Feeding Festivities

Breastfeeding is short and sweet in the grand scheme of our baby’s life. Therefore not every breastfeeding mum has the experience of feeding throughout the Christmas festivities. There are a lot of expectations around motherhood and often not a lot of conversation around the realities. Christmas with a baby can be a daunting time and through the unpredictability of a newborn, there is one certainty. As the Christmas tree and the tidal wave of decorations descend upon our households, irregular cluster feeds and night waking do not disappear. The Christmas holidays mean nothing for a baby who is fed on demand. We shouldn’t expect our babies to feed any differently from their usual feeding behaviours.

Our babies are not worried about how many family members are present. And they certainly are not worried if our second cousin’s partner, (who we haven’t met) is on the family facetime call.

High Expectations

Christmas can be enough to make the ever-increasing pressures of being a new mum, feel even more stressful. As a feeding consultant, it is no surprise the question I am asked the most is ‘How do I make my baby sleep for longer?’ and with the added exhaustion of Christmas, this question can soon turn to desperation. Long car journeys, more cuddles from family members and being busy can sometimes mean we miss our all-important feeding cues. It doesn’t take long before the seeds of doubt over breastfeeding start to snowball.

There are some ways to look after yourself and your feeding routine through the festive season

• If you feel anxieties about visits during the holidays, make sure you discuss them with your partner. What are your worries regarding feeding leading up to the visit? Is there a way your partner can alleviate some of that stress? If not your partner, are you able to discuss your concerns with someone else who will be there and can offer support? Do not be afraid to communicate what will help you enjoy this time.
• Although there is no expectation to cover up during breastfeeding, it is also very acceptable to want some privacy. Check ahead of visits for safe spaces where you will feel confident to snuggle in a feed, without the pressure to move quickly. Plan your clothing, so you do not need to get undressed to feed. Nursing clothes do not need to be expensive, low-cost stretchy vest tops under everyday clothes are just as effective.
• If you have other younger children, it can feel daunting trying to entertain a toddler and feed. A great idea is creating a fun box to take with you, that is assuming they will not be caught up in wrapping paper and family gifts. Keep your busy box close by, so your hands can be used to support your nursing.
• Remember no baby is a ‘bad baby’. Our little ones are supposed to wake frequently throughout the night for little and often feeds. These are very normal infant feeding behaviours and signs your baby is healthy and thriving. Although family members are usually trying to be helpful with advice around night waking and when best to introduce solids. Do not be afraid to divert the conversation away from your feeding routine. And what better way to do distract a group of adults- wine and turkey.
• Do not refuse offers at help at Christmas. There’s a lot to be said for arriving, eating up, snuggling up, washing up – and then leaving. Remember mum might be in charge of the meat and potatoes, sister might be in charge of the veg, but you are in charge of the breastfeeding. You have the most important job this Christmas and if that doesn’t deserve putting your feed up after dinner, then I don’t know what does. 

Final Thoughts

My advice comes from lived experience, with a baby born 3 days before Christmas. I spent the entire day feeding in bed whilst the chaos descended downstairs, and I still remember it as one of the nicest Christmases I have had. The key is to remember that the hustle and bustle of Christmas is short lived. Keep expectations low and be as kind to yourself as possible.

Merry Christmas MAMAS x

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The Effects of Sleep Deprivation.

When I was preparing for the birth of my first daughter, I was confident that I was ready for the sleepless nights that lay ahead. I was an experienced midwife and had done my fair share of night shifts; during many of which I hadn’t stopped for a break all night. So, it couldn’t be worse than that, could it? But, oh, how I reflected upon that thought process when I was in the thick of the night-time cluster feeding sessions with my firstborn! Don’t get me wrong… Those moments that I sat feeding my daughter in the middle of the night, just the two of us, were incredibly special. And now that I’ve caught up on sleep (four years and another baby later) I look back at this time with a full heart.

