Thrive Lactation Consultants- Josie Plant RN IBCLC

18/07/2025

Watch the baby, not the clock.

When you are used to structure and routine and life has consisted of schedules and predictability, having a new baby in the house can be very difficult to adjust to. This is further amplified if you have underlying anxiety issues or are neuro-diverse.

It's a challenge to adjust to because babies don't sit well within schedules, they don't follow the text books and their needs are ever changing.

Your baby is an individual, a brand new person with a unique personality. It takes time to get to know the new people in our life. If we start to impose schedules and watch the clock, we can miss what our babies are actually trying to communicate with us.

Apps and clocks create expectations around when we think babies might be "due" for feeds and sleeps, and expectations around how long those feeds and sleeps should be. Watching the clock can make it more difficult for us to get to know our babies and their unique personalities and cues.

The problem arises when our expectations do not match our reality, and the reality is that babies will not follow the clock, they have no idea what time is, they only know what their little bodies are telling them, and they are dependent on you to meet their needs.

Babies communicate their needs through vocalisation (cries, moans and noises), limb movements, facial expressions and hand clenching.

If we are too focused on the clock and what the apps are suggesting baby needs, then we can miss the subtle cues that babies are trying to communicate with us.

Missing cues means that we are no longer responsive to the needs of the baby, and when needs are not being met, babies can become more challenging to care for as they try harder to be heard or just feel overwhelmed with having to process their unmet needs.

As hard as if feels to lose structure and predictability in your day, learning to go with the flow and follow baby's lead will help you to adjust to your new baby more quickly. After a short period of discomfort, you will get to know your new baby and their most subtle of communications, you will be able to respond promptly and effectively, and life will be calmer.

Watch your baby, not the clock. Build your confidence by getting to know your baby as a unique person with individual and changing needs.

11/07/2025

Fast fact Friday:

Breast Compressions.

Using your hand to compress the breast during breastfeeding/chestfeeding can help to improve the flow of milk for a baby that is not effectively sucking or too sleepy to feed well.

It's like hand expressing directly into baby's mouth at feed time.

The increased flow encourages baby to stay interested in feeding, may prevent or resolve slow growth challenges and help to protect supply.

The ABA has more information:
https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/breast-compressions

04/07/2025

What is a "blocked duct"?

Blocked duct is an outdated term being phased out due to the risk of incorrect treatment triggered by misinterpretation of the language. (word association).

We used to think that blocked ducts were thickened milk plugs, preventing flow of milk and causing lumps and swellings. This thought process led to (now outdated) treatments involving attempting to suck the plug out, break it down (heat and vibration), remove the plug.

Some of these treatments were quite aggressive.
If you picture something as blocked, your goal is to "unblock" it.

What we now know about blocked ducts is that they are not blocked at all.......... the painful lumps and/or slowed milk flow is due to swelling in the breast, INFLAMMATION that puts pressure on the walls of the ducts which can then interrupt milk flow. (Ductal narrowing).

Now that we understand this, we now treat "blocked ducts" as we would treat any inflammation: ice/cold packs, anti-inflammatories, avoiding further trauma to the area, promoting natural bacterial/microbiome balance, allowing the body to manage the inflammation (lymphatic massage).

Blocked ducts are actually LOCALISED BREAST INFLAMMATION.
The ABM protocol #36 states "Attempts to extrude a "plug" or milk precipitate by squeezing or aggressively massaging the breast are ineffective and result in tissue trauma".

Some of the popular treatments (still seen recommended though supportive social media pages) are considered to be not effective and potentially more damaging. Epsom salt treatments in Haakas/silicone milk collectors can macerate the skin, and contribute to further swelling/oedema. Trying to drain the breast at every feed can result in hyperlactation which exacerbates breast inflammation. Pumping can cause inflammation if flanges are poorly fitted, or suction levels are not comfortable, and it minimises the opportunity for bacterial exchange between baby and mum/ lactating parent which can impact on the normal bacterial balance. Heat packs to attempt to "break down" blockages increases inflammation. Vibration and massage can cause further trauma and inflammatory response.

Be gentle with your breasts and remember:
Not a blocked duct.
It's Inflammation.

23/06/2025

Myth Busting Monday

"Milk supply is hereditary"

MYTH...

Some people believe that if their mother's/grandmother's etc have had issues with milk supply, that they are also destined for this outcome too.

But the ability to produce human milk is not hereditary.
And it is much more likely that your ancestors who have had issues with feeding/producing milk have not have the support and information required to facilitate milk supply, (and have received advice that was detrimental to their feeding journey).

There are lots of factors that influence milk supply. Just because you have family members who struggled with this does not mean that you will too.

