JC Lactation Consultancy

10/11/2025

💬 Tongue Tie Dilemma!

👶 What is a tongue tie?
It is a condition that is present in babies at birth where a thick or tight band of tissue called the lingual frenulum restricts the movement of a baby’s tongue.
This is the thin tissue located under the tongue.

🍼 Babies need good tongue function to effectively latch to the breast or bottle feed.

If you suspect your baby may have a tongue tie, please get support from a professional as a division may not always be required.

It may be the reason why mum is experiencing sore ni***es due to an ineffective latch.
It may also result in slow weight gain in newborns, frequent crying, and fussing at the breast or bottle teat.

🤱 Please seek advice and support from either your:
✨ Local breastfeeding peer supporter (found in breastfeeding support groups)
✨ A breastfeeding counsellor
✨ Or an IBCLC Lactation Consultant

⚠️ Not all Tongue Tie Practitioners are Lactation Consultants and often don’t give you the support you need with feeding after the procedure.

💛 Hope this helps!

09/11/2025

🌸 The 4th Trimester – What to Expect 🌸

The 4th trimester is the first 12 weeks after birth — a time of huge change for both mum and baby. It’s a period of healing, bonding, and adjustment as you both get used to life together 🤱💕

👶 For Baby:
Your baby is getting used to the world outside the womb. Everything is new — light, sound, touch. During this time, your baby needs:
✨ Lots of cuddles and skin-to-skin
✨ Warmth and gentle comfort
✨ Frequent feeds for nutrition and connection
✨ Calm voices, rocking, and closeness

You are your baby’s safe place 💛

🤱 For Mum:
You’re recovering from pregnancy and birth, adjusting to new routines, and experiencing big emotional and hormonal changes.
Be gentle with yourself — it’s normal to feel tired, emotional, or unsure at times.

💗 Take time to rest when you can
💗 Accept help from others
💗 Eat nourishing foods and stay hydrated
💗 Trust your instincts – you know your baby best

This season can be intense, but it’s also full of beautiful, bonding moments. You’re doing better than you think 💕

03/11/2025

🌼 What Is Colostrum and Why Is It So Important? 🌼

🤱 Colostrum is the first milk your body produces during pregnancy and in the first few days after birth — often called “liquid gold” for a reason! ✨

⸻

💛 Benefits for Baby

👶 Helps protect your baby from infections — it’s packed with antibodies
🧠 Supports healthy brain development
🩷 Helps baby’s gut mature and pass their first poo (meconium)
🌱 Provides all the nutrition your baby needs in the first few days

⸻

💗 Benefits for Mum

🤍 Encourages bonding through early skin-to-skin and breastfeeding
🩸 Helps your uterus contract after birth, reducing bleeding
🌿 Builds confidence with early hand expressing before baby arrives

⸻

🕐 When to Harvest Colostrum

You can begin hand expressing from around 36–37 weeks of pregnancy, but always check with your midwife first 💬

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❄️ How to Collect & Store

💧 Express by hand into a clean container or syringe
🥶 Store in the freezer at –18°C or colder, clearly labelled with date and time
🧊 Defrost in the fridge or warm gently in your hands before giving to baby (never microwave!)

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💬 Why It Matters

Having some colostrum ready can be especially helpful if:
🍼 Baby may need extra feeding support after birth
💉 You have diabetes in pregnancy
🏥 You expect a caesarean birth or baby may need special care

⸻

✨ Colostrum – small in amount, mighty in benefit! ✨

02/11/2025

🌸 Are you about to become a mum?
🤱 Want to feel more informed about feeding your new baby?
Or maybe you’ve had your baby and are finding feeding difficult?

Feeding your baby should be a calm and positive experience — and I can help you achieve that 💜

⸻

✨ Breastfeeding Support
If you’re struggling with breastfeeding, experiencing pain, or finding your ni***es sore or cracked — you’re not alone.

