Eastern Ranges Lactation (2025)

23/07/2025

When starting out in private LC practice just over 4 years ago,
I went looking for an alternative to lanolin. 🧐
With so many better alternatives now available, it was time to change from what was ALWAYS being recommended and given out by hospitals!
Through my self directed ongoing learning, I had also discovered that around 25% of the population is actually sensitive to lanolin 🤷‍♀️
And I began to see cases of ni**le & areolar dermatitis caused by lanolin use, come through my practice.
I started trialling a few organic ni**le balms & it wasn’t long before I was SOLD on this Aussie made beauty “willow by the sea” ✅
I have no affiliation with the company or suppliers. 😊🤷‍♀️
In fact I don’t even get a discount as I don’t sell their product 😂
I just like to give a “shout out” to a really good quality breastfeeding product when I find one!
Especially as there is SO much crap out there! 😡
I recommend using a ni**le balm like you would a lip balm. It can be applied whenever you feel the need.
Ni***es shouldn’t be dried out or made too soggy! Skin integrity is protected when they are moisturised, and of course with good positioning & attachment ✅
The shea butter base makes this balm very moisturising & soothing.
This balm is also very healing & I like to combine it with a hydrogel breast disc to create a healthy moist wound healing environment. The hydrogel helps with absorption of the balm, accelerating healing.
So if you are going to be breastfeeding, grab yourself some of this great balm or gift it to a new or expecting mum ✅
It’s available online & at the listed stockists in Australia on the willow by the sea website.
It may be difficult to get overseas, but any good quality organic ni**le balm will do a better job than lanolin or those potentially harmful silver cups 😡
Unlike so many products out there marketed to new parents, this ni**le balm is a “goodie”, not a waste of money & one you WILL use 🙏💰

17/07/2025

*Shared with permission*
I never imagined that I would be helping mums from across the other side of the world 🌎
When this poor mum contacted me, I was her last hope before she gave up breastfeeding her 3rd baby.
Plagued with recurrent mastitis which landed her in hospital and receiving multiple courses of antibiotics, this mum also found herself battling a terrible ni**le wound which no one could heal.
Unfortunately what had started as a very simple wound to heal progressed to significant tissue loss by inappropriate and non evidence based wound healing methods.
Methods which are gaining a lot of popularity recently in the breastfeeding world 😡
Only a few days of Sliver cup use & 5 weeks of low level laser therapy to this ni**le wound resulted in significant tissue loss & abnormal unhealthy healing - (hypergranulation)
8 weeks after finding me, I am very proud & pleased to say that this brave & determined mumma (or Mamma as she would be known as in Ireland 🇮🇪) finally has her ni**le back and is mastitis free. She is breastfeeding completely pain free for the first time in 6 months 🙌
Her “ fear” around mastitis returning is still a work in progress. This scared & triggered mumma has been traumatised by her experiences with mastitis 😞
I am hopeful though that now after observing how quickly & easily mastitis can be resolved with lots of ice , no massaging, appropriate management of overproduction & without the need for antibiotics, that she is will also heal emotionally & grow in trust 🙏
Recurrent mastitis prematurely ends breastfeeding when it just shouldn’t 😞
Mastitis scares the life out of so many parents & health care professionals when it just shouldn’t 😔
And NO this ni**le wound did NOT cause her mastitis ❌
Both were an association of the other. The cause was iatrogenic (meaning the cause was incorrect medical treatment)
Eternal thanks to Dr Katrina Mitchell for teaching me the skills to be able to help breastfeeding parents like I can 🙏
We both won’t stop trying to teach the world to know better so we can do better. To not only support the continuation of breastfeeding but to protect maternal physical & mental health 🙏

15/07/2025

These tiny humans are just THIS , “human”, with complex personalities, temperaments and emotional bodies.
So much is changing and happening in their “physical body”.
Just imagine how this would feel & how emotionally difficult this would be?
As adults, anything that is changing physically for us impacts strongly on our emotions/ level of stress, confidence, sleep, mood and everything we do & react to in our daily lives.
Babies are no different, “change” is scary no matter how young or old you are!
Change is why babies suddenly jump out of their predicted routine or begin to not sleep as well, or feed as well, or be as happy as they previously were. 🤷‍♀️
The vast majority of the time it’s not because they have anything wrong which needs “fixing”
It’s not because you are not parenting them “correctly” 🤷‍♀️

