Breastfeeding

My interest in breastfeeding began when I finished studying Nutrition at University. I was employed as a research scientist while I studied my Masters in Public Health.  My main area of research was obesity, and I looked at the relationship between breastfeeding and childhood obesity.

Research indicates that babies who are breastfed are less likely to become obese children.

• Babies who are breastfed are able to self-regulate their energy intake. Quite often, when babies are bottle fed we expect them to drink the amount that is in the bottle. This is never an issue for breastfed babies; when they have had enough, they stop feeding.
• Babies who are breastfed are usually exposed to different flavours in the breast milk depending on what foods the mother has eaten. Bottle fed babies are constantly exposed to the same flavour and in turn this may affect their acceptance of different flavoured solid foods when they are being introduced.

I worked on many projects related to obesity, and what was continually obvious was that, in general, people haven’t changed, but our habits have changed because our environment has changed.  I realised that if I wanted to increase breastfeeding rates, I should create an environment that makes breastfeeding socially acceptable; and Top Secret Maternity was born.

Although I am a nutritional scientist and have a profound interest in breastfeeding, the best advice about breastfeeding is available from the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

However, I did want to share my experience from when I first started to breastfeed because there were a couple of things that I just wasn't ready for.

I really wanted to say "DON'T GIVE UP"!!

The first couple of weeks aren't the most comfortable; but what do you expect? Just put you finger in your babies mouth and feel how strong they suck. When I had my first little girl, Tara Brooke, the midwives showed me how to shape my nipple to fit it into her mouth. But when you breast is as solid as a rock, and bigger than the babies head, it can be difficult to say the least! This does become easier once your milk settles down and you and your baby get to know what you're doing.

I also found that once she was on she didn't want to let go. Make sure you put your little finger in the baby's mouth and release the suction before trying to remove your nipple. Also get some good nipple cream and make sure you put it on after every feed. When your nipples are a little split they may stick to your bra (or breast pads) and this is unnecessarily painful, so applying nipple cream prevents cracking.

And it didn't get much easier when I had my second daughter, Skye Angelina, but I knew what I was in for and how to manage it so the discomfort didn't last as long or get nearly as bad.

Anyway, please give it your best shot, and contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association if you have any queries.

Helen La Fontaine
Founder - Top Secret Maternity