The Milky Way UK

21/07/2025

Class 1? Class 4? Let’s clear it up 👅

When we talk about tongue-tie classification, we’re talking about location — not severity.

👉 The classification system (like Coryllos or Kotlow) tells us where the frenulum inserts on the underside of the tongue.
• Class 1 inserts near the tip of the tongue
• Class 2 inserts just behind the tip
• Class 3–4 are farther back toward the base

📍 But this doesn’t tell us how tight, restrictive, or impactful the tie is.

💡 So how is severity actually determined?

✔️ Function.
✔️ Mobility.
✔️ Symptoms in the infant (and often the lactating parent).
✔️ Ability to lift, extend, cup, and lateralize the tongue.
✔️ How the baby feeds, swallows, and handles milk flow.

You can have a Class 2 tie that causes no feeding issues… and a Class 4 tie that severely restricts movement.

🔍 That’s why a full functional assessment is key — not just a visual glance.

Classification = location
Severity = function + impact

If you’re not sure what your baby’s tongue-tie means for feeding, speech, or oral development — connect with a skilled IBCLC, pediatric dentist, or bodyworker who understands both structure and function.

20/07/2025

Love this 🙂

09/07/2025

Checking for a tongue tie is about SO much more than how the tongue and frenulum look.
It usually takes me a good few minutes of feeding inside the baby's mouth, as well as asking a lot of questions and observing feeds...

21/06/2025

People use the word colic to mean different things, sometimes wind, sometimes unsettled behaviours and/or crying and difficult evenings.
Either way, colic drops aren't the answer I'm afraid. (Please don't come for me, I'm not making it up!)

Health professionals such as GPs, Health Visitors and Midwives shouldn't be recommending them. The NICE guidance, which is our National, Evidence based Guidelines say:

'Do not recommend the following management strategies, as there is insufficient good-quality evidence for their use:
• Simeticone (such as Infacol®) or lactase (such as Colief®) drops. '

I know some people swear it helps, but the reason is that the chemical we're putting into the stomach is actually causing the gas. When they then burp that up it allows us to feel like we've helped. So I get it. We're desperate to help our little ones.

So what do you do if you think your baby has colic, or is struggling with wind, or unsettled behaviours? It all starts with a thorough feeding assessment with a well trained professional. This is more than a two minute latch check. This is observation of at least one entire feed looking at multiple areas, a check of the baby, ideally an oral assessment, a full history of pregnancy, birth and feeding so far, and a lot more.

Often adjustments to feeding such as position and latch, frequency of feeds, and when to switch sides for example, can make an enormous difference. There also can be some help with understanding normal baby behaviours (for example a big developmental change around 2 to 3 weeks in, or wanting to be put back on the breast but being mistaken for trapped wind)

There are a load of other things that can help too, so please do get support rather than reach for drops.
A healthcare professional can refer you to the infant feeding team, or you can see a lactation consultant privately if you prefer and are able.
You can also get support from peer supporters and breastfeeding counsellors at support groups and the National Breastfeeding Helpline.

With the money you save, buy yourself a cake x

18/06/2025

⭐Leave some money for chocolate! ⭐

Wearable breastpumps have become a ‘must have’ item with many parents buying these pumps before baby is born.

But, does ownership of one of these pumps guarantee a successful breastfeeding journey? Will it be all you need to make breastfeeding work for you if you run into difficulty?

The answer is an emphatic ‘no’.

Some babies will latch and feed well from the get go so this pump may never get out of the box.

But, if you do have problems in the early days what you are going to need above all else is skilled support, and if latching, milk transfer or supply are issues a decent traditional double electric, preferable, ‘multi user’ pump as these are most effective in the crucial early days when milk supply is being calibrated. You may also need feeding tools you may not have budgeted for

But you have already spent a lot on your double wearable pump and have little money left for these unexpected expenses. So, hold off on buying a pump before birth.

For the £400 a certain well known double wearable pump costs you could get:

⭐A double electric pump on hire for £40-60 for a month with a set of appropriately sized flanges for £16-19
⭐An appointment with an IBCLC for skilled assessment, support, a feeding plan and follow up for £120.
⭐6 hours of post natal doula support for £120-150
⭐A lactation aid or 4 bottles for £25

Or
⭐A purchased good double electric pump for £150 with a set of appropriately sized flanges for £16-19
⭐An appointment with an IBCLC for skilled assessment, support, a feeding plan and follow up for £120.
⭐A lactation aid or 4 bottles for £25
⭐3 hours of postnatal doula support £60-75.

And still have a bit of change for chocolate!

04/06/2025

04/06/2025

Lysozyme is an enzyme in breastmilk that kills bacteria, and also protects against viruses and fungi. It increases in concentration when your child is about 6 months old, and again after a year.

Both those milestones coincide with increased mobility, when our babies start to explore, when eeeeverything goes in the mouth, and when walking means reaching further away.

Our babies’ immune system is very immature at birth and takes around 6 years to become fully mature. There is emerging evidence that a baby’s immune system can become chronically inflamed if it is required to kick in by itself before it has developed sufficiently.

So the support of protective factors in breastmilk could play a role in the timescale of natural term weaning (when a child stops breastfeeding of their own accord, without outside interruption) which is anywhere between 2ish and 7+ years old.

References and further reading at https://human-milk.com

23/05/2025

Great information from Lucy Webber Feeding Support - IBCLC

06/05/2025

01/05/2025

Absolutely

Same goes for timing, don't keep your baby on the breast for a set amount of time (e.g 20 minutes) to try and get to 'fatty' milk. All milk is good and supports weight gain, and if they're just asleep at the breast, they're not got much at that point, whether fatty or not!

If you've been told to keep your baby on one breast, or go back on the same breast, sorry, that's not good advice (but still sadly it's out there!)

27/04/2025

02/03/2025

February is Raynaud's Awareness Month.

Raynaud's phenomenon is where your blood stops flowing properly to your extremities, usually your fingers and toes - but sometimes your ears, nose, lips, or ni***es are affected.

It can affect the ni***es of breastfeeding mothers and cause painful breastfeeding.

Some of the symptoms include:

- Pain which worsens in the cold e.g. passing fridges in the supermarket or even exposure of the ni**le to feed
- Bi or tri-phasic colour changes immediately after feeds

You can find self-help measures, as well as information on medication, here:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/raynauds/

You can also find more information on Raynaud's here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/raynauds/

[ID: Raynaud's Phenomenon in Breastfeeding Mothers. Image of a person wearing gloves, taking one off.]