Thrive Infant Feeding

31/01/2026

30/01/2026

📢 Parents and Professionals! Share and Save this post as a quick reference guide. Follow me for more interesting guides!

My name is Shami and I am a feeding specialist working as an IBCLC and tongue tie specialist in the Midlands, UK...welcome to my corner of the internet where I share my expertise with you 💚

This is my quick guide on 'nursing strikes'.....although not a common occurence, (according to my experience anyway) when they do happen, you are often left confused as to what to suggest/do next!

I am hoping that sharing this information will increase understanding and awareness for both parents and professionals of nursing strikes and ways on how you can navigate them.

I would be interested to hear your experience of getting through a nursing strike for other parents in the comments 💚

Take a look at the whole load of other FREE guides on my Instagram page and don't forget to follow!

This post is not intended to replace individual assessment and care planning, it is designed to raise awareness, understanding and to educate

29/01/2026

🆘️ What to do if you have joint pain and are breastfeeding

🩺 Book in with your GP for a review if your pain is persistent or affecting your mobility...or requiring pain medication due to severity

🌞 Ask for your Vitamin D levels to be checked and take a supplement if you are not already. In the UK, the guidance is for babies to take a daily vitamin D supplement if they are breastfeeding and taking less than 500ml of infant formula/day

🍲 Ensure you that you are eating a balanced and nourishing diet that is varied so that you are able to meet your body's needs

You do not need to stop breastfeeding unless you want to. Altering feeding positions can help you to manage any discomfort during feeds if needed. Use your body to carry your baby's weight as much as possible if your arms/wrists are hurting.

My name is Shami, I am a mum of 3 and IBCLC working in the Midlands, UK. Here, sharing my knowledge with you all to help you to feed your babies 💚

Follow me to binge on my really helpful videos! (And for a chance to submit your own questions!)

27/01/2026

📢 Top tips to increase milk yield during pump session:

Save this for later!

✅️ Check fl**ge size is correct
✅️ Relaxing environment
✅️ Use hands on pumping technique
✅️ Breast compressions and massage
✅️ Use double, electric pump where available
✅️ Feed baby from one side while expressing the other
✅️ Keep baby close or skin to skin
✅️ Watch videos of your baby if you are separated

This video shows a question and answer session with Shami Shafi, IBCLC and Tongue Tie Specialist in the Midlands UK. The topic for discussion is pump volumes when expressing. The importance of creating an oxytocin boosting environment is emphasized... Setting the scene for successful pumping ready for return to work.

24/01/2026

Your body's ability to nourish and grow your baby is thankfully not solely dependant on milk production. After all, you don't need mammary glands to create and birth your baby..and that's a HUGE part of the process!

Hold your horses...this post is not about undermining the magic of breastmilk or breastfeeding/pumping. It is about recognising that as a mother, you will begin self sacrifice well before the date of conception, right up until your last breath and everything that is given, both physically and emotionally, COUNTS!

You ARE amazing no matter how you feed

If you struggle with low milk supply, yes...it may be because there wasn't enough feeding/pumping happening. But in most cases, it is far more complex that that. It could be solely or due to a combination of having a poorly baby, a poorly mum, a traumatic delivery, oral anatomy, maternal anatomy, medical/hormonal issues, surgery, insufficient glandular tissue, ineffective milk transfer, ineffective pumping...the list goes on.

This is the bit where you stop and be kind to yourself...

Not being able to do something does not mean you have failed. The fact you tried, or even that you wanted to or considered breastfeeding means you succeeded. It might not be enough for those who want to judge, or by society's standards or even by your own expectations..but for your baby, it is more than enough 💚

23/01/2026

📢 Parents and Professionals! Share and Save this post as a quick reference guide

My name is Shami and I am a feeding specialist working as an IBCLC and tongue tie specialist in the Midlands, UK...welcome to my corner of the internet where I share my expertise with you 💚

This is my quick guide on 'reverse cycling'... something that I hadn't heard of as a Health Visitor many years ago (I know!) but now something that I see often in clinic as an IBCLC..more often than you would think...

I am hoping that sharing this will increase understanding and awareness for both parents and professionals of the way that reverse cycling can affect feeding and sleep in babies

I would be interested to hear your experience of feeding a baby while they were reverse cycling in the comments 💚

Take a look at the whole load of other FREE guides on my Instagram page and don't forget to follow!

