Elaine Campbell, IBCLC

07/10/2025

Today is the final day of Breastfeeding Week 2025.

The WHO’s current statistics say that the global average (2023):
48% of infants

06/10/2025

Day 6 of Irish Breastfeeding Week and Mental Health Awareness Month

Skin-to-Skin, Breastfeeding and Mental Health

October is Mental Health Awareness Month and also the month when we celebrate Irish Breastfeeding Week. This year’s theme of skin-to-skin contact speaks directly to the foundations of lifelong mental wellbeing for both mother and baby.

Skin-to-skin in the minutes and hours after birth is more than a moment of bonding. It triggers powerful hormonal cascades: oxytocin rises, stress hormones fall, and both mother and baby experience a sense of calm and connection. These early interactions help regulate the baby’s heart rate, breathing and temperature, while also lowering maternal anxiety and enhancing confidence in caregiving.

The benefits are not just immediate. Studies show that skin-to-skin and breastfeeding support secure attachment, which in turn is linked to reduced risks of postnatal depression for mothers and more resilient emotional health for children as they grow.

Breastfeeding builds on this foundation. Through the repeated cycles of closeness, eye contact, touch and responsiveness, babies learn trust and self-regulation while mothers gain confidence and support for their own emotional recovery after birth.

05/10/2025

05/10/2025

Day 5 Irish Breastfeeding week and Liver Cancer Awareness month.

Liver Cancer and Breastfeeding Maternal risk (for mothers):
* Breastfeeding appears to reduce the mother’s risk of developing liver cancer later in life.
* A large meta-analysis in 2017 (Zhou et al., Journal of Hepatology) found that women who breastfed had about a 26% lower risk of liver cancer compared to women who never breastfed.
* The protective effect increased with longer duration of breastfeeding: women who breastfed for more than 12 months showed the strongest reduction in risk.

Researchers suggest this may be due to:
* Lower lifetime exposure to oestrogen (similar mechanism as breast/ovarian cancer reduction)
* Improved metabolic reset after pregnancy and lactation (glucose and insulin regulation)
* Reduced chronic inflammation in the liver

Infant benefits (for babies)
* Exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of hepatitis B transmission from mother to child when appropriate immunoprophylaxis is provided (i.e. Hep B vaccine ± immunoglobulin). This is crucial because chronic Hepatitis B is a major global cause of liver cancer.

Breastfeeding is safe for mothers who are Hepatitis B positive if their infant receives the correct vaccination protocol.

Global burden of liver cancer: Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer death (WHO, 2022).

In Ireland, liver cancer is less common than in Asia or Africa, but incidence has been rising, linked to alcohol, obesity, diabetes and hepatitis infections.

04/10/2025

Day 4 of Irish Breastfeeding Week. Breastfeeding, Pregnancy and Breast Cancer *Risk*

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to share evidence-based information on risk and prevention.

Pregnancy brings a natural surge in oestrogen, a hormone that can encourage the growth of breast cancer cells in some women. This means that while pregnancy is protective in the long term, it can temporarily increase the risk of developing breast cancer in the early years after birth.

Breastfeeding, however, is consistently shown to reduce the lifetime risk of breast cancer. The protective effect comes from the way lactation suppresses oestrogen production and gives breast tissue a period of rest from exposure to circulating hormones.

Large international studies have shown that:

The risk reduction increases with longer duration of breastfeeding. Each 12 months of breastfeeding (cumulative across children) is associated with about a 4–4.3% reduction in risk.

Women who breastfeed for a lifetime total of 24 months or more see even greater protection, with some studies estimating up to 25% lower risk compared to women who never breastfed

It is important to note that reducing risk does not guarantee that breast cancer will not develop. Genetics, age and other factors also play a role.

Breastfeeding is not just about nutrition and bonding. It is also part of the wider picture of women’s health across the lifespan.

And sher while I'm at it here are a few additional stats for those reading this far down.....

Ovarian Cancer
Breastfeeding reduces lifetime risk by about 20–30%, with the protection strengthening the longer a woman breastfeeds. A pooled analysis of nearly 10,000 cases found that women who breastfed for a total of 12 months or more had a 34% lower risk of ovarian cancer compared with women who never breastfed.

Endometrial Cancer
Several studies show a modest reduction of around 10–15% for women who breastfeed, again with greater protection linked to longer durations.
Several studies show a modest reduction of around 10–15% for women who breastfeed, again with greater protection linked to longer durations.

