Birth and Beyond Derbyshire

21/10/2025

I love this analogy. What helped you to let your baby's head be free to tip back?

Hand position when you are bringing baby onto the breast.

For positions where you bring baby onto the breast, cross cradle hold, rugby/football hold, koala hold, side lying position etc parents often mention that their baby is not opening their mouth wide. Laid back position and encouraging babies to self latch can sort this. But some parents prefer these other positions.

One of the reasons for this is often to do with their hand position when supporting baby. It is essential that babies can throw their head back when latching onto the breast. Imagine taking a bite of a large apple or large burger if you are less healthy! You have to throw your head back in order to fit it all in your mouth, don't you? Babies have to do the same in order to get a large mouthful of the breast.

So if your hand, finger, ar, or feeding cushio is resting on the back of baby's head, they are not going to be able to do this. Supporting the baby with the palm of your hand flat on their back, up on their shoulder blades, with fingers and thumbs behind the ears can mean you have a good grip on them but also ensure they can throw their head back when their rooting reflex is triggered..

So imagine your hand is a hair washing basin at the salon. These basins are designed to support us comfortably lying with our head back to stop the shampoo going in our eyes.

Line baby up nose to nipple with their chin touching the breast and their head back. Baby's arms should not be between their chest and your body, get them hugging the boob. Tickle top lip with your nipple to stimulate rooting reflex and when baby opens up, head should go back even more and you can bring baby onto the breast chin first. Keep baby in close, tuck in their bum and lean back a bit if you're sitting upright taking baby back with you to help you maintain the position.

Practice on both sides 8 to 12 times a day (average baby)

24/09/2025

Re-posting from The Natural Parent Magazine

“Did you know that Mayan families in Guatemala, consider bedsharing to be the only way to parent through the night?
Did you know that in Japan, breastfeeding and shared sleep (soine) is seen as a means to sustain connection through touch or ‘skinship’ between mother and child?
Did you know that In Bali, babies’ feet don’t touch the ground until 3 months of age?
Yet, we’re told in western culture that our babies need to sleep on their own, that we need to get our babies on a schedule and that we can ‘spoil’ them if we pick them up ‘too much’.

One of my favourite cross-cultural pieces of research to share to help us challenge the mainstream parenting narrative, comes from Dr. Charlotte Peterson. She spent forty years traveling the globe to live with local families and witness parenting practices in peaceful cultures. She observed that in Bali, babies are seen as a blessing.
At three months of age, there is a ceremony called Tiga Bulan or “three moons”. It is not until the celebration of this ceremony that a new baby’s feet touch the earth. Until that point, the baby is considered “of the heavens” and is constantly held in someone’s arms.

After the ceremony, the baby is considered “of the earth”. Although a baby can be put down and “out of arms” at this point, Charlotte has rarely seen a Balinese infant or toddler not being held or closely watched, by her parents or family members, within those first three months.

For me, it feels validating to gain a different perspective, reminding us that our instincts to hold our babies close are ancient, wise and innately human. I seek out research like this as it allows me to better understand the difference between social norms & what’s best for our babies.”

23/09/2025

Who loves a brussel sprout? Not me to be truthful, but I do love other wind producing veg. And none of it affects your milk!

More myth busting facts here: https://www.unicef.org/parenting/food-nutrition/14-myths-about-breastfeeding

23/09/2025

08/09/2025

A twist on what a "good" be really is.
Join Breastmates Breastfeeding Support today in Matlock, 11.30am to 1pm Church in the Peak for a social chat or for support around anything to do with babies and toddlers feeding (milk or solids).

03/09/2025

04/08/2025

Wet weather chanege: Matlock's Picnic in the Peak is moving inside to Church in the Peak, DE4 3EJ, our usual Monday venue. Bring along your picnic, family and friends and join us for an indoor celebration of World Breastfeeding Week 🙂.

28/07/2025

It's the last Matlock baby group this morning 11.30am to 1pm in Matlock before the picnic in the park next Monday. Then the group takes a break over the summer holidays. If you've never been, why not pop in to meet us or come along to our picnic on Monday 4th? There's also a World Breastfeeding Week picnic in Buxton pav gardens on Thursday 7th, for a picturesque picnic!

23/07/2025

The rollercoaster life the parent in the 4th trimester (and beyond!). Sound familiar?

21/07/2025

Why it's never too late to get that 'golden hour'.

Not everyone gets a 'golden hour' with immediate skin to skin and self latching. Yes, if you can have it please do, but if you can't, know that you can get skin to skin as soon as you can x

21/07/2025

The Matlock baby group is on this morning 11.30am to 1pm at Church in the Peak in Matlock Green, a 5 minute walk from the park, with free parking round the back. You'll find Alys there every week. And don't forget our picnic in the park in a fortnight :-).

Come along to our in this morning, 11.30am to 1pm Church in the Peak. Our free group is on this morning and next week, and then come along to our picnic in the park on 4th August to help us celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. All parents are welcome at our baby group, whether it's to help answer a question, ease a worry or chat things through with other mothers and parents. Our picnic is for everyone as well, anyone who would like to help celebrate and promote breastfeeding and awareness of our group support in the community. You'll find Alys and Hannah at the group this morning. (PS we break up for summer after the picnic until September).

15/07/2025

⚠️Birth trauma ⚠️

This week is , we will be sharing useful information and resources throughout the week, as well as signposting to support available if you have experienced a traumatic birth as either the woman or birthing person, or the birthing partner.

Too many parents are left traumatised by their birth experience and those in marginalised communities are even more likely to be unheard, unsupported, and underserved. This week, let’s stand in solidarity and push for change. Because every parent deserves respectful, safe, and compassionate care.

If you or someone you know has experienced birth trauma and wants support, contact Birth Trauma Association - UK where you can access peer support, professional help from trained counsellors and therapists, or even support from legal advisors.