Learning the Baby Dance- Jenni Helm

19/02/2026

19/02/2026

This is why we started All about mums. We are here to be part of your village. It's hard to be a mum especially at this time. It's important to have others to talk to and share your good times and hard times.

31/01/2026

Did you know your Breastmilk is a potent cocktail of hormones. 🙌🏼😱💕

26/01/2026

Breastfeeding- Do you think you have supply issues?

I have noticed a lot of mums are anxious about their supply. They may have in the past expressed a certain amount after feeding and now this has reduced to smaller amounts.
Let’s look at how you can weigh this up.

Firstly -look at your baby. Do they look and act well? This is what I call the big picture.
By now you know what normal looks like. If they are lethargic or not feeding well you need to act quickly. Get a review straight away by GP or go to hospital.
Babies should wake with energy to feed.

Secondly -Are they growing well?
It’s a good idea to weigh baby naked for first 6 months especially if you are concerned about weight. Plot their weight on the growth chart available in your blue book.
Growth is usually 150-200gms a week in the first 6 months.
Some babies on the lower end of percentiles might be a bit less.
Percentiles are just a way to see if your baby is following the normal curve. It is ok if they drop one percentile, you could think about seeing a child and family health nurse but if they drop two percentiles you need to see someone, a GP or lactation consultant to assess what is going on.

6-12 months- most will put on 100gms a week.

In the second year they put on around 200gms a month

Thirdly output- After the first week
Are they wetting 5-6 times in 24 hrs?
Are they also pooing regularly? It should be soft when it comes out. If it is like pebbles or firm to touch it needs review. Some breastfed babies will not poo very often but it should be still soft. The latest research is looking at gut health as possibly impacting this.

In the first 5-6 weeks your breastmilk supply is just establishing. It is usual to have a surplus as your body is getting used to producing. Basically, as you empty the breast regularly (anything from hourly to 3 hourly) it will make more. The breast is never empty even if it feels that way. Within 30 mins most of the milk is replenished. So baby is getting something even when they cluster feed. If there is longer between feeds and your breast feels full it will send a message to your brain that there is too much and to reduce supply. So those frequent feeds are good for your supply. After that it stabilises so may not have excess like you did in the earlier weeks.
If you need to pump wait till 30 mins after completion of feed. Don’t stress if it is only smaller amounts compared to the early weeks. Babies will often drain much more than you can express.
Babies will often wake for a feed less than 3 hours after the last one. When was the last time you went 3 hours without a drink or a snack?
You have got this!

20/01/2026

10/01/2026

04/01/2026

Discover all that Learning the Baby Dance has to offer on our website!

Are you pregnant or a new parent? Are you needing support with your new baby?

Visit us at https://learningthebabydance.com.au today to see what services I can provide!

Call now for a free 20min phone session to discuss your needs. Our IBCLC is keen to meet you!

24/12/2025

💕

Love came down in the quiet of a holy night. Not wrapped in grandeur, but in humility. Not given from abundance, but from perfect love. He loved us so much, He gave us Jesus. And that gift still changes everything. 🙌

18/12/2025

Fact: Gagging is not choking and gagging does not lead to choking.

The body is designed to protect the airway and keep food out of the airway during both eating and swallowing and gagging, and even when throwing up.

When food is swallowed, more than 50 muscles work together to coordinate the motion. One is our vocal folds coming together like sliding doors in the breathing tube to tightly close off our airway and prevent anything from entering it. Amazingly, the muscles of the throat close tightly shut and the airway is pulled up and slightly forward, safely out of the way when we vomit or gag so that particles of food or liquid do not enter it.

So how does choking occur?

Choking occurs when there is a miscoordination of the swallow and food or liquid sneaks past our multiple lines of defense.

Things that can increase the risk of such type of coordination failure include:

✔️Caregiver placing finger food in a child’s mouth
✔️Caregiver putting their fingers in a child’s mouth
✔️Eating while in a reclined position
✔️Eating while laughing or coughing
✔️Eating while crying
✔️Eating while walking around
✔️Being startled while eating
✔️Lack of supervision while eating
✔️Eating while distracted

To access our free choking rescue guides for babies and toddlers download the Solid Starts App 📲

16/12/2025

03/12/2025

This is a thing

02/12/2025

Studies show that babies who sleep near a parent receive roughly 13,000 more hours of touch by the time they turn three. This close contact is often misunderstood as creating “bad habits,” but research proves it plays a crucial role in developing a healthy stress response.

Touch and physical closeness regulate the nervous system. Infants who experience consistent, gentle contact are better able to manage stress, feel secure, and develop emotional resilience. Their brains learn that the world is safe, and this foundation supports learning, social growth, and confidence as they age.

Co-sleeping or keeping your baby nearby does not spoil them. It strengthens bonding, encourages healthy attachment, and teaches the brain how to self-regulate under safe conditions. Small gestures like holding, rocking, and cuddling have long-lasting effects on brain chemistry, cortisol levels, and overall emotional development.

Parents can feel confident that closeness builds the brain and promotes lifelong emotional health. The more babies feel safety and connection early on, the stronger their ability to handle challenges later in life.