However, at a time of my life when I was experiencing night-after-night of repeatedly broken sleep; without a handover of care or the end of a ‘shift’. I fully felt the effects of extreme sleep deprivation; I found it hard to carry out the most basic of tasks or hold a normal conversation. As the weeks rolled on, I could feel my anxiety starting to bubble up as the evening approached; feeling so unsure of what lay ahead. However, as they say with all things raising little ones, ‘everything is just a phase’ and a phase it was!

So, with a clearer head, let me share with you some of my favourite tips; that I picked up along the way to help you survive the night with your new baby:

1. Preparation is Key

Get into a routine of preparing a little kit of all things you may need overnight, so they are easy to grab in your bleary-eyed hour of need. Items you may want to include:

• Nappies
• Wet wipes or cotton wool
• Nappy sacks
• Muslin squares
• A fresh set of clothes for your baby
• Breast pads

A friend of mine bought me a nappy caddy that came in extremely handy for me to keep all these essential items in one convenient place. Also, if you have a partner or person supporting you, ask them to take on the responsibility of restocking the night-time kit each day. Not only will this be of help to you but can allow them to feel included in the feeding process.

2. Light Bulb Moment

It’s well worth investing in a suitable night light if you’re up frequently overnight with your little one. There are many different styles to choose from; so do your research and select one that suits your needs the best. Ultimately, it’s a good idea to keep your night feeding sessions calm, quiet and dimly lit; with time, this will help your baby learn the difference between day and night.

3. Midnight Feast

It’s not just your little one who is feeling somewhat peckish! The chances are if you’re up a lot overnight and your body is recovering from birth, or you’re breastfeeding, you will also need snacks yourself. So, prepare for this and have something easy to grab nearby. Try to choose snacks that are convenient, nutritious, and low in sugar. Don’t forget the importance of drinking plenty of water too.

4. Sounds Good

Try experimenting with sounds to soothe your baby and help them settle down to sleep. For example, many babies find white noise calming, and if you use the same one each night, they’ll gradually build a sleep association with the noise. It’s great for adults, too; I still find that the washing machine white noise from my mindfulness app makes me sleepy from the early days (and long nights) with my second daughter.

5. Brain Boost

Feeding your baby is a precious time for bonding and taking in all the details of their perfect little face. However, if you’ve lost count of how many feeds into the night you are and you’re struggling to stay awake, then try to have some little boredom busters to hand. For example, downloading a new book on your kindle is excellent as many of these have a dim backlight, so there is no need to light up the whole room. Alternatively, if reading isn’t your thing, you may enjoy popping your headphones in and listening to a podcast.

6. Are you okay?

My final tip is what I believe to be the most important one of them all. Somewhere, amongst the relentless cycle of sleepless nights and non-stop days is a mother recovering from nine months of pregnancy, the birth and what probably feels like the most significant learning curve of her life. So, whilst you are busy tending to your baby’s every need, please take a moment to check in with yourself. Above all, make sure you are up to date with your pain relief, top up your water bottle and accept offers of help. Lastly, never underestimate what good can come from reaching out for support either. Whether you are turning to your midwife, partner, or best friend; the power of a listening ear and reassurance that you’re doing a great job can be a game-changer.

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Breastfeeding Positions: The Basics

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Read on: Breastfeeding & Responsive Feeding – What Is It?

A dual-qualified nurse, midwife & health visitor with three beautiful children of her own.  Currently working as a health visitor, Claire loves working with families. Supporting them and their babies through the good and the hard times.

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FED IS BEST

Breastfeeding can lead to some of the most magical and peaceful experiences with your newborn. Giving you those precious moments to bond and enjoy first cuddles together. It can also be a great way to get your baby’s brain ticking.  On the other side, it can be stressful, very upsetting and disheartening when things don’t work out the way you wanted them to.  This is just a little reminder that FED is best and no matter how your baby gets fed, as long as they have that loving relationship with you it will all work out in the end. 