✔️ Ensuring good positioning and latch often helps resolve these issues.
✔️ Keep baby close, make sure you’re comfortable, and remember “nose to nipple.”
✔️ Wait for baby’s mouth to open wide before helping them latch on.

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🍼 Bottle Feeding Support
If your baby dribbles excessively, clicks when feeding, or struggles with their bottle — support can make a difference.

✔️ Try paced feeding to help baby control their feed.
✔️ Gently support the lower jaw for a better seal on the teat.
✔️ Exploring different bottles or teats can also help reduce dribbling and colic symptoms.

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💜 Let’s make feeding your baby a calm, confident experience.

📞 Get in touch today for personalised support and advice.
🌐 www.jclactationconsultancy.co.uk

I am a Lactation Consultant in Kent offering breastfeeding support, baby massages, and in-home consultations. Call 07359 758716 today!

27/10/2025

🌸 New Mums: Understanding Your Newborn’s Tiny Tummy! 🌸

Did you know your baby’s stomach starts tiny and grows super fast in the first few weeks? Knowing how much their little tummy can hold helps explain why newborns feed so often — and why small, frequent feeds are perfectly normal! 💕

Here’s a quick guide:

🩵 Day 1: Tummy = size of a cherry 🍒 → only about 5–7 mL per feed (just a teaspoon!)
🩵 Day 3: Size of a walnut 🌰 → 20–30 mL per feed (around 1 oz)
🩵 End of Week 1: Size of an apricot 🍑 → 45–60 mL per feed
🩵 2 Weeks: Size of a large egg 🥚 → 60–90 mL per feed
🩵 4 Weeks: Size of a plum 🍑 → 90–120 mL per feed
🩵 6–8 Weeks: Size of a small peach 🍑 → 90–150 mL per feed

👉 How often do babies feed?
• Breastfed babies: 8–12 times in 24 hours (often cluster feeding too!)
• Formula-fed babies: Every 3–4 hours, gradually increasing from 60 mL to 150 mL per feed by 6–8 weeks.

💧 Signs baby is getting enough:
✅ 6+ wet nappies a day after the first week
✅ Steady weight gain
✅ Soft yellow poo (for breastfed babies)
✅ Baby looks satisfied after feeds

🌙 By 6–8 weeks, some babies start spacing feeds out a bit more — but every baby is different. Keep feeding on demand, and follow their cues rather than the clock. 💞

Remember, tiny tummies grow fast — but so does your confidence as a mum 💪💗

26/10/2025

Skin-to-skin contact — also called “kangaroo care” — means placing a newborn directly on the mother’s (or father’s) bare chest immediately after birth. It’s one of the most beneficial early practices for both baby and parent, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF as part of essential newborn care.

“The Magic of Skin-to-Skin Contact”
🍼 The Power of Skin-to-Skin Contact After Birth
One of the simplest — yet most powerful — ways to care for your newborn 💖

👶 What is skin-to-skin contact?
Placing your baby directly on your bare chest right after birth.
Warmth, comfort, and love — all in one beautiful moment. 🤱

💓 Immediate benefits for your baby:
• Stabilizes heart rate & breathing
• Keeps temperature steady
• Reduces crying & stress
• Boosts brain development 🧠

🍼 Helps breastfeeding naturally:
• Encourages baby to latch on easily
• Boosts milk production
• Strengthens the breastfeeding bond

💞 Good for mum, too!
• Promotes uterine contractions
• Reduces bleeding
• Triggers oxytocin — the “love hormone”
• Builds confidence and emotional connection

🕒 The “Golden Hour”
Start skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth and continue often in the following days.
It’s safe, soothing, and healing for both of you. 🌷
Sometimes it may not be possible due to the medical needs or mum and/or baby, so if this is the case as soon as it is safe to do so it’s never too late to start ❤️

💗 Your touch is your baby’s first language.
Hold them close. Keep them warm.
Welcome them into the world with love. 🌍🤱