03/10/2025

Day 3 of Irish Breastfeeding week and National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

For families who experience miscarriage, stillbirth or the loss of a new born, grief is often compounded by the physical reality of lactation.

If you are affected and need support you can contact:
* Feileacáin (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland): www.feileacain.ie
* Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Support Line: 1800 80 70 77
* Anam Cara Parental Support: www.anamcara.ie
* La Leche League Ireland and Cuidiú offer breastfeeding and lactation support, including after loss
* Speak to your GP, public health nurse or IBCLC lactation consultant for safe guidance on milk suppression or donation

The body does not distinguish between a live birth and a loss when it comes to milk production. From around the second trimester, the breasts start to produce colostrum; the first milk. A cascade, that begins with a sudden drop in pregnancy hormones, triggers the breasts to move into the second stage of milk production. This means that parents who experience loss may find mature milk coming in within two to four days. For some, this can feel like an additional and painful reminder of their loss. For others, the presence of milk offers a way to honour their baby. Some who are in a position to do so can find comfort through the act of donation to a human milk bank or by holding space for their body’s capacity to nurture.

Specialist support at this time is vital. Sensitive lactation care can help parents make informed choices about whether to suppress milk safely, to express and donate, or simply to understand what is happening in their bodies.

As we mark Irish Breastfeeding Week, it is important to remember that breastfeeding is not always a journey of feeding at the breast. For some, it is part of a story of loss, love, and remembrance.

Greater awareness, compassion and skilled professional support can make a real difference for families navigating grief alongside lactation.

02/10/2025

Day 2: Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome during Irish Breastfeeding Week and World Down Syndrome Awareness Month

In Ireland about 1 in 444 babies are born with Down syndrome. Research highlights that while breastfeeding is possible and beneficial, families often face significant challenges.

A study of children with Down syndrome born with congenital heart conditions in Ireland found that 19% were exclusively breastfeeding at hospital discharge, and 9.7% still required feeding support to continue breastfeeding after going home. Another Irish study showed that almost 50% of babies with Down syndrome receive some breastmilk.

Breastfeeding prevalence and challenges:

Support gaps: Many parents report a lack of specialist guidance, and in some cases negative or discouraging advice from healthcare professionals.

Feeding challenges: Babies with Down syndrome may struggle to latch or suck effectively due to low muscle tone (hypotonia). This can make feeding a long and demanding process.

Information needs: Findings from Ulster University emphasise the importance of access to timely resources, peer supporters and lactation consultants.

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods for two years and beyond. With skilled support, families of babies with Down syndrome can overcome challenges and many do go on to successfully breastfeed.

This week offers an important opportunity to highlight the need for better training, resources and encouragement so that families are fully supported to give their babies the best possible start.

01/10/2025

Today is day 1 of Irish Breastfeeding week / Menopause Awareness Month

In Ireland, 40% of all births in 2024 were to women aged 35 and over (16,768 aged 35–39; 4,452 aged 40–44; 461 aged 45+). That’s up from just 24% in 2004.

With later motherhood comes challenges:
• Increasing Medicalisation of birth: Women over 35 are more likely to face recommendations for induction or caesarean based solely on age, even though this is not strongly evidence-based.
• Impact on breastfeeding: Inductions, epidurals, and surgical births can delay the hormonal cascade that supports the onset of lactation, making it harder to get breastfeeding established in those early hours and days.
• Medication considerations: While many forms of HRT can be used safely while breastfeeding, some hormonal contraceptives can reduce milk supply, creating another layer of complexity for women navigating midlife, fertility, and lactation together.

As more women become mothers later in life, we must ensure that maternity care respects evidence, avoids unnecessary intervention, and provides the right breastfeeding support. Menopause, birth, and breastfeeding are not separate chapters; they are deeply connected stages of many women’s lives.

07/08/2025

Normalising breastfeeding starts at home and starts young. I adore this doll.

01/07/2025

What a wonderful morning with the fabulous Felicity from . So lovely to meet your beautiful family and get to talk IRL!!! Yes, I’m a hugger! So exited to announce the next phase of my IBCLC journey and our collaboration. Big things are coming!!! Watch this space 👀

22/06/2025

Love this personal perspective.

27/05/2025

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