their ears. When your baby swallows milk, you will see their chin drop down (lower than when they are sucking) and pause for a brief moment. This pause is a swallow. Depending how old your baby is, you may also be able to hear your baby swallowing. Hearing them swallow sounds like a soft “kah” sound.

What if my let-down hurts?

If you’re feeling pain with a let-down you first want to rule out any underlying issues with a lactation consultant (IBCLC).

Things that can block oxytocin can impact let-down

There are several factors that can interfere with oxytocin and therefore your milk letdown. This may translate into challenges with pumping or nursing. Pain, anxiety, fear, stress and fatigue can block and interfere with oxytocin. This is why it’s important to feel comfortable, relaxed and pain free while nursing or pumping.

Do you need to find a different room to nurse or pump in to feel more comfortable? Are you experiencing pain with latching or pumping? Are you worried about how much milk you’re producing? All of these can impact your body’s ability to let the milk flow.

How you can support having a letdown

If you’re pumping and you don’t start to see the milk flowing or you’re nursing your baby and you’re noticing they are frustrated or not swallowing, connect with a lactation consultant to help you rule out something else that might be going on.

If it’s related to your milk not letting down due to anxiety, pain or stress blocking oxytocin, you can try a few of the following techniques:

Find the root cause of the pain and address it with a lactation consultant
Hand express or massage your breasts before baby latches to encourage a let down
Back rubs stimulate nerves that serve the breasts (central part of the spine), these too can help so ask your partner for some support on this one or find a Registered Massage Therapist trained to support those who are lactating
Increase skin to skin holding time with your baby and relax together for at least 30 minutes everyday
Take a warm bath/feed in the bathtub (if you have one) or pump after having a relaxing bath
I also like suggesting a version of the box breathing technique to my clients. Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 and exhale for 6. You can do this anytime during the day where you’re feeling overwhelmed
Laugh – watch a funny show or listen to a funny podcast. Laughter will help the oxytocin flow

mother using phone while breastfeeding her child — Photo by William Fortunato on Pexels.com

Intense negative feelings with let-down

There are people who experience a wave of intense negative emotions when their milk begins to flow. This is known as dysphoric milk ejection reflex or D-MER. The feelings can range from sadness, despair, homesick, anger, irritability, anxiousness or a hollow feeling in the stomach. These feelings are often experienced in the 30-90 seconds before the milk begins to flow.

D-MER can be experienced at breast feedings or when pumping. Those with D-MER feel fine prior to let-down and fine after the let-down.

To learn more about D-MER and how to manage it (as well as find helpful resources) visit https://d-mer.org/understanding-d-mer

Your let-down reflex can also change overtime. It may start off feeling more intense on those early newborn weeks and become much less noticeable as the months go on. Everyone’s experience is different.

If you’re feeling like you need some support around feeding your baby, you can click here to view my services and work with me.

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References:

(2023). Understanding Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. D-Mer.org. Retrieved August 12, 2023, from https://d-mer.org/understanding-d-mer

#1 Diapers (and postpartum pads)

#2 Peri Bottle (and herbal sitz bath)

#3 Magnesium (and electrolyte minerals)

#4 Bone Broth (and/or collagen)

#5 Lactation Support

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But what if it’s not working?

Extra Resources:

How to Hand Express & Collect Colostrum

My FREE Peaceful Postpartum Guide. You’ll learn some very important ways to set yourself up to heal and have a successful start to breastfeeding

Recap: Top 10 Baby Registry Items: Breastfeeding Edition

How can you tell if there’s alcohol in your breastmilk?

How much alcohol can I safely have while breastfeeding?

How long after alcohol can you breastfeed?

What are the risks of alcohol while breastfeeding?

What if you don’t feel your letdown?

What if my let-down hurts?

Things that can block oxytocin can impact let-down

How you can support having a letdown

Intense negative feelings with let-down