What you are witnessing is your own baby’s emotional response to physical change. ✅
Temperament is there right from birth and babies react to everything in their body & environment differently.
The transformation from newborn to toddler is the most profound period of change in a humans life!!
Young babies are toddlers in the making and are just as unpredictable and volatile.
The difference is their only form of verbal communication is their cry. Their cry signals so much more than a need for physical care, they are crying out for so much more!
In a world which strives for perfection and conformity, babies are not born to tick boxes or to fit in. Babies are born to be “different” and some need more nurturing than others.
Some struggle in their rapidly changing body more than others. Some will need more TIME to pass than others for them to settle into this new world… ❤️
Baby’s are born to teach us, to challenge us, and to remind us of our own humanity. We grow, learn and change with them. Our own transformation and emotional growth during this time can feel just as difficult as theirs. You are not meant to know everything and there are no rules 🙏

I walk along side many during this often overwhelming and challenging time. A voice of knowledge, a voice of calm and a voice of reassurance which extends far beyond just breastfeeding support ❤️

09/07/2025

Pump fl**ge sizing has recently gone through a whole new revamp in the IBCLC world.🙌
I was sceptical at first, but since changing my practice 2 years ago, I am seeing the benefits of pumping in much smaller fl**ges. 🙌
Very rarely now do I see a mum needing a standard 24mm pump fl**ge (if ever) 🤷‍♀️ & never any larger than this.
My average pump fl**ge size across my client population is 15mm - 17mm
Measuring the circumference of the ni**le is just a guide to fl**ge sizing, it’s definitely not necessary, but helpful when a face to face assessment cannot be achieved.
Trying out a range of smaller size fl**ges to find the most comfortable fit is the best way to size fl**ges ✅
The ni**le should move freely in the fl**ge tunnel without the areolar being pulled or telescoped through.
Observing a mum pump, assessing their level of comfort, effectiveness of milk removal and trialing a few different sizes is provided as standard care in all my home consultations. ✅
I also help mums antenatally to find their correct fl**ge fit.
This is really important, as hospitals currently only provide large fl**ge sizes.
Most hospitals have Medela breast pumps and fl**ge sizes that only go down to 21mm( which is too big for the majority of mums)
Smaller fl**ges compatible with the major breast pump brands are available on line & can be taken into hospital with you ✅. Or you can take your own pump with your own correct fitting fl**ges ✅
The best way to bring your milk in or increase milk production is to directly breastfeed your baby ✅
But if you know you are going to have to rely on a pump or you find yourself pumping for what ever reason then please reach out for expert IBCLC help & guidance 🙏
Pumps can be really helpful when used correctly but when pumping is ineffective, sub optional and/ or painful it is REALLY problematic for breastfeeding.
Many “low producing” mums end up that way due to incorrect advice and incorrect pump equipment and use. 😔
Early “effective” milk removal IS just SO essential 🙏
If you are pumping and struggling to get enough milk then it may be your pump fl**ge!
Please don’t just wing it , your efforts to breastfeed are just too valuable 🙏

05/07/2025

If you have been told by a health care professional or ‘anyone’ that your breastmilk is “poor quality” then you have been fed BS 💩
If a baby is not growing as expected or a bit slower than expected, it is NEVER due to the “quality” or “fat” content of your milk.
In the vast majority of slow weight gain scenarios, it’s milk intake “volume” related. And easily corrected with skilled lactation assessment & help ✅

Formula introduction results in a “fatter” baby, but breastmilk production takes a hit and more often than not this triggers a slippery slope to cessation of breastfeeding 😔
It is normal for exclusively breastfed babies to have periods of slower weight gain. The first line management of this should be to check the breastfeeding & make assessments & adjustments
here ✅
If a person does not have the skills to do this then refer to someone who has, like you would in any other situation 🤷‍♀️
Breastfeeding is so easily sabotaged by lack of lactation skill and incorrect advice. 😔
Formula can never replicate breastmilk and all it provides for healthy growth and development.
Calories are only one component that formula can replace.
Formula is necessary & helpful in some situations ( I am not against formula when it IS required or a parents choice) but it should never be the answer in a situation where you have been told it’s the “poor quality” of your breastmilk that’s the problem.
This is a huge red flag for identifying someone who has NO idea, and is very lacking in infant feeding knowledge, no matter what letters they have after their name or qualifications they have 🤷‍♀️
It blows my mind how anyone who specialises & is qualified in infant health can be so ignorant, naive and unskilled in lactation.Especially when breastfeeding IS the biological normal way to feed a baby 🤷‍♀️
Nutrition is SO important in infant health! It’s a sad world when our specialist infant health care professionals know more about formula than breastmilk!! 🙈🤯
Reach out if you need my help to not only keep your baby safe & growing well ( I am more than qualified to ensure this), but also to continue & protect breastfeeding 🙏

