Syringe feeding can be an alternative in situations where the baby cannot breastfeed. Learn the method and precautions to safely syringe-feed a baby.

Fixing a shallow breastfeeding latch can take some time. Here are 5 tips to get a deeper latch by trying different breast holds, feeding postions and using the flippe technique

When it comes to pumping breastmilk, size matters! Watch how to properly use the fitting guide and why finding the right fit is key for each pumping session.

Congratulations if you've just delivered your baby! We're sure your baby's feeding, sleeping, and diaper duties are already keeping you busy 24/7. Let's add pumping breast milk to the list if you are breastfeeding. When it comes to when and how much you need to pump, there can be a lot of

Triple feeding - or nursing, pumping, and bottle feeding - can be useful when starting breastfeeding. Here's how to manage it.

Do you want to try combination feeding for your baby but aren’t sure how to mix breast milk and formula into your routine? First of all, feeding your baby does not have to be an

New to breast pumping? Well, you aren’t alone. Check out A Beginners Guide to Breastfeeding to discover how to choose the right breast pump, breastfeeding tips, how to find a local lactation expert, and more!

Check out this ultimate guide on everything you need to know about the haakaa! This includes learning how to use a haakaa and some awesome haakaa tips and

If you're going to be pumping milk, you need to start by ensuring you have the right breast pump flange. Check out these tips on sizing, use, and more.

Finding the right fit is always important – whether it’s for clothing, shoes, but especially when it comes to your breast pump flange size if you're a breast pumping mom. Soreness, pinching, irritation, and clogged milk ducts don’t sound fun but are all th

When it comes to breastfeeding, there are so many things for a new mom to learn. If you are going to be spending time away from your baby, then pumping breast milk is an important aspect to learn about. The Spectra S1 and S2 breast pumps favorite choices among moms. With multiple modes and settings, the Spectra pumps allow for each mom to customize her pumping sessions to meet her personal needs at the moment. It can be a bit overwhelming to begin with, as finding the right settings for you can take a bit of work. Check out this post for some suggestions for pumping with your Spectra breast pump and a suggested method that many moms consider to be the best settings for Spectra S1 or S2 breast pump. *Please note – this post contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links below. See sidebar for more details. Why Choose a Spectra Breast Pump With my first baby, I used a Medela pump, and struggled with a low milk output when pumping. When I was pregnant with my second, I asked around and found thatRead More

Milk blisters (also called blebs or nipple blisters) are a pain in the boob! Here is how to treat a milk blister and prevent them.

Verified by: Jerilyn Pleticha, BSN, RN, IBCLC Pumping breast milk seems simple enough; looking back I wish someone had given me some advice when pumping became frustrating, painful and when I didn’t see the amount

In August 2017, the CDC released their first set of guidelines in regards to how to clean your breast pump properly. The new guidelines came after a premature baby contracted an infection from his

Looking for a FAST way to unclog a backed up milk duct? Try this super easy Haakaa trick I learned to unclog a milk duct and bring some relief!

Learn everything you need to know about pumping. How to get your pump, what to expect, and tips and tricks for getting the most out of your pumping session.

Have you been pumping breast milk, but decided it's time to stop? Learn how to stop pumping and the best tips to wean from the pump without the pain.