20/10/2025

Recently I’ve been completing training to update knowledge and skills in tongue tie. It’s amazing how quickly this is diagnosed and often treated by a very quick procedure to release the tension. Feeding is then reported to improve. Although this can sometimes not be the case!
What is often missed is that the tongue tie procedure is not always needed and feeding issues can be conservatively and non invasively treated by simple techniques looking at altering babies position on the breast, supporting the baby’s jaw during feeding and often having tension released by alternative therapies such as cranial osteopathy or chiropractor intervention.
Not all tongue tie practitioners are Lactation Consultant’s so please if you are struggling with feeding your baby, baby is fussing at the breast or with a bottle please reach out for support before going down this process.

13/10/2025

Are you a new mum struggling with latching baby to the breast?
I expect you have watched many videos, spoken to friends and read things on line about the various positions.
Have you tried them?
How did you get on?
These positions are only guides and you and baby work together to find what’s comfortable for you both.
Breast feeding should pain free and baby should be settled and not fidgeting when feeding.
If you find you are struggling I would love to help you either over the phone or in the comfort of your own home.
All home visits and phone calls are followed up with texts and a further text or phone follow up a week after the initial contact.
If you feel you would benefit from some support please check out my website for further information on avaliable packages and pricing and contact me via my website

I am a Lactation Consultant in Kent offering breastfeeding support, baby massages, and in-home consultations. Call 07359 758716 today!

06/10/2025

Just a little reminder that if you are experiencing any feeding difficulties as a new parent I am here to help.
Also if you would like to be more informed regarding feeding choices antenatally I can help so that you are well informed for when your little one arrives.
I am happy to do video or telephone discussions or can visit you at home.
Check out my website for more information-
www.jclactationconsultancy.co.uk

29/09/2025

This week my focus is on feeding positions.
While there are many options for positioning baby at the breast the most important thing is to ensure your comfort and baby’s comfort at all times. Effective positioning at the breast will ensure effective latch techniques and reduce any pain or discomfort for mum.
Remember one position is not a fix for feeding issues and you may need to adapt the position for yours and baby’s comfort.
Here is an over view of the positions-

Common breastfeeding positions include the laid-back position, cradle hold, cross-cradle hold, football (or rugby) hold, and side-lying position, each offering a way to position the baby close and inline for effective attachment. Key to all positions is ensuring the baby is close, their head and body are aligned with straight ears, shoulders, and hips, and their chin makes contact with the breast first, encouraging a wide mouth and deep latch.
Laid-Back Position
How-to: The mother sits or leans back in a semi-upright position, using pillows for support. The baby is placed on the mother's tummy with their chest facing the mother's.
Benefits: This position is often comfortable for mothers and is often tried soon after birth.
Cradle Hold
How-to: The baby is held in the crook of the mother's arm with their bottom tucked in. The baby's body rests along the arm, and the mother supports their head and neck with her hand.
Benefits: This position gives the mother control over the baby's head and is a common starting point.
Cross-Cradle Hold
How-to: Similar to the cradle hold, but the mother uses the arm opposite the breast she is feeding from. The baby's bottom is in the crook of that arm, and the hand supports their head.
Benefits: This offers even more control for newborns who may have trouble nursing.
Football (or Rugby) Hold
How-to: The baby is tucked under the mother's arm, like holding a football, with their back along her arm. The baby faces the mother and is held at waist level.
Benefits: This is often a good option after a C-section, as it keeps the baby's weight off the mother's abdomen.
Side-Lying Position
How-to: Both mother and baby lie on their sides facing each other. Pillows can be used behind the mother's back for support.
Benefits: Ideal for night feeds and also a good option after a C-section, reducing pressure on the abdominal area.
General Positioning Tips
Bring the baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby.
Align Baby's Body: Ensure the baby's head, neck, and body are in a straight line, avoiding head twisting.
Deep Latch: Encourage the baby to open their mouth wide and bring them close so their chin touches the breast first.
Comfort: Use pillows to ensure you are comfortable, feeding pillows and pillows can be used to lie baby on to facilitate a higher position when feeding and enable them to feel well-supported.

