Vital Baby’s NURTURE range links with expert to bring advice and support during Breastfeeding Awareness Month
From triumphant to tiring, breastfeeding comes with a whole host of highs, lows and everything in between. That’s why leading baby brand Vital Baby have teamed up with paediatric dietician Lucy Upton [@childrensdietian] to offer advice and support for mums, new parents and their support crew in a ‘Feed The Future’ campaign. The tips will run as part of social media activity designed to champion, cherish and cheer on breastfeeding mums, whilst helping dads too, during Breastfeeding Awareness Month this August. Follow @vitalbabyuk to see the campaign, share your breastfeeding experiences and find out more.
Top Tips from Lucy include:
Skin-to-skin: Did you know that skin to skin contact with your baby stimulates a hormone release to support breastfeeding, aids digestion, and fosters interest in feeding. It helps babies settle into life outside the womb by regulating heart rate and breathing, while also exposing them to beneficial bacteria from their mother’s skin, boosting their immune system.
Latching: It can take time to master a deep, comfortable latch for breastfeeding. Lactation consultants can help with any concerns and reassurance in those early weeks. Top tips for latching on include: Holding baby’s body close to you and lining up their nose with your nipple. Allow some movement in baby’s head so they can tilt their head back and open their mouth wide. Baby’s chin should also touch your breast before closing its mouth around your nipple. Baby’s cheeks should look full and rounded when they feed.
Feed responsively: Responding to your baby’s cues rather than following a clock or schedule is crucial for breastfed and all babies alike. It’s typical for young babies to feed every 1-2 hours, including at night and early hunger signs can include mouth opening, head turning, rooting, hand-to-mouth gestures. Prolactin, a hormone that stimulates breastmilk production, peaks in the early hours of the morning, typically between 2-4 am.
Looking after mum: If you’re breastfeeding, your body requires high nutrition levels. Alongside increased calories, you’ll need more calcium and B12. It’s crucial to prioritize your diet. Seek help from family and friends for cooking and shopping, batch cook when possible, and consider Vitamin D supplementation (10mcg/day). Regardless of how you feed your baby, being a new parent is demanding and exhausting, so pausing to prioritise your own ‘nutritional cup’ is essential.
Pumping: With more and more women pumping, support for successful and comfortable pumping is key! Some of my top tips include: Prepare for pumping not just by sterilising your equipment but by getting your body ready, too. Try to relax and spend some time massaging your breasts and getting close to your baby (or look at photos of baby) to support your letdown. Before starting the pump, get comfortable with it by making sure you have the right flange size, get a good seal, and ensure that your nipple is centred. When pumping, try to mimic breastfeeding patterns where you can (electric pumps often do this, or you may be able to hit a particular setting), but with a manual pump, mimicking those initial shorter, faster sucks can help support your letdown before continuing to pump. Be realistic with pumping expectations; many women are concerned they are not pumping enough, or their supply isn’t good enough, but this often isn’t the case. Pumping doesn’t directly reflect the volumes a baby gets when feeding from the breast, and supply can vary across the day.
Paced bottle feeding: If you are bottle feeding your baby (combination or fully), using a paced bottle-feeding approach can give your baby more control over feeds, allowing them to rest and recommence feeding may reduce the risk of excessive air or milk intake, and means you can keep an eye easily for signs they have finished.
Are they getting enough milk?: Many parents (which included me when I was breastfeeding my daughter) can find it easy to worry about whether their baby is getting enough milk. This can be especially true for breastfed babies whose milk volumes are unknown. One of the best ways to monitor this is to keep an eye on what’s coming out on the other end. If your baby has regular wet and dirty nappies, it’s a good sign they are consuming enough milk.
Looking for some sidekicks to guide you through your breastfeeding journey? Vital Baby’s NURTURE range will be the perfect partner for both breastfeeding mums and supporting dads, by offering essential tools and resources to make the feeding process easier and more enjoyable.
NURTURE Flexcone™ Electric Breast Pump RRP: £99.99
Pumping just got a whole lot easier with the Vital Baby NURTURE Flexcone™ Electric Breast Pump. Featuring a super soft silicone breast cup and flexcone™, pumping is gentle, milk expression feels natural, and it mimics baby’s suckling action. With 2-phase expression and 9 speed settings, it massages and stimulates the breast for effective milk production. Phase 1 uses fast, small pulses to stimulate milk flow, while Phase 2 uses slower, longer pulses to encourage let down, a natural hormone response for smooth milk flow. Pumping has never felt better!
NURTURE Easy Pour Breast Milk Storage Bags RRP: £7.29
Designed for convenience and safety, the NURTURE Easy Pour Breast Milk Storage Bags make storing your precious liquid gold a breeze. Simply, peel off the pre-perforated tab, pour in your expressed milk, seal it with the double secure zip fastener and voila! Your milk will be kept, safe, fresh and is super easy to transport. When it’s time to use your stored breast milk, use the easy pour spout that’s specially designed for ultimate hygiene, contamination prevention and non-spill pouring. Pre–sterilised and ready to use, the NURTURE easy pour breast milk storage bags are game-changing when it comes to milk storage!
NURTURE Ultra Comfort Breast Pads RRP: £5.59
NURTURE Ultra Comfort Breast Pads are fit with an ultra-absorbent core, cosy quilted layer and double adhesive tabs, keeping you dry, comfortable and secure throughout day and night. Combined with discreet, crinkle free contour, the pads are comfy and easy to use. Soft and breathable, with a waterproof backing to wick moisture away from your skin, these pads help prevent irritation and infection. Plus, they’re individually packaged for hygiene and are BPA, Latex & Phthalate free, making them perfect for every mum!
NURTURE Protect and Care Nipple Shields RRP: £5.99
The NURTURE Protect & Care Nipple Shields, crafted from 100% ultra-thin silicone, provide a soft and natural feel for your baby while ensuring comfort for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Their half-shield design preserves your natural scent for a better bonding experience, ensuring your baby feels relaxed, whilst healing sore nipples without disturbing breastfeeding.
They also assist in improving latch for those experiencing difficulties or discomfort, particularly with flat or inverted nipples, by helping babies form a natural teat shape for easier feeding.
NURTURE Breast Like Starter Set RRP: £24.99
The NURTURE Breast Like Starter Set is the ultimate starter set for easy newborn feeding. With four NURTURE breast like feeding bottles (2x150ml, 2x240ml), your little one will easily latch onto the soft, breast like teat for easy and comfortable feeding. Plus, the triple anti-colic valves help to reduce air intake during feeds, ensuring your little one is soothed. Use the NURTURE non-scratch bottle and teat brush to remove milk residue in those hard-to-reach areas. Once feeding is complete, the SOOTHE airflow soother, will help to relax and calm baby, helping to create an all-round comfortable feeding experience.
NURTURE Advanced Pro UV Steriliser RRP: £129.99
Introducing the NURTURE™ Advanced Pro UV Steriliser & Dryer. Harnessing cutting-edge UV LED technology, this super steriliser blitzes 99.99% of bacteria and viruses in a swift 7 minutes. Say goodbye to old-school methods, as no water, chemicals, or heat are needed. From bottles and toys, to phones and keys, it sterilises just about anything with ease and efficiency. Safe, versatile, and hassle-free, it’s definitely a top choice in modern sterilisation. Plus, it’s complete with 4 modes (sterilise mode, dry mode, auto mode and store mode) to suit you. With the Advanced Pro UV Steriliser & Dryer, sterilising has never been easier!