La Leche League of Hull and East Riding

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Parenting can be tiring and difficult, and feeling criticised or unsupported by people around you can make it harder. This article from our website has some useful suggestions when you are feeling criticised.

https://www.laleche.org.uk/dealing-with-criticism/

[Image: A mother and baby holding hands and smiling at the camera. Text: You know your baby best - take what suggestions work for you and leave the rest.]

Getting out and about when your new baby arrives can feel daunting. But breastmilk is the ultimate food for on the go! Our article looks at ways and tips to help you get out and about.

https://laleche.org.uk/out-about-with-your-breastfed-baby/

[Image: Mother and her young baby breastfeeding in the sun in the park. Text: Breastmilk is the ultimate travel food.]

Have you got your July/August issue of Breastfeeding Matters, our membership publication? It's out now!

This issue begins our focus on Black Breastfeeding Week which is at the end of August, shares experiences of breastfeeding in the workplace and has a deeply personal story of mothering after baby loss... as well as lots more.

To get your copy as part of your membership, why not join LLLGB today? You can join monthly (£2.50) or yearly (£30)

https://www.laleche.org.uk/join/

[Image: Two copies of Breastfeeding Matters, one showing the front cover on top of the other which is open at 'Breastfeeding Without Barriers'. Text: The new issue of Breastfeeding Matters is out now!].

One aspect of breastfeeding that can be really helpful is the convenience of always having food ready for your baby. This can really help when travelling or on holiday. How has breastfeeding helped you on holiday?

[Image: mother breastfeeding on a sunny sandy beach in a swimming costume. Text: Has breastfeeding helped you on holiday?]

Often what we think breastfeeding will be like, is different from the reality. And sometimes, we might think 'if only I had known...' What would you say to a pregnant friend? What do you wish you had known about breastfeeding?

[Image: mother and baby lying in bed, with baby looking at the camera and mother on her side kissing baby's cheek. Text: What do you wish you had known about breastfeeding?]

Even in very hot weather your exclusively breastfed baby doesn’t need additional water, but they will probably want to breastfeed more. It's good to offer!

https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/water-supplements/

[Photo: a mother breastfeeding her baby in the sun; Text: It's normal for babies to breastfeed more often when the weather is hot.]

If a baby who has happily been nursing, suddenly stops, it could be a nursing strike and can be distressing for both of you. More information here on what it is, and what to do.

https://www.laleche.org.uk/nursing-strikes/

[Image: mother and baby lying on their backs on a bed looking up Text: Has your baby suddenly stopped breastfeeding? Is it a nursing strike? ]

Tomorrow is the last day of Scottish Breastfeeding Week and it will be about support for breastfeeding. We have lots of groups and Leaders (LLL's breastfeeding counsellors) in Scotland to support you in achieving your breastfeeding goals. You can find your nearest group here:

https://www.laleche.org.uk/find-lll-support-group

or https://breastfeeding.scot/

It's Day 5 of Scottish Breastfeeding Week and it's all about creating workplaces that support you to continue breastfeeding when you return after maternity leave. Workplaces play a key role in enabling working parents to continue breastfeeding. LLLGB has information to support you as you return, what your rights are and how you can get the support you need from your employer:

https://www.laleche.org.uk/working-and-breastfeeding.

Have you considered becoming a member of LLLGB? Joining LLLGB through membership is a great way to pay forward the support you receive from our volunteers, enjoy our membership publication Breastfeeding Matters, and helps to make sure LLLGB continues to exist for families of the future.

https://www.laleche.org.uk/join

[Image: A mother with her baby on her lap chatting with a Leader (breastfeeding counsellor). Text: Join LLLGB today ~ help us make a difference]

‘Nipple confusion’, ‘ni**le preference’ or ‘flow preference’ are often used to describe a change in a baby’s sucking pattern or their willingness to breastfeed following the introduction of a bottle or dummy. A baby may have difficulty latching or staying on the breast, be fussy or reluctant to breastfeed, or be unable to remove milk effectively. Our article has information that may help overcome problems.
https://www.laleche.org.uk/ni**le-confusion/

[Image: newborn asleep at resting close to the breast. Text: Concerned about ni**le confusion?]

