Tiny Tummies Lactation & Nutrition

11/11/2025

Summer means beach days, café catch-ups… and feeding your baby wherever you are ☀️

Breastfeeding and expressing in public is your legal right even at pools, beaches and holiday spots. If your baby needs a feed, you’re exactly where you should be.

Know your rights and feel confident getting out this summer:
🔗 aba.asn.au/public

You’ve got this and ABA is right here with you 💙

10/11/2025

When a breast becomes engorged the pressure from swelling and increased blood flow can be extremely uncomfortable and painful.
What is being felt is NOT the pressure from milk, it’s pressure from congestion, increased blood flow (hyperaemia) and interstitial fluid (oedema) ✅
Pumping to relieve pressure may provide some short term relief, but this relief is only going to be very short lived. In the long term pumping is only going to make things a whole lot worse!
Pumping not only stimulates more milk to be made which is already struggling to get out, it draws more fluid and blood flow into the already swollen congestion breast tissue.
Introducing a pump to “manage” engorgement does not “protect” milk supply it “risks” it, by creating more congestion in a gland that IS getting blocked, but not from milk .
Milk is not the problem 🤷‍♀️

Supporting the lactating breast tissue CORRECTLY during this physiological process IS what prevents worsening symptoms and unnecessary complications ✅
Continue to breastfeed your baby, gently hand express if your baby is not latching. Less stimulation is going to help clear congestion, over stimulation won’t 🤷‍♀️
ICE, ICE, ICE your swollen engorged breast. You can’t ice too much ✅
Ice will provide pain relief and comfort while it's working to open up milk ducts, making it easier for milk to flow again.
Remember not to massage ✅🙏🙏🙏
Lactating breast tissue is like delicate coral , especially when it’s under pressure ✅
Gentle lymphatic drainage using an open flat hand to gently stroke backwards at the pressure of patting a cat really helps ✅
A supportive bra helps reduce any dependent swelling (oedema) ✅
Early postpartum engorgement is often misdiagnosis as mastitis. Incorrect management IS what turns a normal physiological process into a breast tissue complication that is totally avoidable.🤷‍♀️ It is normal for the skin the look pink during early postpartum engorgement. You are experiencing congestive symptoms in highly metabolic gland that is SUPER susceptible to becoming SWOLLEN and flooded with increased blood flow not infection 🤷‍♀️
The lactating breast tissue is actually very resistant to infection unless it is taken there by inappropriate management - AKA massaging and pumping!!
The lactating breast IS SO misunderstood!!

09/11/2025

02/11/2025

Mastitis usually starts with a simple inflammation in just one milk duct which causes the duct to narrow, slowing down the flow of milk. This has often been called a “plugged” duct but since there isn’t really a “plug,” this term can be misleading.

It's not necessary to squeeze the “plug” out. Pumping or feeding more than baby wants to “free the plug” is also not helpful. These strategies can make the problem worse.

Using cool compresses, anti-inflammatory drugs and feeding only as much as baby wants, helps to reduce the inflammation. This reduces pressure on the ducts so the milk is able to get flowing again.

For more strategies and information on mastitis please see https://www.lllc.ca/mastitis-matter-inflammation

If you are not starting to feel better after 24 hours and continue to have a fever and/or fast heart rate, talk with your healthcare provider about the possible use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are not recommended unless a bacterial infection is suspected. You can continue to nurse your baby while you are taking antibiotics.

Remember that breastfeeding can and should carry on throughout treatment for mastitis. If you need information and support, La Leche League Canada is here to help. Go to lllc.ca/get-help to find your local LLLC Group.

02/11/2025

Think skin to skin ends after the first week? Think again! For toddlers, it's a powerful regulator for big emotions and a huge boost to their sense of security. Keep cuddling those babies!

24/10/2025

Resharing this post after a conversation with a friend this morning.

The mastitis guidelines changed a number of years ago. We now know that mastitis is caused by inflammation, so the old advice of heat packs and massage is the worst thing you can do as it will just increase inflammation!