If you do want to breastfeed, there are lots of support groups and advice out there, but to begin with, your midwife and health visitor will be your first port of call. The midwife at the birth will support you with initial positioning and attachment. This may be overwhelming at first but as they say “practice makes perfect”. Breastfeeding will take longer than overnight to get the hang of it. But as they say: Rome wasn’t built in a day and the best things come to those who wait.  So have patience with yourself and you and your baby will learn the skill together.

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What Are The Benefits Of All This Hard Work?

As a health visitor, I get to meet lots of new parents; and their experiences are never the same.  I see first-hand the highs and the lows of feeding babies. Breastfeeding is a new skill that needs to be learnt and practised by both you and your baby.  The first few weeks can be tricky but once you get the hang of it you will (hopefully) learn to love every minute of it and treasure those special moments together.  Breastfeeding once established will build a strong bond physically and emotionally between you and your baby.

Here are a few benefits of breastfeeding:

• It uses up an extra 500 calories a day and this enhances weight loss.
• Breastmilk contains antibodies that will protect your baby from infections and diseases.
• It lowers the risk of getting breast and ovarian cancers for you, the mother.   
• Breast milk is all your baby will need in their first 6 months of life.
• It is made for your baby and will change to suit theirneeds every step of the way.
• Best of all its free.

I find that some mothers do not understand what to expect in those first few days and weeks after having their baby.  All parents have the right to make informed choices. As a Health Visitor, my job is to share my knowledge and experience. Helping support mothers and families in making the decision that is best for them and their baby.

The First Few Days Turn Into Weeks..

Everyone’s birth experience is different. What happens during your labour and how your baby comes into the world can determine when your mature milk supply comes in. If you have a vaginal birth the mature milk tends to come in within a few days. If you have a caesarean section the mature milk can take up to 5 days for your body to make. 

In the meantime, your body should produce a golden sticky substance called colostrum, which is also known as “liquid gold”.  The colostrum milk is filled with a high concentration of carbohydrates, protein and antibodies and is low in fat. Colustrum can enhance your baby’s immune system and help them to fight off infections, by coating the gut to protect it from germs. It can also help to reduce their risk of developing allergies as the grow.

Adjusting Milk Supply

It is very common for a newborn baby to lose weight in the first 5 days but don’t fret, they should regain this by around two weeks old (if this is not the case, please speak to your midwife or health visitor). As a newborn, your baby will drink milk in small quantities and will feed frequently, until your mature milk is produced.  I often find mothers at this point start to worry that they’re not producing enough milk. This frequent feeding helps stimulate your mature milk supply, that will come in a few days later.  This stage only lasts a few days and can be the toughest. It’s the time when not only are you still learning how to breastfeed but also adjusting to a lack of sleep.  

The breast will become fuller and the amount of milk supply you have will depend on your baby’s needs.  The milk will change colour and become creamier and this is the change from colostrum to the mature milk supply.

Is It Going Well? Trust Your Gut Instincts

You will know things are going well when your baby is feeding regularly; having 6 wet and 2 dirty nappies a day; your baby will rest after feeds; and can sleep around 1.5 hours to 3 hours in-between. That’s the ideal scenario, but the reality is often very different. Especially in the early days, you may find your baby is sleepy and you need to wake them up every 2 to 3 hours for feeding or your baby may want to be fed every ten minutes. 

Remember, your baby will have different needs to Mrs Jones’ baby down the road. Every baby is different so don’t worry about all the advice given around you, follow your gut instinct. If you feel that it is not going the way you thought it would, for either baby or yourself, it is important to reach out and call your midwife or your health visitor. If you struggle with sore boobs, please don’t suffer in silence, talk to you midwife or health visitor. Breastfeeding is a journey like learning to ride a bike. It can take a while, you may hit a few kerbs on the way but once you’ve both got the hang of it, it should get a lot easier.

