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Monday 9am - 6pm Tuesday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 6pm Saturday 9am - 6pm Sunday 9am - 6pm

Flourish Lactation

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Australia
Brisbane, QLD
Flourish Lactation

Katie Irwin - Endorsed Midwife/RN & IBCLC

Holistic lactation support, for all.

06/04/2025

✨Weekend Glimmers ✨

1. Afternoon spent in the garden & plants filling the sink in the golden sun.
2. Watercolour painting and one on one time with my boys. Lots of big feelings spilled today around sharing their mummy with a new baby and the sadness that brings. A beautiful day of repair and connection.
3. Early morning snugs watching Arsenal with Daddy.
4. Quick car shot on the way to a wonderful day of PD with Bridget Ingle. So special to bring my baby with me to all these work opportunities.
5. Beginning restoration on this incredible antique desk for my clinic space.
6. Birthday bubbles and family dinner to celebrate another lap around the sun for me.

Fit in a quick homevisit and a Telehealth appt in there somewhere too 😍

Off to bed with my babies 😴

03/03/2025

As we await the arrival of in South East Qld, it’s important to think about what you may need to prepare as a feeding parent.

I’ve tried to cover all possibilities for loss of water or power - but let me know if I’ve forgotten something!

Please share with other Queenslanders!

Stay safe!!

18/02/2025

Our first week breastfeeding as a third time mum, IBCLC and midwife 🎉

I thought you might like a peek into my feeding journey as an experienced breastfeeder and breastfeeding professional! It’s not all smooth sailing, but man I’m lucky to have the knowledge!

Does any of this resonate with you?

29/01/2025

❤️ She’s here ❤️

We are all completely besotted with her and feel so grateful she chose us.

She’s been an incredible feeder for me which I’m so grateful for.

Thank you for all your well wishes and I look forward to dropping in and out of Instagram as we navigate the fourth trimester 🫶🏽

I anticipate a slow return to consulting in May.

24/01/2025

I started antenatally expressing at 36 weeks this pregnancy in preparation for another small baby who may have low blood sugars. Some days I’m able to express 3+mls in a sitting and some days 0.5mls. Both amounts are great and totally normal, and 0mls would also be normal! Remember - I have breastfed for 6.5 years so my b***s know what to do!

Antenatal expressing is definitely NOT required. It’s not the right choice for everyone, so this is something you should discuss with your care provider. Whilst I think it’s a great for many people, we actually only have research to show its benefits in pregnancies with Gestational Diabetes.

🤱🏽Who may benefit?

Pregnancies with GDM, LGA OR SGA baby, history low supply, history of breast hypoplasia (IGT) and those wanting to practice this skill prior to birth.

🤱🏽If I express nothing does that mean I can’t breastfeed?

Absolutely not! Please remember, that the amount of colostrum you can express antenatally does not dictate what your milk supply will be like after the birth of your baby. Only very small amounts (average of 5mls all up in 4 weeks!) is expected. Expressing 0 mls is also completely normal! If worrying about amounts will cause you more anxiety than benefits, antenatal expressing might not be for you.

I’ve created a webpage resource with a longer video demonstrating how to antenatally express.

You can find it here: www.flourishlactation.com.au/antenatal-expressing
You can purchase antenatal expressing kits here: www.flourishlactation.com.au/shop/p/antenatal-expressing-kit

18/01/2025

🥰 the beauty of home-visits 🥰

When I started Flourish, one of my core values was to be able to primarily offer home visits. Having a clinic option is also fabulous and something I will return to in the future so more people can access my services, however there is just something so sacred about visiting families in their homes!

1. I get to meet lots of beautiful doggos.

2. Breastfeeding and lactation problems, are unique to every mother and baby. No two are ever the same! Being able to assess both mother and babe in their own environment is incredibly powerful. I can assess positioning and attachment from within the family’s home, rather than in an artificial clinic set up - working with what they have. I love being able to tuck a new family up in their own bed and teach them how to feed side-lying. Watching the comfort and relief flood a Mum’s face is the best!

3. I can visualise what access the family has to postpartum support, family and friends. How many other children and animals they are caring for. What access they have to health services, nutritious food and green spaces. This helps me create individualised care plans.

4. Breastfeeding success is completely entwined with our baby’s and our own nervous systems. If either mother or baby is dysregulated, disconnected, stressed or in physical pain; breastfeeding will be affected. This is a huge reason why I love home-visits!! Getting out of the house newly postpartum, strapping a screaming baby in a carseat, driving to a place you haven’t been to before, making sure you arrive on time and find a carpark, is all a recipe for huge dysregulation before you’ve even got to your appointment! This can make learning for mum and baby extremely difficult. Being comfortable in your own space is so important, especially for our ND families!

5. Finally, the most obvious benefit is physical comfort - moving around post birth no matter which way a baby comes out can be really painful and driving is often off the cards for the first few weeks.

What did you love about your home visit?

03/01/2025

I’ve finally restocked all my Flourish Antenatal Expressing Kits - and this time they’re CHEAPER 😱 That never happens right!?

This kit includes:

🌱 Drawstring cotton bag you can reuse
🌱 5 x 3ml sterile oral syringes
🌱 5 x 1ml sterile oral syringes
🌱 10 sterile oral syringe caps
🌱 Syringe labels (name, DOB, time and date)
🌱 Australian Breastfeeding Association 24 helpline fridge magnet
🌱 An instructional card with QR code link to my private Antenatal Expressing instructional video and written information

❓Do you NEED to antenatally express?

Absolutely not! We actually only have research to show its benefits in pregnancies with GDM.

❓ Who may benefit?

Pregnancies with GDM, LGA OR SGA baby, history low supply, history of breast hypoplasia, those wanting to practice this skill prior to birth. Discuss with your IBCLC if this could be right for you.

❓Can everyone antenatally express?

Please discuss with your primary care provider if antenatal expressing is appropriate for your situation due to the small, but possible risk of preterm labour. Antenatal expressing should only commence after 36 weeks gestation.

❓If I get nothing does that mean I can’t breastfeed?

Absolutely not! Please remember, that the amount of colostrum you can express antenatally does not dictate what your milk supply will be like after the birth of your baby. Only very small amounts (average of 5mls all up in 4 weeks!) is expected. Expressing 0mls is also normal! If this will cause you more anxiety - antenatal expressing might not be for you.

31/12/2024

🫶🏽 Good bye 2024 🫶🏽

A huge professional and personal year!

Here are a few of my highlights from the year.

I have a few more weeks of work left before I stop to have our third baby and take a few months of maternity leave.

Wishing you the most beautiful 2025 ❤️

Address

Brisbane, QLD

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm
Sunday	9am - 6pm

Telephone

+61416729237

Website

http://www.flourishlactation.com.au/

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