Nermine Hatem Lactation Consultant IBCLC

19/03/2025

A ni**le shield is a thin flexible silicone cover, placed over the ni**le before baby attaches. It has holes to allow milk to flow through.

The shield is shaped like a hat with a brim and a crown. Some shields have cut-out sections around the brim that allows your baby’s nose and/or chin to touch your skin rather than the ni**le shield.   A ni**le shield may be suggested for a variety of reasons and when other options have not worked to fix the ni**le or attachment problem. A ni**le shield is usually only used once your milk supply has increased in amount and changed from colostrum to mature milk. This usually happens 2 to 5 days after the birth. In most cases, you only need to use a ni**le shield for a short time.

Breastfeeding experts have different opinions about ni**le shields and when/if they should be tried. Some of the reasons for using them include:

sore, damaged ni**les

attachment issues (e.g. flat or inverted ni**les, baby having mouth variations such as a high palate or because of being premature)

a baby learning to feed at the breast after using a bottle. Always seek help from a lactation consultant when deciding using a ni**le shield.

12/02/2025

Benefits of hands-on pumping:
Increased milk yield: Can help express more milk than using a pump alone.
Better milk removal: Allows you to target specific areas of the breast that might not be fully drained by the pump.
Improved let-down: Gentle massage can stimulate the release of oxytocin, which helps with milk let-down.

09/02/2025

There are many birth control options that are safe to use while breastfeeding, including condoms, diaphragms, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).
Condoms, diaphragms, and cervical caps
These barrier methods of contraception are safe to use while breastfeeding and don’t affect milk production.
You can use them as soon as you feel ready to have s*x.
Progestogen-only methods
These include the progestogen-only pill, implant, and injection.
You can start using them immediately after giving birth.
Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
A doctor or midwife can insert an IUD into your uterus after you give birth.
There are copper IUDs and progestin IUDs. The copper IUD doesn’t contain hormones and won’t affect your milk supply.
You can use an IUD for 5–10 years, depending on the type.
Natural family planning (NFP)
This hormone-free method is safe to use while breastfeeding.
It involves paying attention to your body’s natural rhythm and cycle.
You may also want to use a backup method like condoms, a diaphragm, or a cervical cap.
Combined oral contraceptive pills
You can start using them 6 weeks after giving birth if you’re breastfeeding.
They might temporarily affect growth during the first month after starting.
They might also decrease milk supply, especially during the first few weeks of breastfeeding.
You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which birth control method is best for you.

05/02/2025

Breastfeeding a distracted baby can be challenging, but it’s a normal part of your baby’s development. Distractibility is common around 4–6 months, 8–10 months, and when your baby is first becoming aware of the world around them.

04/02/2025

Being responsive to a baby’s needs, through interactions like responding to cries, smiles, and gestures, by feeding , cuddling or holding is crucial for healthy brain development as it fosters strong neural connections in the brain, particularly those related to social and communication skills. How to be responsive to a baby’s needs:
Observe cues: Pay attention to your baby’s facial expressions, body language, and vocalizations to understand their needs.
Respond promptly: Address your baby’s needs as soon as you notice them, whether it’s feeding, cuddling, or changing a diaper.
Make eye contact: Engage with your baby through direct eye contact while talking to them.
Use a soothing voice: Talk to your baby in a calm and gentle tone, using simple language.
Provide physical touch: Cuddling, stroking, and gentle massage can be very comforting for babies and support bonding.

31/01/2025

Paced bottle feeding is a method of bottle feeding that slows down the flow of milk, allowing babies to eat more slowly and take breaks. It mimics the natural rhythm of breastfeeding and can help prevent overfeeding , colic and upset tummies. This technique works very well with breastfed babies especially when they refuse to take a bottle. Breastfed babies are used to controlling how much milk they take at each feed. They come off the breast when they’ve had enough.

However, when babies are fed from a bottle, they have less control. It’s easy to overfeed a baby as they will tend to take more milk than they really need at each feed.

Breastfed babies are also used to being able to control the flow of milk as they feed. They may find it quite stressful feeding from a teat with a fast flow. The baby may look like they are very hungry and gulping the milk down. However, they might just be swallowing fast so they don’t choke. Why give baby control of the pace of feeds?
It allows your baby to drink the amount they want, rather than being given too much.

Giving baby only as much as they need from the bottle means they will be ready to breastfeed well when you are together. This helps your milk supply.

If you give only the amount the baby needs, you don’t need to spend as long expressing to keep up with the amount of milk your baby is being (over)fed.

30/01/2025

Your baby’s tongue needs to work well to be able to remove milk from your breast effectively. If baby’s tongue is anchored to the floor of their mouth due to a tongue-tie, they can’t do this as well.

Not only affecting breastfeeding but also Tongue-tie can affect a child’s ability to pronounce words and form sounds which may cause delayed speech development and difficulty chewing and swallowing solid foods. If you are concerned that your baby has a tongue-tie that is making breastfeeding difficult, you may like to see a lactation consultant who can carry out a full assessment including checking how breastfeeding is going and looking inside your baby’s mouth.

The lactation consultant will discuss what they find with you and give you some options. If they think that a tongue-tie may be contributing to your breastfeeding problems, you can be referred to an appropriate health professional who can make the diagnosis and release the tongue-tie if necessary.

22/01/2025

An oral restriction can lead to complications with breastfeeding. The lack of tongue mobility can impair their ability to properly latch, suck, and swallow. This is why many oral restrictions are discovered and diagnosed due to difficulties with breastfeeding. Neck restrictions during breastfeeding can make it difficult for both the mother and baby to feed. This can be caused by neck strain, hormonal changes, or musculoskeletal issues in the baby. Babies with a recessed jaw may have difficulty breastfeeding due to oral mechanics that make it hard to create suction. This can cause ni**le irritation or tissue trauma. A Lactation Consultant can help your baby to breastfeed and help you to maintain good milk supply while working on fixing any feeding issues.

04/01/2025

Breast milk is a complex fluid that contains many components, including macronutrients, bioactive factors, and immunological factors:
Breast milk is the best source of nutrients for infants and is important for developing their immune system and gut microbiome.

17/12/2024

09/12/2024

Colostrum is the first form of breastmilk that is released by the mammary glands after giving birth. It’s nutrient-dense and high in antibodies and antioxidants to build a newborn baby’s immune system. It gets its color from carotenoids (an antioxidant) and vitamin A. Vitamin A plays a vital role in your baby’s vision, skin and immune system. Colostrum is rich in magnesium, which supports your baby’s heart and bones, and copper and zinc, which also support immunity. Colostrum is filled with immunoglobins to boost your baby’s immune system and protect it from illness.
Colostrum has two times as much protein.
Colostrum has four times as much zinc.
Colostrum is lower in fat and sugar so it’s easier to digest.
Colostrum is thicker and more yellow.