03/07/2025

I am with my mastitis mums today!
Well in spirit anyway 😊
Frozen peas decanted into snap lock bags, padded out in my bra, & on rotation after a minor procedure on my breast 😊
I am definitely too old to breastfeed now 🤪 And too old for mastitis 🙏
It’s a chilly 10 degrees here in up in the Dandenong Ranges 🥶
But it’s worth feeling a little cold on my chest to help reduce any pain , swelling, inflammation & potential bruising!
I am not known for my high pain tolerance 😂😂. So I will be keeping my ice on to do everything I can to reduce any pain! I don’t think the local has worn off yet 🤪
I am a true deep empath, I easily feel everyone else’s pain & my own a little too much 😊😂
The flimsy little ice pack they gave me post procedure is no match for my peas 🤪
I do feel bad sometimes asking my mums with mastitis to keep their ice packs on as much as they can during the chilly months 🥶
But it is SO worth it, when they see their mastitis symptoms resolve quickly and without the need for antibiotics 🙌
I am experiencing my own advice now and it’s honestly not that bad & the cold is soothing 🙏
The ice along with NO massaging or pumping & addressing any underlying cause like overproduction are game changers when it comes to managing mastitis 🙌
Ice is definitely the hero though & the humble frozen pea is your best friend & mine today 😂
Happy Thursday everyone ! ❤️
Going to lay on the couch now & watch some Netflix with my peas!
I am not good at sitting still but I will rest this afternoon 😊

01/07/2025

Massaging has dominated the breastfeeding world for as long as I can remember & sadly despite new knowledge it still does 😔
Every week I am supporting mums to resolve mastitis and every week I am still hearing that they have been advised to massage 🤯
It’s a relief when I do have mums who haven’t been massaging prior to seeking my help 🙏 I definitely see shorter recovery times when there has been no massaging going on 🙏
When you truly understand & respect the anatomy of delicate glandular tissue, it’s a no brainer that it wouldn’t beneficial to massage it!
Especially when it is swollen and inflamed 🤯
I am lucky have been a student of Dr Katrina Mitchell’s for the last 5 years & I have seen more than the average LC gets to see. 😊
I have seen the dead tissue she has excised from a lactating breast that was only being massaged “gently”
It’s the “repeated” gentle massage that can still cause harm ✅
The reality IS you don’t need to massage to successfully breastfeed! It’s just not a NECESSARY! It’s an ingrained tradition and practice but not evidence based and not even science based.
If it’s just one mum we save from the complications of mastitis by NOT recommending any massaging then we are winning the battle 🙌
I teach my mums & parents NOT to massage. I sit & draw pictures to explain.
If breast tactile stimulation helps them to relax and promote milk release then gentle “stroking”, “brushing” or lightly tapping with finger tips is all that is required.
If lymphatic drainage is required during early PP engorgement then it doesn’t involve “massaging”.
Lifting of the skin through light stroking and brushing is “correct” technique ✅
The ‘definition’ of massage is clear, it involves kneading and pushing down on tissue. You don’t want to be doing this to a gland 🤷‍♀️
The perception of “gentle” and “not too vigorous” IS different for each individual ✅ Remember this 🤔
Respect this delicate gland and know it’s not an udder that needs to be stripped or milked! 🐄
Know that you don’t need to massage in order to breastfeed!
And know you DEFINITELY don’t need to massage in any shape or form to prevent blockages or mastitis. 🤯

