Yummy Mummy

Our latest press stuff is involvement with a Little Treasures magazine feature on Yummy Mummy bras.

 

You can see the full article about nursing bras here

Baby Biting while Breastfeeding

Tips to stop your baby biting while nursing

A customer recently emailed me: "I'm experiencing a few difficulties breastfeeding my nine-month-old - he has started biting during his afternoon feed. I think it's because my supply is dwindling, and let-down is delayed, and he's getting bored/frustrated" My initial thought when I read this email was that the baby is teething, and baby is seeking relief for aching gums. But it could also be due to baby having a cold or a stuffy nose. Alot of mothers will mistakenly think they don’t have enough milk …. Continue reading this article on Baby Biting While Breastfeeding

 

Constipated on Formula

If you are bottle feeding your baby, it is CRUCIAL you give them 100mls water per day (boiled & cooled).

Newborns will not drink the whole amount of water in one go, so sipping water throughout the day is what is needed.

It is more work and another thing to have to remember to do... however if you do not, your baby can become constipated... to the point they split their anus and they are bleeding when they pass a poo.

Continue reading our article on Constipated Baby

 

Preparing Baby Formula

Here are a few steps on how to prepare a bottle of baby formula for your child.

Please note that before it is time to make up the bottle, ensure that you have some boiled water (which has cooled) prepared as this is used to mix with the formula powder. 

Also ensure that all feeding equipment, bottles, and teats are washed in soapy water and sterilized before use.  Check with your microwave sterilizer, as different sterilizers keep the contents sterile for X hours.  Alternatively you can sterilize equipment in a saucepan of boiling water - just make sure that the water is actually boiling for 5 minutes.

I also suggest that you only prepare one bottle at a time, as close as possible to feeding time.  However if you do prepare a bottle in advance, keep it at the back of the fridge for a less than 12 hours.  You need to tip out the bottle if it has been in the fridge for more than 12 hours.

Bottle Preparation

• Before preparing baby formula, wash your hands
• Measure the required amount of water (as prepared above) into your sterilized bottle.
• Use the scoop provided with the baby formula tin, add the required amount of scoops into the bottle of water, level the scoop off with the edge of the tin.
• Add the bottle lid and cap, shake well until the powder dissolves.  You will need to tip the bottle upside down and shake hard, otherwise will get lumps in the bottom.
• Remove the lid, and add the bottle teat.
• Before feeding your baby, always make sure that the formula is the correct temperature.  Tip a few drops on the back of your wrist where the veins are, and you shouldnt feel any difference in temperature.

Continue reading the rest of this article on Preparing Baby Formula

 

 

 

How Many Maternity Bras to Buy?

People often ask me how many maternity bras they will need to buy, to use after their baby is born.

Well, obviously a salesperson will tell you "at least 40!"  (Thats just a joke from me, since I have a store selling maternity bras!)

Here is my honest answer as a mother, rather than a salesperson.

You need at least two bras.  Any more will depend on how often you wash them and how wet they get.

When you have a newborn baby, you are probably going to be wearing a bra 24 hours per day.  The reason for this is because you'll feel like your breasts need that extra support as they will feel different and heavier with your milk, and also to hold your breast pads in place.

This leads to my second point... depending on how much you leak, and if your breast pads are working, will also affect if your bra gets milk on it.  You might also get milk squirts, baby dribble, and not to mention the occasional baby chuck where it all goes down (and in) your top!

So maybe three bras is a better choice!

• one to wear
• one in the wash
• one to have in the draw ready

It also depends on how often you do laundry.  But then again, a bra is pretty light and even if you could rinse them out in the shower and leave to try on the towel rail.

As I mentioned above, you will probably be sleeping in your bra too (or we do have some HOTmilk sleepwear with built in shelf bras which are a little more comfortable).  If you are specifically getting a bra to sleep in, choose quite a plain one with minimal lace and detailing as this will be more comfortable.  We will have some "super comfy sleep bras" coming into stock soon.

Return to our main website for more Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding Tips and our Maternity Store

 

Pregnancy Boob Size

When women are in their first trimester of pregnancy, they will usually notice a change to their breasts.  Some may increase a cup size or two, and other women may just have a feeling of more fullness.

This size usually then stays the same for the majority of your pregnancy.  You may also notice that the band on your bra feels tighter, which is because your ribs are expanding to allow room for your baby.  This is the reason that nursing bras have 6 rows of hooks around the back, as you can wear them during your pregnancy too.

Continue reading the rest of this article here 

What Baby Formula to Buy?

If you need to bottle feed your baby with formula, it can be a really daunting task going to the supermarket and buying a tin.  There are so many tins all lined up, you probably don't know where to start and which one to choose.


In my opinion as a mother, here are my thoughts....



All of the different formula brands will come down to a basic age group. The tins will state the recommended ages on the front of the tin and they are branded as Starter, Follow on, Toddler.
Some brands will have a sample sachet available to purchase, which is a really good thing to use for the first few times that you are trying formula.  You can use the sample to see whether your baby drinks it, and check for any reactions.  