If you require support with feeding please reach out to me:
Info@jclactationconsultancy.co.uk

22/09/2025

Good morning
This week I thought I’d share some information on colostrum and its benefits.

Colostrum is the first form of breastmilk that is released by the mammary glands after giving birth. It's nutrient-dense and high in antibodies and antioxidants to build a newborn baby's immune system. It changes to breast milk within two to four days after your baby is born. Colostrum is thicker and more yellow than traditional breast milk. Often referred to as liquid gold!

Colostrum is high in protein and low in fat and sugar. It's filled with white blood cells that produce antibodies. These antibodies strengthen your baby's immune system, protecting him or her from infection. Colostrum is highly concentrated and nutrient-dense even in tiny doses, so your baby's tummy doesn't need a lot to reap its benefits.

When the colostrum is transitioning to milk small amounts of colostrum will remain in your breast milk for several weeks.

Some of the benefits of colostrum are:
* Helps strengthen your baby's immune system.
* Helps to establish a healthy gut by coating the intestines. This helps keep harmful bacteria from being absorbed.
* Offers ideal nutrition for a newborn.
* Has a laxative effect that helps your baby clear meconium (your baby's first p**p) and lessens the chance of jaundice.
* Easy to digest.
* Helps prevent low blood sugar in full-term babies.

The flow of colostrum from your ni***es is slow so your baby can learn to breastfeed (nurse). Learning how to breastfeed takes practice and requires your newborn to not only learn to suck and swallow but breathe at the same time.

Colostrum leaking from your breasts doesn't mean labor is coming. Leaking colostrum is normal and some people notice it as early as the second trimester. Some don't notice any signs of leaking colostrum while others will see dried colostrum on their ni***es.

It's difficult to pump colostrum with a breast pump because of its thick consistency. Most people recommend and prefer using their hands to express colostrum. Hand expressing colostrum usually produces more colostrum than a pump.

Colostrum can be expressed by about week 37 in pregnancy and is beneficial for some people. Using your hands to compress your breasts in a rhythmic pattern so that milk comes out is called hand expressing. Expressing colostrum before your baby is born carries some risks like contractions or premature labor. It can be beneficial to those who may be at risk for premature birth, low milk supply or when certain health conditions present.
Speak with your midwife or Lactation Consultant before you remove colostrum from your breasts. If you are leaking colostrum, it can be collected and store for when your baby is born.
If you are pregnant and would like infant feeding advise or your baby has arrived and you are experiencing difficulties please reach out for support
Info@jclactationconstancy.co.uk

15/09/2025

Yay….. after carrying your baby and waiting on their safe arrival they are finally here!
Now you are really going to get to know each other, those little sounds they make is their way of communicating their needs and it’s going to take a few weeks for you both to settle down.
Baby to living outside of the uterus, and you to your new role as parent.
It’s not uncommon to feel like you are flailing around a bit, your not, your doing great, just take one step at a time!
Skin to skin helps baby’s to regulate their breathing, heart rate and keep them warm. These cuddles make a difference to feeding as well as it helps ramp up your hormones and get the breasts ready to do what they need to.
Skin to skin isn’t just for straight after birth but important over the next days and weeks as it also helps make baby feel safe, secure and helps with bonding and attachment.
Over the coming weeks I aim to post information to support with hand expressing, pumping, positioning and attachment and general feeding cues and tips.
If you feel you need information and or support with breast feeding or any other infant feeding concern please read through my website, reach out via email as I am here to help and ensure you and your baby have a positive parenting experience.
info@jclactationconsultancy.co.uk

I am a Lactation Consultant in Kent offering breastfeeding support, baby massages, and in-home consultations. Call 07359 758716 today!