It is and we want to celebrate and thank all of our amazing LLLGB volunteer Leaders (breastfeeding counsellors) who volunteer their time, experience and care to help you reach your breastfeeding goals. Thank you for all you do, your commitment, your time, your passion and your care!

[Image: a very smiley and happy toddler in a pink patterned dress, lying on her back on a black tiled floor, surrounded in flour with the words 'Thank You' written in the flour.]

A new baby in the family can be unsettling for your older children. What tips did you have to help your toddler or older children adjust to and welcome your new baby?

[Image: a toddler and baby lying on a bed facing each other. The toddler is looking lovingly into the baby's eyes. Text: What helped your toddler or older children adjust to a new baby?]

Once breastfeeding is going well it often becomes a very important and enjoyable part of your relationship with your baby. And it continues to offer benefits to you both - to your health and mental and emotional well being, for as long as it continues. Our article looks at breastfeeding beyond babyhood.

https://www.laleche.org.uk/still-nursing/

You know breastfeeding is going well, when it is comfortable for you and your baby is getting all the milk they need. How it feels is really important for you and our article has information and tips to help you get comfortable.

https://www.laleche.org.uk/comfortable-breastfeeding/

[Image: close up of a baby at the breast, with a deep latch and chin in deep. Text: Comfortable breastfeeding is not about how it looks, but about how it feels for you.]

At one of our local groups recently, it became clear that some of us have 'favourite' times to breastfeed. For some it was the first one, when you get home from work, or the middle of the night one when it feels so quiet and it's just the two of you, or as you wake up and get a bit longer in bed in the morning....

What's your 'favourite' breastfeed?

[Image: mother lying down with her baby breastfeeding, she is looking down at her baby smiling while the baby is looking up at her. Text: What's your "favourite" breastfeed of the day?

The International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes was adopted on 21 May 1981. LLLGB fully supports the WHO Code as an essential safeguard to make sure families receive accurate information on infant feeding, without the pressure of aggressive marketing tactics.

On the 43rd anniversary, you can read more here about why LLLGB fully supports the WHO Code: https://laleche.org.uk/lllgb-and-the-international-code-of-marketing-of-breast-milk-substitutes/

The Code does not ban the *sale* or *use* of infant formula, bottles, teats, or foods that replace human milk, it simply sets out a framework to control their *promotion*. Its aim is to ensure that all parents and caregivers have access to objective, accurate and complete information about feeding practices, which is free from commercial influence.

[Image: A blue background with a large text box. Text: It's the 43rd Anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes being adopted. LLLGB fully supports the International Code. ]

Have you got your new issue of Breastfeeding Matters, our membership publication?

This issue includes articles about what happened when Emma's baby was born with a serious kidney condition, our LLLGB podcast on what we eat, breastfeeding with a breast injury, and Lucy's beautiful love letter to her weaning daughter... and lots more!

To get your copy as part of your membership, why not join LLLGB today? You can join monthly (£2.50) or yearly (£30)

https://www.laleche.org.uk/join/

[Image: Lucy reading Breastfeeding Matters, which features her on the front cover. She is smiling and her toddler is on her back in a carrier. Text: Breastfeeding Matters, our members' publication is out now. Join LLLGB and get your copy].

When you have early breastfeeding problems, it can feel as if it’s “all gone wrong”. It can feel overwhelming but by remembering the three KEEPS, you can help protect breastfeeding as you get support to overcome challenges. Our article has information and ideas about how to get things back on track.

https://laleche.org.uk/getting-breastfeeding-on-track-after-a-difficult-start-the-3-keeps/

[Image: A newborn sleeping skin to skin, tucked inside a top or sling. Text: if it's taking time for breastfeeding to get going... , KEEP your baby fed, KEEP your milk flowing, KEEP your baby close.]