The most important thing in this formula route is that your baby is happy to drink the bottle, then you will know that they are getting the nutrition they need and they can grow!


There are many different brands of baby formula on the New Zealand supermarket shelves.  I believe that as long as you mix the formula according to the directions, and use pre-sterilised water, then all formula brands are suitable and safe for your baby to drink.  Though of course I must state for the record that breast is best, but we are talking about those times if you cant breastfeed.

Continue reading this article on Baby Formula

Breastfeeding Top Tips

Starting to breastfeed your baby can be a stressful and nerve wrecking experience.  Based on our own experience of breastfeeding two children, we have prepared our top breastfeeding tips for you 

Stay calm. If you start to feel uptight or wound up, take a break for a few minutes and then try again. Baby may be able to pick up on your anxiety.

Don't place high expectations on yourself. It can take a while before your milk flows, before baby gets the hang of latching, and before you get things sorted.

While you are still in the hospital or maternity ward, make sure the nurse helps you to latch baby every time you feed. Ring your buzzer to call the nurse.

Breastfeeding does hurt to start with. As the baby draws your nipple into their mouth it can be a painful tearful experience for mum. The pain should stop about thirty seconds or so after baby is latched. It may be like this for 3 or 4 days with a newborn. If the problem persists - seek help from your midwife, plunket nurse, doctor or a lactation consultant.

The key to successful breastfeeding is making sure baby has the correct latch. Put baby on your breast when their mouth is open wide and full. Pull baby's head to your breast - don't drop your nipple down to baby as you will get sore shoulders and back.

When baby is latched their lips will be covering your breast in a "K" shape that looks like the K on Cellog's Special K cereal.

Continue to read the rest of our Breastfeeding Tips

Return to our main website for more Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding Tips and our Maternity Store

 

 

Tips on Starting a Bottle

If you are going to start giving your baby a bottle (either formula or expressed breast milk) here are a few of my suggested starting tips. To get baby to drink from a bottle, let baby play with the bottle first. (When it is empty or with cold boiled water). Then they might put it in their mouth, suck a little maybe, and must be familiar with it. If you are expressing breast milk with a breast pump, store this in the freezer. You can store it in special breast milk storage bags or you could freeze it in the ice cube tray and then put the frozen cubes into a snap lock bag in the freezer. View the full list of bottle feeding tips

Return to our main website for more Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding Tips and our Maternity Store

Baby Poop

Breastfed Baby Poo   Did you know that babies who are breastfed have bright yellow poo?  It is characterized by its mustard yellow colour, with bits that look like tiny seeds.  It can have a very soft slightly runny consistency.  And it can have a sweet yeasty smell (!)

Formula Fed Baby Poo    Babies that are formula fed with bottle, have darker poo, which is much firmer and smellier.

View the full article on Breastfed Baby Poop…….

Breastfeeding Baby with a Cold

It can be a really difficult time if your darling new baby has a cold.

When babies are healthy, they can breathe through their nose while continuing to suck and nurse at the breast (or bottle). This is a natural instinct that babies are born with, but they will grow out of it. (have you ever tried to breathe and swallow at the same time - not possible!)

So when a baby has a cold, their sinus can be blocked up. This means that they won't remain latched on at the breast for a long time, because they will need to breathe through their mouth. You may find that baby will take a few sucks, then come off the latch. (and milk might squirt as your letdown continues!). This will mean that it will take longer to feed your baby, they could get very impatient as they are obviously hungry but can't get to their milk fast enough. A few tears and stress too!

View the full article on Breastfeeding Baby with a Cold Return to our main website for more Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding Tips and our Maternity Store

Breastmates Advice Launches

Well after popular demand, I’m now adding all my Breastfeeding and Bottle advice to a blog, to share for other people that need it.

 

Here is a little introduction about me, and what I do…..

 

Breastmates was created from scratch in 2004 by Frances McInnes, who has slowly developed the brand herself over the past few years to become a Specialty Baby Feeding Store with an extensive range of products for pregnant and new mothers.

 

Frances noted there was a lack of resources for mothers in New Zealand on baby feeding issues, and that it could often be difficult for people to get advice for their situation.   

 

Frances has taken it upon her self to fill this void.  Frances is a mother who has both breast and bottle fed her two children, and has been told that customers like her “non-militant non-judgmental” stance on breastfeeding.

 

After considerable time and investment, Breastmates relaunches this week as a useful resource for parents as well as an online shopping site.  “I wanted my website to consist of honest information to prepare people with the truth – and not unrealistically high expectations.   I can be the person that tells you ‘yes breastfeeding is hard, but if you can’t do it then forget the guilt trip,” she says.

 

Breastmates will now fill the need for information on infant feeding, and provides a balance between breast and bottle feeding.

 

To view more advice and articles, as well as to shop for gorgeous maternity tops, HOTmilk and other feeding products view http://www.breastmates.co.nz