Colostrum. They call it liquid gold for good reason. This amazing liquid contains everything your newborn baby needs to thrive in their first hours and days after birth. So what is this miraculous substance, why is collecting colostrum important and how is it used by your baby? We're answering all your questions! Colostrum FAQs What is Colostrum? Colostrum is the first stage of breast milk that you will start producing late in pregnancy and continue to produce for the first few days after birth. It’s highly nutritious and contains a high level of antibodies that will help your baby fight off bacteria and infections. Why is colostrum important? Colostrum is sometimes referred to as your baby's first vaccination, due to the high percentage of protective antibodies and white blood cells that it contains. It's also packed full of 'good bacteria' to help colonise the gut and give your baby the best possible start to life. Here are some of the nutrients in colostrum: Immunoglobulin- an antibody that fights off infections, and illnesses + protects baby against eczema, allergies and wheezing. Leukocytes- white blood cells that produce antibodies Lactoferrin- a protein that wards off infections Epidermal growth factor-protein stimulating cell growth Carotenoids- an antioxidant Vitamins A, B12 and K Magnesium Copper A living substance, colostrum is completely unique to each mother and baby pair. How early does colostrum come in? Your breasts will begin producing colostrum during pregnancy, around the 16-week mark. Some women may notice small amounts of leakage while others won't notice anything different. Don't fret either way! Leaking both colostrum and breast milk is not an indicator of the ability to successfully breastfeed! Colostrum versus breast milk: What’s the difference? Both incredibly important, colostrum and breast milk are similar but different in a number of ways. Colostrum is the first stage of breast milk and has more protein and Vitamins A, E and K. Milk is produced after colostrum production has stopped and lasts for months or years after birth. When compared to breast milk, colostrum has: 2x more protein 4x more zinc Lower in sugar and fat which makes it easier for newborns to digest Thicker and more yellow in colour Contains immunoglobulins to strengthen both the immune and digestive systems of your newborn It is an impressively concentrated substance that acts as your baby’s first immune system defense after birth. It also helps protect baby's gut and works as a laxative to push through bubs first poo! You'll notice relatively small amounts of colostrum immediately after birth and for the first couple of days before it begins to transition to mature milk. What does colostrum look like? Colostrum is often golden yellow or orange due to the high levels of beta carotene. It can sometimes look clear, white or creamy but most of the time the colour resembles that of an egg yolk. In terms of consistency, colostrum is thicker than breast milk and is sticky. If your colostrum looks pink, red, rust-colored or brown, do not be alarmed. Sometimes blood within milk ducts can make its way into your colostrum resulting in the above colours, which is not harmful. How will I know that my milk has changed? You may hear other mums or your caregiver talk about your 'milk coming in'. This is when your body switches from producing colostrum to milk, generally 2-5 days after birth. Most women will feel this happening as their breasts will become heavy, hot, tender to touch, engorged or even painful. The colour and consistency of the milk will change from thick and orange/yellow to slightly thinner and more 'milk-like.' Your milk will stay like this for the next few weeks as you establish breastfeeding and your body and baby work together to sort out your supply. Expressing Colostrum Why express colostrum before birth? Many women are advised by their Midwife or Obstetrician to express colostrum during the later weeks of pregnancy to store for use after birth. Expressing colostrum during pregnancy means that you'll have some saved and on hand for after birth, should your baby need it. This is common practice for mums with gestational diabetes to help the baby to regulate their blood sugar but increasingly, women with uncomplicated pregnancies are jumping onboard the colostrum expression train. This is due to the benefits of having a stash of colostrum on hand for the period immediately after birth. Women who have access to colostrum are able to use this in the interim period between birth and when their milk comes in fully. Perfect for those cluster feeding nights when your baby just wants to be on the boob! It can also be handy for mums who may need to be separated from their bubs after birth, for example, in the case of an emergency c-section or it is known that the baby will require NICU support. Who can express colostrum? If you have had a healthy pregnancy and have been given the go-ahead by your caregiver you can start expressing colostrum before birth, usually from the 37th week. There are times when it's not advised, for example, if there were any risks with pre-term labour or other pregnancy complications. This is why it is essential that you seek approval from your healthcare provider before expressing colostrum. Senior Midwife, author, and international maternity consultant Kathy Fray has found that collecting colostrum can be super helpful, especially for bubs who may need a little extra help after birth. "With babies we know could likely be low-birth-weight or babies known to be growth-restricted or at risk of hypoglycaemia, it can be fantastic to already have some frozen colostrum to supplement the vulnerable newborn in their