Responsiveness Is The Way To Go

So the simplest way to establish breastfeeding in the early days is to be responsive. Your newborn baby should feed a minimum of 8-12 times in 24 hours; but responsive feeding is when you go with the flow and you don’t worry too much about clocks and routines.  When you feel engorged you feed. When your baby is looking for food you feed. It doesn’t matter if your baby feeds every three hours or every ten minutes at first.  We all have different appetites and this applies to your baby too.  A usual feed will last from 5 minutes to 40 minutes, so don’t worry about how long your baby feeds for, they will tell you when they are full by falling asleep and being content.

Sometimes in the day, your baby may feed more regularly and this is classed as cluster feeding. This is a very normal and natural thing for your baby to do, as they are encouraging your milk supply. 

Love, Care and Relax

Responsive feeding is so much more than just nutritional milk sharing. Bonding is an important part of becoming a parent and breastfeeding can enhance that feeling of love and comfort. 

Think about when you are hungry or thirsty; the portion size you want can depend on the weather, how busy you are and what you are doing. Your baby will be going through the exact same feelings.  When your baby is awake they are using up all their energy, so will often want to be fed earlier/more often than if they were asleep. 

You cannot spoil a newborn baby, their brain development hasn’t reached that stage yet. So cuddle your baby and pick them up as often as you want. Don’t feel guilty, so long as they are happy and gaining weight; you can just enjoy the time you have with your baby. It will fly quicker than you realise and soon enough you will be dropping them off at those school gates.

The Important Bit

Stop worrying about what is next and enjoy the now.  Just think that breastfeeding is the most natural thing you can experience with your baby and if it works for you, every time becomes a special moment for you and your baby.  Never be worried about asking for help, that is what the professionals are there for.  Always remember that cuddling, feeding, talking and caring for your baby is the best thing you can do for them. 

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By Katie Hilton

Below are my sterilising tips and advice to help you with the what, how and when of keeping everything clean and germ free.

Once your baby is born, you’ll spend the next 12 months sterilising everything that comes into contact with their mouth. This includes feeding equipment, soothers, spoons, teethers and toys. During the first year, a baby is most vulnerable to illnesses. If bottles and feeding equipment aren’t sterilised, viruses and bacteria can gather and make your baby ill. They could develop anything from mild oral thrush to tummy upsets, known as gastroenteritis.

Sterilising is a special way of cleaning your baby’s feeding equipment including bottles, teats and breast pump parts to ensure they are completely free from these harmful germs.

There are 3 common methods of sterilization:

• Microwave steaming using a steriliser in the microwave
• Electric steaming using an electric steam steriliser
• Cold water sterilisation using a sterilising solution – such as sterilising tablets or sterilising fluid and a container.

Most sterilisers only allow one type of sterilising which isn’t always practical for

The Benefits of a multi-use steriliser

However, if you choose to use the MAM 6-in-1 Steriliser you’ll be able to quickly and easily switch between all three methods of sterilisation. You might want to use it as an electric steam steriliser when at home, a microwave steam steriliser when going away for the weekend or both the microwave and cold-water options when travelling overseas.

Any equipment that comes into contact with baby’s mouth should be sterilized. This includes feeding equipment, soothers, spoons, teethers and toys. You should certainly sterilize for the first year of your child’s life while their immune system is developing. After this, you should continue to sterilize bottles and teats for as long as your baby is using them.

Before sterilizing any item it’s really important to wash thoroughly with hot soapy water to remove any food residue. Then place your items into the sterilizer following the manufacturers instructions. The sterilization process will take anywhere from 5-7 minutes dependent on which method you’re using.

Always be sure to sterilize each feeding item after use and keep items in the sterilizer until needed. Wash your hands and disinfect the surface before removing using the tongs. It’s recommended to re-sterilize items left in the sterilizer every 12 hours to ensure they’re always ready to use.

If using the MAM Easy Start Bottles these can be sterilised individually in the microwave. As with all items wash in hot soapy water first, then assemble using the instructions provided and place in the microwave for 3 minutes, increasing the time by one minute for each additional bottle.