Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
May 17, 2024
Many parents who embark on a breast/chestfeeding journey come across a pump at some point. Whether your feeding journey doesn’t get off to the start you hoped it would, or you want to try introducing a bottle, or because exclusively pumping is your first choice, whatever the reason, having an efficient tool for expressing milk can be a real help.
In addition to the important first hour after birth, during which your newborn baby goes through the nine stages of adaptation, expressing milk can also play a decisive role in the start of your feeding journey. Before the birth, however, your milk is not pumped, but expressed by hand, to
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Expert Tips for Parents
April 04, 2024
Breast/chestfeeding has so many benefits for mum and baby. But unfortunately, first-time parents with no experience are often unsure when it comes to breast/chestfeeding after birth. After all, they don't know exactly what to expect. They hear and see a lot in advance. From glossy social media images of happy breast/chestfeeding to well-intentioned advice from family members and friends to honest and unembellished testimonials from mum friends... All of this influences their own expectations of what can and should happen after birth. This information can often cause uncertainty or even stress. As wonderful as breast/chestfeeding is, it can also be stressful at the beginning (but it doesn't have to be).
Our midwife and breast/chestfeeding expert Katrin Ritter knows that although both parent and child are made for breast/chestfeeding, both have to learn it first. So that’s exactly what we’re sharing today: a “how to” for
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Expert Tips for Parents
March 19, 2024
You've waited so long for the moment when you finally hold your little baby in your arms. This breath-taking moment, these incredible emotions, this miracle... And yet for many mums (and dads too), this moment heralds a phase characterised by expectations, pressure, and stress. Ideally, of course, this shouldn't be the case. But unfortunately, in many cases we ourselves and our outside world make sure that we want too much and that everything runs smoothly and perfectly. Especially when it comes to breast/chestfeeding. Mums who want to breast/chestfeed their baby quickly become nervous if things don't go as planned straight away. Understandably so. After all, they see their baby lying hungry in front of them and want to finally give them what they so desperately want. And then it doesn't work...
The situation just described leads us to ask how stress and breast/chestfeeding problems are connected. How does the stress experienced
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
January 29, 2024
Colostrum... what? If you don’t know what this term means, or if you do but you don’t really know details, then you’re not alone! Especially if you don’t already have children, or aren’t planning to breast/chestfeed. But if you are planning on feeding baby this way and would like to know more, then we’ve got you! Today we’re talking all about colostrum: what it is, when you can start expressing it, how to collect it, everything you need to know.
What is colostrum?
Colostrum is the medical term for the first milk produced by your body during pregnancy (from around the 16th week of pregnancy). It is also called first milk, colostrum or even "liquid gold" due its colour and incredible properties. Tailored to your newborn's needs, it is highly concentrated and rich in proteins and nutrients. In addition, the first milk is low in fat, easy for
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Expert Tips for Parents
November 30, 2023
Ouch! What was that? You're sitting completely relaxed on the sofa with your baby and then suddenly your baby bites you! We get it, it really hurts ... After all, the nipple is super sensitive. And tiny little teeth are razor sharp. But don't worry, this is really the exception rather than the rule. If your baby belongs to the "teether" team, then today's blog article is for you. Because our midwife and expert Katrin Ritter knows why some babies do it and has some helpful biting-related chestfeeding / breastfeeding tips for you.
Baby bites while breastfeeding: When does it start?
On average, babies' first milk teeth come in between the sixth and eighth month of life. However, some babies start teething earlier (3rd/4th month) or later.
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Expert Tips for Parents
September 13, 2023
If you’ve just started out breast/chest feeding, you might be seeking guidance on how to gauge your baby's milk intake, understand the causes of low milk production, and learn effective methods to increase milk supply. This is a common concern for breast/chest feeding mums. After all, your breasts/chest don’t have a full/empty gauge, so how do you know how much is coming out?
Luckily, there’s usually no need to worry about this: Breast/chest fed babies usually take as much milk as they need at each feed, and under normal conditions your breasts/chest will automatically produce less or more breast milk in response to that demand.
So how can you tell if that’s happening? If you’re ever in doubt, your postpartum midwife or a lactation consultant (IBCLC) can give you specific help you on your breast/chest feeding journey.
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
August 29, 2023
The first few days after birth can be quite exhausting and tiring for most breast/chest feeding mothers.
People often talk about a "breast/chest feeding marathon", as your baby is expected to drink every two to three hours. This is normal and may take a few days for your milk production to adjust to your baby's needs. In the first three days, your baby may need between 2 to 20 ml of colostrum per meal, and then switch to transition milk from day four. Then, from day fifteen, you will be breast/chest feeding mature breast/chest milk.
However, breast/chest feeding does not always go smoothly. In most cases, pain during breast/chest feeding is caused by sore or cracked nipples. Our midwife Katrin Ritter explains how you can prevent sore nipples and milk engorgement and what can help you if it does happen.
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Expert Tips for Parents
August 02, 2023
Why can breastfeeding be painful?
Breastfeeding can have some of the weirdest side effects, as Sandra, our lactation consultant, knows all too well. Unfortunately, pain is also part of it and unfortunately the reason is not always as clear as if the baby is teething. Some mothers also complain about the formation of milk blisters on the nipple. In today's breastfeeding advice you can find out what is behind this and what to do in this case.
What do milk blisters on the nipple mean?
There are many different reasons why a blister can develop on the nipple. Often a small skin forms above a milk duct on the nipple. This is accompanied by a tingling sensation in the breast and pain when breastfeeding. The milk is hindered in its flow by the membrane and can even lead
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Expert Tips for Parents
July 31, 2023
Breast/chest feeding is very beneficial for your baby. That's why World Breast/Chest Feeding Week is being celebrated again from the 1st until the 7th August celebrate all things feeding.
This year's theme is "Breast/chest feeding at work - know your rights". If you are planning to return to work, training, or education whilst breast/chest feeding, the NHS states you can ask your employer or college for flexible working hours arranged around your breast/chest feeding needs.
While we're on the subject of "work", we thought we'd share with you some insights from our Ergobaby employees’ personal experiences with breast/chestfeeding to give you some top tips.
Secret 1: "Don't listen to others, listen to your own feeling".
Health & Wellness
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Expert Tips for Parents
June 26, 2023
Preparing a meal or your favourite snack together with your baby or toddler can be really fun. Even if you see images of splattered walls, squished ingredients on the worktop and a completely soaked child in your mind's eye - cooking with children actually has many advantages for your little one and also for you as a family. Our experienced weaning coach Lola from DME Bébé in France will tell you what they are below.
Encourage independence