Remember:
✔️Ibuprofen
✔️Ice
✔️Rest
✔️Fluids
✔️+/- Probiotics (emerging evidence suggest that certain strains of bacteria are helpful in managing or preventing mastitis)

Antibiotics may be needed if inflammatory mastitis turns into bacterial mastitis, however with early icing and ibuprofen, you can potentially avoid infection and the need for antibiotics.

Remember, if no improvement in symtoms within 24hrs, seek urgent medical care!

Mastitis can come on so quickly!

The past two days I have been so busy at work that I only pumped once at lunch time instead of morning and afternoon. Today at lunch time when I was pumping I noticed that the inside of my left breast was quite hard, so used some gentle massage while pumping. Cue my evening shower at 6pm and I noticed I had a really tender area of my breast that was tuning red.

Instantly I knew it was mastitis and started the management at home
✔️ Ibuprofen and panadol
✔️ Ice, Ice, Ice. 20 minutes on 20 minutes off
✔️ Mr 14 months old to feed as usual
✔️ Not to overfeed from that breast (don't want to create an over supply)
✔️ If things get worse in the next 24hrs or I get fevers, I will book an urgent GP appointment

Managing mastitis promptly is so vital because if left untreated, it can turn into a nasty abcess!. Frozen corn is my best friend tonight!

www.tinytummieslactation.com.au

19/10/2025

A few appointments are still available this week, either in clinic or home visit. Reach out at www.tinytummieslactation.com.au

19/10/2025

Come along and say hi at the grow your village expo. See instagram link for the details!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP-aPLaCCvH/?igsh=MWpwYmNlOWs2cG5iMA==

10/10/2025

Feeling deflated off the back of 3 local mums requiring hospital admission for a breast abscess caused by massaging, heat and over production.
This post is another plea to spread the word about NOT MASSAGING 🙏🙏🙏
These mums were not clients of mine.
None of the mums under my care and watch suffer with mastitis or its complications.
Two of these mums I am now involved with, but they found me too late 😔
Totally preventable that’s the sad part!!
Now they are in a hospital system that’s doing its best but does not have any surgeons trained in lactation 😔
Yes you read this right!!!🤯🤯🤯🤯
In fact there are currently only 2 breast surgeons in the world 🌎 who are also trained & knowledgeable in breastfeeding medicine 🤯🤯
Both are in the US - one is Dr Katrina Mitchell and the other is a colleague of Katrina’s who she shared her knowledge with.
This is a world wide social injustice!!
This would not be the case if men’s breasts could lactate and feed a baby!! 😡 We would have the best surgical care and trained lactation surgeons for them. 🤷‍♀️
These last 2 weeks have been hard knowing that I could of easily prevented what these mums are now experiencing 😔
The suffering is indescribable 😔
No one talks about the physical and mental scares these women will carry for life.
Their breasts are a mess 😔
One has already lost milk production in her affected breast. 😔
I am desperately trying to keep her breastfeeding going using only one breast now if we can 🙏
Prevention is the only way I can really help until Dr Katrina Mitchell can teach the medical world a better, more effective & simpler way to manage & resolve a breast abscess in a lactating breast 😐 She can drain and cure an abscess effectively with one procedure in her office without a mum having to be even admitted to hospital 🙌
Any person still supporting the recommendation to use heat and any repeated massage, no matter how gentle is risking the health of lactating mothers and their babies!!
Simple as that 🤷‍♀️
Seek expert lactation help if you are experiencing any swelling, inflammation or lumps in your breasts and please keep hands off your breasts!!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

26/09/2025

If your baby suddenly wants to nurse all the time, especially in the evening, you’re not alone! This is called cluster feeding, and it’s completely normal.

Why it happens:
✔️ Helps boost milk supply
✔️ Offers comfort during growth spurts
✔️ Supports your baby’s development

It can feel intense, but it’s temporary. Remember: your baby’s frequent feeding is their way of telling your body exactly what they need.

Have questions or need reassurance? Connect with a Leader near you or check out resources at LLLC.ca

You don’t have to navigate these long days (and nights!) alone. 💚

24/09/2025