This post is not intended to replace individual assessment and care planning, it is designed to raise awareness, understanding and to educate

22/01/2026

📢 During your period you may notice:

Nothing! ...but...you may also experience the symptoms below:

Soreness or pain
Fusiness
Cluster feeding
Dip in milk production

Don't panic..usually symptoms are temporary and self resolve when your period ends. You don't need to stop breastfeeding 💚

Using breast compressions, switch feeding and adding in an extra pump session if you are expressing can help.

If you are seeing me for the first time, Hi! 👋 I'm Shami, an IBCLC and tongue tie specialist working in the Midlands, UK. I am here, sharing my knowledge to help and support parents to feed their babies.. so come join my online community and give me a follow!

21/01/2026

I despair at my own typos sometimes!

Having to read and re read and rephrase, re type...it is exhausting. Even moreso when you know that what you put out there in the world is open to criticism.

Some days I can spend an hour writing one caption, another few hours on a blog, notes... I have tried using AI..and it just doesn't quite convey the message how I would!

So if you do read my stuff...and notice a spelling mistake or grammatical error...you don't need to tell me... I read that paragraph 12 times...it wasn't there then 🤣 so I don't care!

I am passionate, knowledgeable, experienced and hard working, if thats enough then give me a follow!

Shami, mum of 3, IBCLC, Tongue Tie Practitioner, Midlands, UK 💚

20/01/2026

📢 Save this, "good to know" info!

✈️ So you are planning a trip away, or you are going camping..or maybe you are travelling to a place where washing facilities are limited and it is unavoidable?...don't panic!

👩‍⚕️My name is Shami and I am a feeding specialist working in the Midlands, UK. I spend my days helping parents to achieve their feeding goals and sharing my IBCLC knowledge here 💚. This is my take on pumping when facilities are limited:

🧳 Pack/carry as many of the parts that you would need to wash, clean/sterile and in a clean container. Anything that comes into contact with breastmilk needs to be washed

🤱 If you can, pump when your baby would normally feed or at least as many times in 24 hours as your baby feeds. If you are struggling to achieve a let down, have pictures of your baby to look at or an item of their clothing to smell at hand.

1️⃣ Use a double electric pump as a single. Still express from both breasts at each session, it may take longer but it reduces the amount of "washing"

🤚 Carry hand gel so that you can clean your hands the best you can without washing facilities and make use of your hand expressing skills. Use breast compressions for hands on pumping to get the most out of your pump session

👶 If you dont intend to express milk to feed to your baby and are pumping to simply maintain supply, you don't need to worry too much about the pump parts being clean in between. Your milk can still be used in the bath and for things like breastmilk jewellery 💚

I hope you found this useful! Happy Camping and don't forget to give me a follow :)

19/01/2026

Let's break this down in the captions!

🏥 Unless your baby has an allergy to it, cow's milk (full fat, pasteurised) can be given from 6months as you introduce solids

🍽 You can incorporate it into their meals and give it in a cup/beaker as a drink alongside food. Don't replace their feeds of breast or formula in the first 12months

🌡You don't need to warm it, or boil it. Your baby may prefer it warmer but there is no harm in offering it cold. I would go with the weather.. in the winter, warm and summer it is great as a cold, refreshing drink!

🤱 If your baby is breastfed at 12months, you don't need to "substitue" feeds with cows milk as you would with formula. Your baby is already getting milk. But do still incorporate it into their diet for the nutrients

❓️How much? At 12months you should aim for around 350ml-500ml/day. This is combined (both in meals and as a drink) Exceeding this volume consistently can interrupt mealtimes, appetite and result in deficiencies

🐄 If your little one just won't accept milk as a drink, don't panic! Think "dairy" rather than milk..so yoghurts, cheese, cottage cheese, butter, cream and incorporate into cooked dishes

💡 Get creative... homemade milkshakes and ice lollies are fun ways of getting the milk in, if you are struggling

If you found this helpful, don't forget to give me a follow and join my online community of thriving parents and babies..

💚 I'm Shami, a feeding specialist, IBCLC, and tongue tie practitioner working in the Midlands, UK. Helping parents every day to feed their babies 👶

Happy Eating!