Breastfeeding Kerry - Anna O' Donoghue, Lactation Consultant

22/12/2025

Christmas can also bring challenging infant feeding days

🎅take one day at a time

🎅limit your visitors and it is ok not to hand your baby around to all visitors. Flu season is peaking and it is safer for everyone .

🎅 Don’t struggle - seek advice and suppprt early. There are many feeding issues that can be solved over the phone .

🎅 Enjoy the family time and don’t forget plenty of photos

www.BreastfeedingKerry.ie

21/12/2025

It’s Christmas and you have a new baby in the house

🎅Avoid skipping feeds, keeping routine will protect your supply and prevent issues such as mastitis and engorgment.

🎅 Any offers of help - cooked dinners - take it and rest as much as you can

🎅 photos -you can never have enough! Cherish every moment

🎅 Eat as you wish - cheeses - chutneys- meat- and all the chocolates - YES it is ok to enjoy . It is very rare that a Moms diet causes issues with your baby’s gut.

🍾 Alcohol is ok - you will read so many different theories and opinions .
One of my most preferred would be - if you have had some alcohol and feel@safe to drive your car - you can feed your baby.
Once you feel safe to hold your baby safely you can feed your baby .

15/12/2025

It’s the season of parties, weddings and events.
How do I manage with breastfeeding

🎄A phone consult lastweek for planned surgery encouraged me to do this post.

🎄Preparation is so@important. Introducing your baby to a bottle a few weeks before the event is important

🎄Choosing the most suitable minder for the day as you want to be relaxed and not worried .

🎄building up a supply is difficult especially in the early days. I recommend mornings to add in extra pump maybe if everything else is going well - weight gain - nappies etc.
But this may not suit everybody - a chat with your Public health nurse, practice nurse or Lactation Consultant if you any doubts

🎄most importantly don’t miss an occasion - bring your baby with you if it’s Easier and less challenging

26/11/2025

Sore damaged ni***es

What will I do??

💗ni**le pain is so BAD!! And this is from experience - when toes are curling it’s intense - dreading next feed - hoping that your baby won’t stay feeding long

💗what to do

✅find the reason - and try and fix the latch - you and your baby are learning

✅ your ni***es may need to be rested to start healing - but hand expression or/ and expressing using a pump is so important to protect your supply

✅skin to skin contact so benefical

💗 healing the ni***es - I love the silverette cups for fast healing - and some breastmilk on ni**le and leaving exposed to the air so benefical

💗 Seek advice and support early from your PHN , GP, practice nurse or Lactation Consultant

💗 laser treatment is very beneficial for treating sore ni***es and available from some lactation consultants

💗 we need to correct the latch or reason for why the ni***es are damaged

💗 you are doing a great job - it’s so so difficult staying focused when pain is severe - take pain relief regularly also .

💗oftentimes it’s your baby’s learning to feed can cause the issue and this can take time. Support is key .

28/10/2025

Support groups are so worth attending
🌟 peer support and also professional support available weekly in your area

🌟lots of tips to be gained from other moms and babies , a chat and some advice

🌟 from clothing to pumps you will gain knowledge from other moms and families .

🌟check out your local breastfeeding group on breastfeeding.ie

🌟voluntary groups suck as la leche league and cuidiu do fantastic work with moms and babies and a wealth of practical knowledge and support

21/10/2025

19/10/2025

Back to the weighing scales and it not going up !!!

🌟 sometimes babies are slow gaining weight but if everything else is ok then it’s time, patience and a lot of support from family and professional as needed

🌟 think of the supplement of formula that may be required as Dessert!!
Breakfast lunch dinner starters are all breastmilk and formula is dessert

🌟once the weight is up we take the dessert !! Slowly but we all do without dessert !
💗mom needs support to keep going and reassurance that she is doing a super job.
💗 weekly weights I find works well as mom has opportunity also to chat and discuss any issues

💗I am blessed also to work within a holistic GP Practice that focuses on importance of breastfeeding and support GP CareKillarney

08/10/2025

I feel I have oversupply as my breasts are full and sometimes I need to wake my baby

Should I express -NO - unless you become uncomfortable and then Just express -just to be comfortable - you may only need to express 10-20mls

🌟ideally you want your baby to set what she requires-whatever she feeds then the breast will match her needs

🌟 if you have an event coming up and you are ESCAPING 😀😀, then first feed in morning may suit best and most practical to express to build up stores in freezer.

Expressing from one breast and feeding from the other may work.

07/10/2025

Next breastfeeding class on November 29th Killarney

🌟knowing what to expect in the first few weeks when your baby arrives

🌟how do I know my baby is getting g enough

🌟what do I need to buy

🌟can I give my baby a bottle

🌟 festive season is coming and how do I manage Christmas and breastfeeding

🌟 combination feeding

🌟 what to do if my baby isn’t gaining weight

And much more

🌟small group class to allow for chat and all queries answered

🌟fees can be reimbursed through many health policies
🌟Pm or text to book your place

04/10/2025

Breastfeeding class face to face allows for all your questions and concerns to be discussed

🌟first time moms gain so much advice and second time moms at class offer so much practical advice

🌟 preparation is key- support is vital _ take one day at a time - don’t give up on a bad day

🌟💗 And most important every feed makes a difference

01/10/2025

It’s National Breastfeeding Week - but every week is a breastfeeding week and especially when you in the middle of breastfeeding your baby

🌟 So many emotions - 💘💘💘💘💘

💘 Evert drop and every feed makes a difference - if you are feeding once a day or 10 times a day you are d**g a great job

💘 take one day at a time and well done

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

18/08/2025

Killarney Birth Prep Workshop 🤰


✨ Join us for a full morning of expert led support to prepare you for pregnancy, birth and beyond

✨Led by a women’s health physiotherapist and dietitian, you’ll enjoy:

🧘🏻‍♀️ A Pregnancy Pilates class

🥐 Breakfast and refreshments

🤰Birth and delivery prep including positions for labour, education on pain relief, perineal massage and advice on postnatal recovery

🥑 Nutrition tips for pregnancy, delivery and beyond

👶🏻 Breastfeeding talk with lactation consultant Anna O’Donoghue

🌸 A guided pregnancy meditation

🙋‍♀️ Pregnancy and postnatal Q&A

📚 Antenatal education booklets

Date: Saturday the 20th of September
Time: 9-1 pm
Venue: Loughdale cottage Killarney
Ticket Prices: €120
• A % of course fees may be redeemable depending on your insurance policy *

Book your spot through the .app ✨