Frequently Asked Questions
How do I Stop my Baby from Biting?
Firstly, try not to scream or shout if possible, as this could trigger a nursing strike or make your baby thing that biting is a game! Break the seal of his latch straight away with your little finger every time. Be clear when you tell him no biting, showing him your teeth so that he understands. Say, “Big mouth,” before he latches on, too, demons hung opening your own wide to encourage a really deep, comfortable latch.
I have a blog post on this very topic on my blog which is adapted from my book, you can find this here.
How do I wean my baby from breastfeeding?
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If you would like support weaning your babe off the breast in a gentle & responsive way, I can help in 4 different ways:
1) In a live workshop each Thursday for the next 4 weeks with new timings to suit international mamas who want to work with me to form a weaning plan.
2) Via lifetime access to my weaning webinar - 60 minutes of me explaining the Weaning with Love process & answering every question I have ever been asked on the topic!
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3) The Weaning with Love Guide is 33 pages of information to help you stop breastfeeding step by step, including help with: stopping nursing to sleep & night weaning. Buy the webinar & get the accompanying guide for free with discount code: BOGOF (link)
4) Via a 1–2-1 consultation (link)
How do I get my breastfed baby to accept a bottle?
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The best way to get a breastfed baby to accept a bottle is by paced bottle feeding. This means:
• Using a size 0, slow flow teat (even if your babe is much older than a newborn)
• Holding babe fairly upright so they have some control over the flow of milk
• Allow your babe to come towards the teat to ‘latch on,’ as they would at the breast
• Not angling the bottle so high that the milk gushes out, but holding it more horizontally. Again, this allows your babe to have more control the flow of milk (like at the breast)
• Direct the teat towards the roof of your babe’s mouth to activate their sucking reflex
• Give your baby breaks every 15-30 seconds or so, to echo the process of nursing at the breast where a baby would take regular breaks in their own time
How can I breastfeed lying down?
1) Lie baby down on a flat, firm surface, facing you. Ensure there are no sheets, pillows or anything which could be a choking hazard near their head or face.
2) Lie on your side, lining your babe’s nose up with your nipple.
3) Lay your bottom arm above your babe’s head and bring your body close to your babe. Curl your body around them in a C-shape.
4) Depending upon the size or shape of your breasts, you may find it helpful to tuck a small towel beneath your breast to lift it up to your babe’s mouth.
5) Allow your babe yo find your nipple, guiding your nipple to their mouth as necessary.
6) Once they are latched on, take a deep breath and relax, mama!
IMPORTANT: The featured @bellamoon_official products are not sleeping aids and are not recommended for co-sleeping, only feeding. For safe breast sleeping advice, follow the latest recommendations by @lullabytrust.
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What is normal when it comes to breastfeeding and my period?
My period returned a mere 3 months after I had given birth to my son, although I was nursing him on demand, around the clock. To say that I was gutted was an understatement. I had fantasized about months of years menstruation-free, but alas, for me it was simply not meant to be. I am often asked when is w normal timeline for the return of a mother’s period whilst breastfeeding. As with most things in life, there really is no straightforward, one-size-fits-all answer.
Some women will see their period return within months, as I did, whether they are exclusively breastfeeding or not. Others will not see the return of their menses until they stop breastfeeding completely (this can be years in some cases). Whilst some may consider the possibility of no periods for years to be a blessing, it may not be perceived that way by a mother who is hoping to conceive again whilst they are still nursing. There is no way to know when your period will return for as long as you are breastfeeding, as this varies from mother to mother. Most nursing mothers see their periods return within 9 to 18 months (1). It is important to remember though, that ovulation takes place before a period and so it is entirely possible to get pregnant again - breastfeeding or not - even if you have not resumed menstruation.
If your period does return whilst you are breastfeeding, it may have an impact upon your milk supply in the days or weeks leading up to it. To combat this, a daily supplement of, “500 to 1,000 mg of a calcium and magnesium from the middle of your cycle through the first three days of your period (1).”
Many women experience a drop in their supply, as well as symptoms like sensitive or sore nipples in the run up to their period. This is thought to be caused by hormonal fluctuations.
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Source:
https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/menstruation/
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My baby is sleeping long stretches (day or night), do I need to wake them to feed?
It is recommended that you breastfeed your baby on demand for as long as you are breastfeeding. This means that if your baby is awake and signalling for milk by doing things like chewing their fists; turning their head from side to side; sucking fingers, or lips; sticking their tongue in and out; rooting (moving their head towards anything which touches their cheek); smacking their lips or squirming, fidgeting or fussing, you should offer them the breast and allow them to nurse until they stop or unlatch themselves. If your baby is asleep, you do not need to wake them to feed them unless you have been expressly told to do this by your healthcare provider. Your milk supply will adjust to your babies needs as long as you breastfeed on demand. The exception to this would be if your baby is overly sleepy, unresponsive, struggling to stay awake and not gaining weight at the expected rate. They should also be producing at least 8 heavy wet nappies within 24 hours and at least two dirty nappies (soiled with a stool around 1 inch in diameter) within 24 hours for the first 8 weeks of their lives. Please seek help from a healthcare professional as soon as possible if any of these behaviours are not true of your baby, as this could be a sign of dehydration.
Do I need to pump milk for my baby?
The only time that you need to pump is if you are actively trying to increase your milk supply. Remember that the more you nurse or pump, the more milk your breasts will produce. Therefore, if you pump between or alongside nursing your baby, your breasts will produce more milk in order to meet that increased demand. This may be something that you would like to do if you intend to build a freezer stash for once you stop breastfeeding. However, maintaining this routine is not necessary if you do not want to do this. In fact, if you pump without needing to, you may trigger an oversupply of milk or an overactive letdown. Symptoms of oversupply include: your baby fussing or choking at the breast, spitting up lots of milk or having green, frothy stools because they are not getting enough of the fattier hind milk at the end of a feed.
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My baby is sleeping long stretches (day or night), do I need to wake them to feed?
It is recommended that you breastfeed your baby on demand for as long as you are breastfeeding. This means that if your baby is awake and signalling for milk by doing things like chewing their fists; turning their head from side to side; sucking fingers, or lips; sticking their tongue in and out; rooting (moving their head towards anything which touches their cheek); smacking their lips or squirming, fidgeting or fussing, you should offer them the breast and allow them to nurse until they stop or unlatch themselves. If your baby is asleep, you do not need to wake them to feed them unless you have been expressly told to do this by your healthcare provider. Your milk supply will adjust to your babies needs as long as you breastfeed on demand. The exception to this would be if your baby is overly sleepy, unresponsive, struggling to stay awake and not gaining weight at the expected rate. They should also be producing at least 8 heavy wet nappies within 24 hours and at least two dirty nappies (soiled with a stool around 1 inch in diameter) within 24 hours for the first 8 weeks of their lives. Please seek help from a healthcare professional as soon as possible if any of these behaviours are not true of your baby, as this could be a sign of dehydration.
Do I need to pump milk for my baby?
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The only time that you need to pump is if you are actively trying to increase your milk supply. Remember that the more you nurse or pump, the more milk your breasts will produce. Therefore, if you pump between or alongside nursing your baby, your breasts will produce more milk in order to meet that increased demand. This may be something that you would like to do if you intend to build a freezer stash for once you stop breastfeeding. However, maintaining this routine is not necessary if you do not want to do this. In fact, if you pump without needing to, you may trigger an oversupply of milk or an overactive letdown. Symptoms of oversupply include: your baby fussing or choking at the breast, spitting up lots of milk or having green, frothy stools because they are not getting enough of the fattier hind milk at the end of a feed.
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