29/06/2025

Young babies crave & NEED a variety of rich sensory stimulation.
They really wake up to their world only a few weeks after birth. This craving can often be mistaken for hunger or gas or lack of sleep 🤷‍♀️
An unsettled baby can quite often be a “bored” baby who is not wanting to just “eat” & “sleep”
Their body and brain/ mind has a different kind of hunger. A hunger for experiencing more sensory stimulation.
There is no better or easier way to provide this stimulation for your baby than getting outside and braving the elements 🙌
Walking in nature provides your baby with a wonderful opportunity to use all of their senses which they need for healthy development & happiness 🌸💦❄️🌳🦆
Babies love watching the sky , the birds & the trees sway!
They love people watching!
They love listening to all the sounds nature and being outside provides.
They love all the smells and are curious with all that they can feel. Even if it is the chilly wind startling their skin! 🤪
They don’t catch colds from being exposed to cold. Exposure to the outdoors during our colder days is still providing natural light necessary to boost vit D and immature immune systems. It helps with the circadian rhythm and to regulate sleep. ✅
Babies sleep so well snuggled up in their pram out in the winter air! Especially when it becomes a daily part of their routine 😃
So rug up , grab your beanies, pack your rain cover for the pram, an umbrella for yourself, and walk to your favourite park or cafe ☕️
Don’t be deterred by this change in our seasons 🙏 The four walls at home are going to feel smaller and smaller as winter sets in for both you and your baby if you stay inside 😕
Getting out is just as important for your own physical & emotional well being too! ❤️
Have you braved the weather to get out for a walk with your baby this weekend? ☔️💨🍃☁️⛅️🥶

23/06/2025

Winter has hit here in Melbourne 🥶Unfortunately winter also means an increase in infant illness & an increase in the number of mums I am seeing with blebs.
Baby’s who are unwell will be feeding more to soothe & milk production will be having to deal with some big fluctuations. It will be sped up and then the brakes will need to go on when it needs to slow back down again. This can be the time when areas of breast tissue working hard to make milk can become irritable and a little inflamed. It’s a time when Mumma’s may be experience some mastitis symptoms which are just a consequence of changes in milk regulation. 🤷‍♀️
Blebs are commonly associated with mastitis, they also can appear in isolation. They are a ni**le surface symptom of underlying ductal inflammation. Their ‘white’ or ‘yellow’ appearance is inflammatory debris in the breastmilk making its way out to the surface. Blebs are basically a down stream sign of something that’s happening up stream.
Blebs have traditionally been thought to be caused by a “bad latch” The truth is they are NOTHING to do with your baby’s latch suddenly becoming shallow or ineffective 🙈.
They are also 100% nothing to do with ties 🙈
Blebs are also nothing to do with ineffective pumping, often it’s just pumping in general that causes them or too much pumping driving overproduction ✅ Or again another change in the demand for milk, this time driven by a pump.
Blebs are often mistaken for thrush anything “white” on a ni**le is assumed to be thrush 🤯🙈. White dots on a ni**le IS never thrush ✅
Blebs can be very painful or not painful at all 🤷‍♀️. Leave them alone if they are not painful and they will self resolve.
Unroofing, sticking needles in blebs or squeezing them is NO longer recommended! You are risking creating more inflammation, a ni**le wound and permanent ni**le scarring 🤷‍♀️
Moist heat and a topical steroid is the most appropriate & effective treatment. ✅ The natural exfoliation process a baby’s mouth is providing while directly feeding helps too.
Sometimes the only effective treatment for reoccurrence is time and all blebs self resolve at some point ✅
For help managing blebs reach out for a consultation.

19/06/2025

The idea that your milk lacks nutritional value after a certain period of time is a huge myth! 🤯
So too is the idea that the amazing immune protective factors and health benefits of breastmilk and breastfeeding suddenly expire, diminish or stop working beyond infancy. 🤯
Breastmilk and breastfeeding keeps giving and it is the best natural medicine and nutritional supplement you can give to your toddler & it’s free! ✅
It beats any man made probiotic, vitamin gummy or toddler artificial milk supplement hands down!!! ✅
The world health organisation recommend the continuation of breastfeeding up to 2 years of age and beyond and for good reasons
⭐️Facts⭐️
⭐️Research has found that breast milk retains its nutritional quality for the entire duration of breastfeeding.
⭐️Breastmilk composition changes based on the needs of your child This continues into toddlerhood and beyond.
⭐️ Breastmilk enhances and compliments your toddlers diet.
⭐️ Breastmilk continues to give a powerful immunity punch well into toddlerhood and beyond. Its protective properties are still alive and working well to help fight off infection, improve health and support the immune system.
⭐️Breastfeeding helps to keep older children hydrated when they are sick 🙌
⭐️Breastfeeding can help toddlers to regulate their emotions when they are having melt downs 🙌
⭐️Breastfeeding can help older children to sleep ( and yes this is OK!!) ✅
⭐️A longer duration of breastfeeding is associated with maternal disease reduction and protection.
So many known ongoing benefits and we still know so little about this amazing stuff!🙌
So keep going if you can and if you want to 🙏 Do what feels right for you & your child with no pressure to discontinue. Know that breastfeeding older children is “NORMAL” and highly beneficial for both you and your and child.
Breastfeeding an older child only becomes a problem when it’s a problem for YOU 🙏❤️

