Jessica Thorpe IBCLC

29/11/2025

07/06/2025

Simeticone (infacol) is no more effective than a placebo, and is not recommended but the NICE guidelines for treatment of colic.

02/04/2025

Babywearing is wonderful but make sure your baby is correctly positioned in the sling or carrier. Incorrectly fitted slings can be dangerous.

Carrier height matters. Babies have large heavy heads with a prominent occipital bone at the back which can be easily pushed forwards by fabric/panels, forcing the chin onto the chest and obstructing airway. This can happen in loose carriers also as baby curls forward and sinks down.

The ideal height is at the nape of the neck so the head is free to move and airway is open. The body of the carrier must be snug to support the chest.

Carrier height can be too low: small/young/sleeping babies need support to their upper back. Older awake babies who have trunk control may enjoy arms out (typically the age they can be perched on the hip and held with one arm).

Please see your local sling library for support if your carrier is too tall or loose. If your baby has a floppy head, let us help you, *don’t be tempted to put the panel height up*. Usually the carrier needs tightening around the chest or the carrier may too big for your baby. See the link below for more information and help/suggestions.

https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/safe-carrier-height/



Thanks to Ronnie's Creative for the gorgeous artwork

16/03/2025

Breastfeeding isn’t just for the first year—it’s a dose-dependent biological process that continues to provide critical health benefits for as long as it’s sustained. The idea that breast milk somehow “loses” its value after infancy is simply false. In fact, the immunological, neurological, and emotional benefits increase the longer a child breastfeeds.

Breast milk doesn’t just supplement nutrition in toddlerhood—it actively adapts to meet a growing child’s needs. The antibodies, probiotics, stem cells, and growth factors in breast milk continue to protect against infections, boost gut health, and support brain development well beyond the first year. Studies show that children who breastfeed longer have lower rates of respiratory and ear infections, better emotional regulation, and even a reduced risk of chronic diseases later in life.

For mothers, the benefits of extended breastfeeding are just as powerful. The longer a mother breastfeeds, the greater the protection against breast and ovarian cancer, heart disease, metabolic disorders, and osteoporosis. The hormonal balance created by continued nursing can also help regulate stress and lower the risk of postpartum mood disorders.

Breastfeeding is more than just food—it’s a lifelong investment in health, connection, and well-being. A lucky child, indeed. 🤍

28/02/2025

A good latch on a bottle is important for comfortable, paced bottle feeding.

10/08/2024

Normalise newborn behaviours!

So much worry about babies swallowing air, or passing gas, or feeding patterns.
Something to think about…

23/05/2024

If your baby has reflux read this.

GORD can only truly be diagnosed by an endoscopy to look for inflammation and a pH probe. That is pretty invasive. Babies are usually “assumed” to have GORD from the symptoms of being unsettled, not wanting to lie on their back, wanting carried all the time etc - basically due to crying and demands on the caregiver(s).

If medication is started it tends to follow a cycle. Gaviscon is usually tried first. A common side effect is constipation. What do babies do if constipated? They have to push harder, strain more, increase their abdominal pressure. What does increased abdominal pressure do? It increases reflux episodes.

Then an acid suppressant is trialled. For some babies this makes a difference (these tend to be allergy babies IME and the acid suppressant is not the solution there, it’s just helped uncover the original problem). For the vast majority of babies though acid suppression does not reduce crying - we know this from studies. So parents return to GP a few weeks later saying there is no change. Baby has grown in those weeks and is now heavier, so the dosage is just increased. If it didn’t make a change before (because the crying was nothing to do with acid) then it doesn’t make a difference again.

After a while caregivers decide to stop the acid suppressant which doesn’t seem to be working. That causes acid rebound (genuinely higher than normal production) and that may really make the baby more unsettled - so they conclude the drug is needed and go back on it.

This is why babies need a proper assessment at the start, rather than an assumption that crying=excess acid. In reality in almost all babies crying = 4th trimester or crying = a feeding issue. Good support around feeding, and helping you understand your baby’s neurodevelopment and their communications is key and can stop you getting into this medication cycle.

14/05/2024

Highly recommend this wonderful organisation 💕☕️

Coming up next Tuesday 21st May at Coffee #1 in Fareham, our Fareham and Gosport Group Meet-Up.

Our in-person meet-ups are very informal, free to attend and with the option to purchase reasonably priced and delicious food and drinks in our lovely cafe venues. Our team can usually be spotted in bright pink t-shirts with our logo or by the pile of pregnancy, birth and parenting books in the middle of the table. �
There's no time too soon or too late to start coming along. You can come alone or bring anyone you like with you. You don't have to arrive at the start or stay the whole time just drop in when it works for you. You don't have to ask anything just come and enjoy some company but if you want to you can ask anything, there's no such thing as a stupid question or something that's too embarrassing.
�We're just as happy to talk about feelings that feel overwhelming, making birth choices, vagina-related topics, the contents of babies' nappies or anything in-between.�
Image: Blue background with purple IPBB logo and text that reads:
Fareham & Gosport Group Meet-Up
Tuesday 21st May
Coffee #1 Fareham
Everyone Welcome

11/05/2024

Love this! New meet & support group for parents

🪇 NEW! NEW PARENTS MEET AND CONNECT! Weekly from Friday 7 June 2-3pm. 🧸

🪇 New Parents Meet and Connect is a free supportive drop-in library session that is perfect for new babies and first-time parents/carers. Connect with other parents and explore sensory activities.

🧸 Your local library is a hub of support and information for new parents and babies during their first twelve months and beyond. Find out how we can help your new family by popping along to our weekly Friday afternoon sessions at 2pm.

ℹ️ Find out more information at: www.hants.gov.uk/library-parents