(Just keep in mind that generational passing down of information can be an influencing factor, and if you are following advice from family, this may result in breastfeeding/chestfeeding challenges and inadvertently confirm the idea that milk supply is hereditary).

Break the cycle.
Believe in yourself.
Inform yourself.

20/06/2025

This is illegal!

Making claims that a product can (or definitely will) increase milk supply or colostrum is false advertising, not supported by evidence and is against the law.

And I have a problem with it.

False claims/Misleading claims

These companies may have the best intentions (?? benefit of the doubt there), but let's be frank, they need to make profits. Marketing is predatory, to a vulnerable population. You should not be made to feel that you need some magic cookie, tea or hot chocolate to be able to make enough milk.

And these are LIES. No cookie, tea or hot chocolate has the magic ability to increase supply.

There are 4 things required for good/adequate milk supply:
1. Frequent enough milk removal
2. Effective enough milk removal
3. Adequate functional breast tissue
4. Hormone balance

If you feel that your supply is not enough for your baby and you have aspirations to continue exclusively breastfeeding/chestfeeding, see an IBCLC, not drink a pricey "lactation" hot chocolate. An IBCLC can assess the above 4 factors and provide evidence-based guidance.

Many companies in the business of lactation and infant feeding lie to make sales. False claims are rife in the formula marketing business, and in lactation products. Parents want the best for their babies. Companies take advantage of this vulnerability.

Make sure you are analysing these advertisements with a discerning eye, and if you believe you are being lied to, make a report to the ACCC. These companies MUST stop creating doubt in ability of mothers and birth parents to feed their babies from their bodies without special (expensive) potions.

Read my post on lactation cookies/teas etc here:
https://thrivelactation.com.au/blog/f/lactation-cookies-do-they-really-work
Make reports via the ACCC here:
https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/false-or-misleading-claims

14/06/2025

The saga continues.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14HnX14P9mr/

The Jeremy Vine on 5 conversation about breastfeeding just gets worse and worse, as a "breastfeeding expert" was invited on the on the panel, to repair Karen Millen's comments, but this expert shows zero understanding of normal biological breastfeeding behaviours, and we wonder why we have such a problem with breastfeeding failure.

Here is my comment in response:

As a lactation professional with many years of experience with mother-baby dyads, I disagree with much of what this breastfeeding specialist is sharing. I do not support forced latch techniques. Ni**le to mouth techniques often result in shallow latch. Babies "breast" feed not ni**le feed.

feeding at the breast is nothing like feeding at a bottle teat so should not be compared.

This breastfeeding specialist shows not understanding of normal biological breast-seeking behaviours. All neurologically intact newborn infants are designed to be able to instinctively seek out the breast when allowed time in skin to skin. This first feed is so important for the establishment of the feeding journey. rushing this and forcing babies to the breast to "help them" actually interferes with breastfeeding establishment.

Nils Bergman has done some wonderful research on skin to skin, showing that even very premature babies are able to "breast crawl" and self latch. I use baby-led attachment techniques in my practice and this supports the natural breast-seeking behaviour that infants have for their first 3-4 months of age.

Nancy Mohrbacher has great videos on natural breastfeeding positions, Suzanne Colson has her website on biological nurturing. These are the experts I respect because they actually understand breastfeeding behaviours.

forced latch techniques are part of the problem.

The concept of breastfeeding grief needs to be addressed. Professor Amy Brown has publications on this.

Successful breastfeeding is not down to luck. It takes layers of structural support and accurate information and advice. It is impacted by the birth- inductions, interventions and caesarean all have an impact on breastfeeding establishment, having skin to skin and allowing breast seeking with baby led attachment for the initial latch improves the chance of success (again, not luck, but dependent upon the supportive policies of the birthing institution), having access to quality information and support, understanding that effective latch and feeding frequency has an impact, understanding that hormone balance is important,

Milk supply doesn't just dry up- if milk supply is actually reducing then investigations should be done, but consider what your method of evaluating supply is, because pumping output and baby behaviour does not indicate supply.

Offering a bottle in the first 6 weeks can be detrimental to breastfeeding.

Weaning can be gentle.

Children can be pictured while breastfeeding as an older child- suggesting this is wrong only perpetuate the shame that society causes. Our experts need to actually understand infant feeding. We need to do better, and this whole conversation and the clear ignorance is really pi***ng me off. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1KwLbRD4Hx/

12/06/2025

Is it Ok to breastfeed a 3 year old?

This is the trending debate thanks to some ill-informed people with a privileged platform sharing uneducated opinions, and you know how much I despise uneducated opinions.

I think it's ridiculous that breastfeeding is even a debate in this day and age when we have such extensive access to resources and evidence to inform us.