first days of life," says Kathy. "However, there is certainly no reason that a healthy mother with a healthy newborn can't also hoard some colostrum antenatally. It's a brilliant idea!" When to start expressing colostrum? Your caregiver can advise on when you can start expressing colostrum during pregnancy but it's generally thought that towards the end is ideal. "With a healthy normal pregnancy, because nipple stimulation can trigger uterine contractions, I would say from 37 weeks onwards," says Maternity expert Kathy Fray. How to hand express colostrum If you've never expressed milk before then the process might seem a LITTLE bit daunting. First things first, don't even consider your electric pump, at least initially. You'll be producing and collecting tiny little amounts and the stimulation of an electric pump can be a bit much. As colostrum is quite sticky it will stick to the flanges of the pump and be difficult to collect and store. Gentle hand expression into a collector is the way to go. Here's what we recommed: Take your Haakaa Colostrum Collector - make sure it’s washed/sterilised and you have clean hands. Sit comfortably and try to relax as it'll make the whole process easier. Start gently hand expressing using the guidelines below. The warmth from a heat pack and/or gentle massage helps. As you continue to express, you may notice beads of colostrum forming on your nipple. If you DON'T notice any forming, don't panic! It can take time and a couple of days' worth of stimulation to get things going. Continue to massage for a few minutes or as long as comfortable, even if nothing is appearing, as this will lay the groundwork for future expressing sessions. If you DO notice beads forming, you have two options; you can either use the nib on the Haakaa Colostrum Collector to suck the droplets directly off your nipple, or once you get a good flow going you can remove the nib and express directly into the container. The first few times collecting colostrum you may only collect a mililitre or two. That's okay! Once you have collected what you can, replace the nib and cap on the collector, label them with the labels provided in the set, and store in your fridge or freezer. Watch our 'How to collect Colostrum' video below! How do I store collected colostrum? You can store your colostrum and future breastmilk according to the following offical guidelines: Room Temp: 6 - 8 hours Fridge: 3 - 5 days Freezer Compartment in fridge: 2 weeks Fridge Freezer with separate door: 3 months Deep Freeze: 6 - 12 months The best way to store your colostrum is directly in the Haakaa colostrum collectors. Kathy advises using and then freezing. "Collect the colostrum and simply freeze the filled colostrum syringes. Pop the filled colostrum syringes in a sandwich/ ziplock bag with a date on the front". Milkbar loves the Haakaa Silicone Colostrum Collection Set for collecting your liquid gold. Here’s why: ✔ Made from 100% medical-grade silicone ✔ Includes 6 x 4ml Colostrum Collectors, storage case, labels and cotton cloth wipe ✔ Clear, easy-to-read measurements ✔ Easy to use, store and clean ✔ BPA, PVC and phthalate-free ✔ Portable ✔ Leakproof ✔ Reusable Click here to find out more about the Haakaa Silicone Colostrum Collection Kit Can you use a Haakaa to collect colostrum ? A lot of our Milkbar community have found that the Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump works really well to express colostrum. Simply suction it on and use the gentle suction to help the colostrum move out of the breast. Then transfer to your colostrum syringes. As with almost everything breastfeeding (and motherhood!) related, it can take some time to get your head around expressing. Be gentle with yourself, keep trying and seek support and guidance from your midwife or a lactation consultant. Good Luck! Recommend Reading Do you know we have a number of informative blogs in our Breastfeeding Resources? From advice on how to manage engorgement, nipple pain and other common breastfeeding concerns, to pumping advice and Motherhood Stories from Milkbar Mama's interviews - where real mums share their experience with breastfeeding and pumping. We recommend for you: How to manage AND prevent mastitis 5 top tips for dealing with engorgement How to create a breastmilk stash using the Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump The first 24 hours after birth: What you need to know Motherhood Stories

How to start pumping and building a milk stash, when to safely begin regular pumping, and tips for collecting and storing breastmilk.

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Here's a guide to using a Medela Pump in Style with Max Flow - how to set it up, how to clean it, and tips and tricks for making it easier!

Fascinating.

Looking for a FAST way to unclog a backed up milk duct? Try this super easy Haakaa trick I learned to unclog a milk duct and bring some relief!

Finding the right fit is always important – whether it’s for clothing, shoes, but especially when it comes to your breast pump flange size if you're a breast pumping mom. Soreness, pinching, irritation, and clogged milk ducts don’t sound fun but are all th

Are you a mom who needs to pump? It's so important to have a good breast pump that gives you a good pumping session. The Momcozy breast pump, the M5, will help ensure your baby is getting the milk they need and make sure you're not stressed about whether you're pumping enough. The M5 is comfortable, convenient, and affordable. Check out the Momcozy review of the M5 wireless breast pump - including pros and cons, momcozy pump tips, the best settings to use while pumping, and more.

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