It's Black Breastfeeding Week (B*W) at the end of August and we are planning a special edition of our member publication, Breastfeeding Matters to celebrate.

We would love to feature stories and contributions from Black mothers and families in this issue and also then on our social media during the week in August. If you have a story, poem, piece of art or anything else to share, please get in touch with us at [email protected] or our form bit.ly/lllgb-newsletter.

We also offer the option of being interviewed, then we can write up your story in your own voice - just let us know if you would like to chat with one of us.

Please send any contributions by 1 June. Thank you!

Episode 7 of our LLLGB Podcast is out now! In this episode our volunteer breastfeeding counsellors Sarah Fletcher and Maria Yasnova explore self-care and the transformative process of parenthood with mothers who regularly attend LLL meetings in person and online.

It’s a great listen – What does self-care mean to you?

Spotify - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lllgb/episodes/What-does-Self-Care-mean-to-You-e2jkrvf

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/breastfeeding-matters-by-la-leche-league-gb/id1724724703?i=1000655611662

As we see the close of UK Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week organised by Perinatal Mental Health Partnership, please don't struggle alone with a mental health illness. Ask your GP, health visitor or mental health team for support available in your area. If you are prescribed medication, your local LLL Leader can check information on whether it is compatible with breastfeeding (and many of them are).

And for information about what medication you can take, and why it's important to keep taking it, this is an excellent, evidenced-based source of information with six fact sheets on medication and mental health:

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-factsheets/?_factsheet_categories=mental-health






[Image: daisy flowers. Text: LLLGB is here to support you to reach your breastfeeding goals.]

When things are going smoothly, breastfeeding can help protect mothers against the risk of developing PND. This is one of the reasons why it is particularly important to address breastfeeding difficulties promptly by seeking help and support.

https://laleche.org.uk/breastfeeding-and-postnatal-depression/

To find out all the different ways LLLGB can offer you support with breastfeeding, visit: https://www.laleche.org.uk/get-support






[Image: colourful flowers against a bright blue sky. Text: It is vitally important that anyone who wants to breastfeed gets the support they need.]

Today is the start of UK Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week organised by Mental Health Partnership. Research shows how breastfeeding lowers mothers’ risk of depression, helps them get more sleep, and overcome past adversity.
This article from La Leche League International explores why breastfeeding is good for mothers' mental health.

https://llli.org/news/why-breastfeeding-is-good-for-mothers-mental-health/

and from our LLLGB website: https://www.laleche.org.uk/bf-postnatal-depression/






[Image: Daisies against a bright blue sky. Text: "I've learned that even though I'm still not the perfect mother that I would like to be, I'm always doing the best that I know how, and that's plenty good enough." Anonymous]

You don't have to be having challenges with breastfeeding to come to an LLL group, although if you are, our LLL Leaders are there to support you. Our groups where friendships are made and you can just come and enjoy being with others who breastfeeding their babies and beyond - whatever breastfeeding looks like for you. Come for support and stay for community!

You can find your our more about our groups, and what happens at them here: https://laleche.org.uk/group-meetings/

How do breasts make milk? If you are having breastfeeding problems, such as low milk supply or too much milk, or are wondering why your baby’s feeding pattern is different from what you expected, it can help to understand more about the science of lactation. Our article explores how breasts make milk:

https://www.laleche.org.uk/how-milk-production-works/

[Image: baby at the breast looking up. Text: How does milk production work?]

Some babies need extra milk – known as 'supplements' or 'top ups', as well as, or instead of, direct breastfeeding. Our new article is all about how and when you could explore reducing supplements.

Just like breastfeeding, reducing supplements is an art. You need plenty of patience, and good support. Whatever feeding looks like for you, we’re here to help.

https://www.laleche.org.uk/weaning-from-supplements/