People sharing their biased and misinformed opinions is so detrimental. Allegedly, the mother at the centre of this post is now weaning because of strong negative opinions and lack of support.

It is NORMAL, from a biological standpoint, to breastfeed around 2.5 to 7 years.

There are so many benefits to longer term breastfeeding.
It's not weird.
It's not selfish- if you have actually ever spoken to mothers who have breastfed beyond 2 years, they will often state that it's definitely NOT a choice they are making for themselves (I, myself battled through aversion).
It's not detrimental.
It's not going to have negative impacts on "attachment".
The evidence does not support any of the opinions in the original video.

Informed and supported is best.

01/06/2025

Did you know our babies are natural tummy feeders?
Did you know our babies are not helpless onlookers when it comes to latching to the breast?
Did you know we can make feeding more difficult by the positions we start in?
Most families who attend my services with feeding challenges have never been told about baby feeding reflexes and behaviours.
This video explains reflex-based attachment, and how we can use babies' natural behaviours to achieve a comfortable and effective latch. If breastfeeding/chestfeeding is feeling like a fight, my video will help you to understand what's going on. I also explore a popular "new method".
It's information that I want everyone who may be involved in feeding support and feeding babies to understand.
Midwives, nurses, supporters and parents: please watch.

Babies are born with natural feeding behaviours and reflexes that help them to latch to the breast. Some of our modern-day feeding positions prevent babies f...

31/05/2025

Feeding Schedules!

My algorithm has recently reset to show repeated feeding charts in my feed, and it's making me furious.

These suggested schedules, volumes and premature starting of solids go against our natural infant feeding biology and go against official recommendations.

If you are breastfeeding/chestfeeding/human milk feeding, expecting a small baby to feed every 3-4 hours is unrealistic. Volumes upwards of 240ml is unrealistic and a risk factor for future obesity.

The WHO advises starting solids from 6 months of age when babies show signs of developmental readiness (not just showing interest, but being able to sit relatively unsupported, good head control, loss of the tongue thrust reflex and the unseen gut development required for digestion of these new foods).

Starting solids may look like traditional 'weaning' by commencing purees by spoon feeding, then grading up to lumpy foods, soft finger foods then family diet; or you may wish to try baby-led weaning: where baby feeds themself with family foods (avoiding known choking hazard foods such as raw carrot, raw apple).

Feeding responsively means that your baby's needs will be best met, as breastfeeding/chestfeeding meets many different needs and ideally should not be limited to a schedule. 8-14 feeds in 24 hours is normal for a newborn, and most babies will continue to need more than 6-8 feeds per day across their feeding journey.

Breastfeeding/chestfeeding is recommended to 2 years and beyond.

Newborns only need 2-10ml per feed on their first day, 5-15ml per feed on day 2, 15-20ml per feed on day 3, 30-60ml on day 4. Human milk intake requirements for the 24-hour period will stabilise at around 800ml after the first month. i.e. a baby feeding around 3 hourly will need only around 100ml per feed from 1 month of age.

So, I fixed it.
here's my, more biologically realistic and WHO recommendation feeding chart.

23/05/2025

Fast Fact Friday
HMO's

Human Milk Oligosaccharides are an abundant and important component of human milk that your baby cannot digest. Although your baby cannot get direct nutritional value from them, HMOs are there to feed and nurture (prebiotics) the healthy bacteria of your baby's gut, to build a robust gut microbiome. A healthy, balanced gut microbiome is important for the immune system, brain development and mental health.

16/05/2025

Fast fact Friday.
Breastfeeding duration.
There are no risks or adverse effects to longer term breastfeeding/chestfeeding. Studies on human development show that our biologically normal duration of breastfeeding/chestfeeding is around 2.5 to 7 years.

21/02/2025

It can be really stressful not knowing if breastfeeding/chestfeeding is going to work for you. It feels like a huge responsibility being solely responsible for the nutrition of your baby.

Many families consider their 'back up plan' in case breastfeeding/chestfeeding becomes difficult, particularly in the middle of the night, anticipating a screaming, hungry baby, when all the shops are closed and there's no access to alternatives.

But, if your goal is to exclusively breastfeed/chestfeed, then you may want to consider leaving the tin of formula at the store. Having formula at home increases the risk of introducing formula at times of difficulty, and hence sabotaging the goal to exclusively breastfeed/chestfeed.

What you might consider instead: your back up plan is knowing where to get support if things become difficult.

Add the ABA website to your favourites. https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
Add the ABA helpline into your phone contacts 1800 686 268.
Know how to access an IBCLC https://www.lcanz.org/find-a-lactation-consultant/
Practice hand expressing.
Join breastfeeding peer support groups.
Attend antenatal breastfeeding classes to understand how to prevent and manage common difficulties.

Don't sabotage your goals.