17/06/2025

The more I observe neuropathic ni**le pain the more I learn 🙏
And the better I am becoming at explaining what I can SO easily see that others struggle to see.
Neuropathic pain during lactation is NOT phantom pain. ❌
It’s not a mental illness or something that’s made up in someone’s mind! ❌
Let me get that really straight ✅
It’s a maternal nervous system on EXTRA EXTRA high alert. ✅
It’s real & pain that is ongoing & felt at a severe intensity ✅
It becomes a focus & consumes thoughts ✅
It amplifies any pain felt from any other possible contributing causes of pain during lactation. ✅
It comes and goes but it’s always there , breastfeeding is never completely consistently comfortable✅
It’s felt more & worse at night ✅
It’s felt more when breasts are full or during periods of high milk production ✅
It ‘s almost ALWAYS associated with a feeling of DREAD. ✅
A dread for the next feed or the next pump.
The FEAR which surrounds this lactational pain is worse than the pain itself. ✅
Often PAIN is the only thing that can be easily expressed verbally to describe how neuropathic pain is perceived & experienced ✅
So little is known about this pain but once you are able to recognise it as a practitioner helping with breastfeeding pain you will never miss it again!
Instilling calm is a must ✅
SSRI medication takes this pain away, it calms a nervous system that is on extra high alert, firing too much. It helps nerve pain ✅
Instilling calm is vital in every aspect of caring for these mums & parents ✅
Breastfeeding shouldn’t be a transactional act of milk exchange between mother and child.
Breastfeeding is so more than this & something that should not be endured ladened with the burden of guilt and feelings of failure driving its continuation.
Women don’t have to “suffer”🙏 And there is silent suffering out there while breastfeeding & discontinuation due to unnecessary suffering. These mums need to be “ SEEN” , “Heard” & “validated” with a knowing that they are definitely not alone or going mad! This pain is SO much more common that I had ever imagined & so easy to treat! 🙁

15/06/2025

Whether you are using a second hand Spectra, Medela or any other brand breast pump, there are some perishable parts which are definitely not designed for sharing or long term use.
Many second hand pumps sold or loaned come with a whole array of previously used equipment & parts.
To ensure the optimal function of a used breast pump and for hygiene reasons, l recommend replacing all valves, adapters and tubing with new parts. ✅
There is no reason why fl**ges and bottles cannot be reused.
If they are in good condition, clean and sterilise these before use.
💡Hot Tip - Don’t assume the fl**ge size that comes with any pump is your size. One size does not fit all! It’s important to pump in the correct size fl**ges.
A quick estimate of size can be done by measuring the circumference of the ni**le base before feeding or pumping.
This then can be used as a guide to finding a comfortable and productive fit. If you like an expert assessment and fitting, I can help with this ✅
Any time spent pumping is precious, effective milk removal is SO important.
Correct pump knowledge is vital to avoiding problems caused by pumping. It’s something too important to just wing 🤷‍♀️
This starts with making sure your equipment is 100% working for you!

Full pump education/ assessment and fl**ge fitting included in all my consultations ✅
Antenatal & post natal consultations available. Expert assessment ✅
Expert education ✅
Up to date knowledge ✅ Individualised care & advice ✅

Eastern Ranges Lactation

23/07/2025

17/07/2025

15/07/2025

09/07/2025

05/07/2025

03/07/2025

01/07/2025

29/06/2025

23/06/2025

19/06/2025

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15/06/2025

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