Doula Wisdom Blog

What are the benefits of breastfeeding?

There are so many! Breastfeeding provides ideal nutrition for babies and significantly improves short and long term health. It is well documented that human milk is superior to all the substitutes.

Breastfeeding improves immunity, helps protect against illness and diseases and also comforts and soothes and helps with bonding. Babies that have been breastf...

Many people spend time thinking about what they would like for their birth, and it’s common to create a ‘birth plan’. But less parents take the time to create a ‘postpartum plan’ covering what they would like for after their baby arrives.

We know this time can be full of joy but it can also be really overwhelming. The right support and care can make a huge difference. Taking time to put some p...

Humans are fascinating. Human babies even more-so.

Babies are born with ‘biological expectations’. They expect to be kept safe, warm and nourished. This is key to their survival. Knowing what a newborn ‘expects’ can help us meet their needs better. We can try to understand the world through their eyes.

Professor Allison Gopnik says:

“Decades of research focussing on infancy provide clear evide...

Just as a new year can open a doorway to a new you… postpartum also offers this opportunity. There is no doubt that birth changes people and there is no ‘going back’. How people choose to embrace the transformation will effect how they transition.

Matrescence - the time of becoming a mother

The time after giving birth changes how a person feels; physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally....

Breastfeeding is instinctual but also requires skills that are learned. It can feel awkward at first but with time, patience and support it can be really satisfying and is immensely beneficial for babies and mothers.

Babies really love to be held and cuddled. It’s where they feel safest. Skin-to-skin contact also regulates their heart rate, temperature and breathing. We are biologically designed ...

The World Health Organization states that if all children were breastfed within an hour of birth, exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life and then continued to be breastfed (in addition to other food) up to the age of two, over 800,000 child lives would be saved annually.

This is why we ALL need to become breastfeeding advocates.

The anthropologist Dana Raphael explored breastfee...

Although breastfeeding is natural, it is still a learned skill that requires a good support network. The time it takes to exclusively breastfeed is the equivalent of a full time job, so extra support is essential!

Part of a good support network includes experts that can help if any problems arise.

A common worry that comes up for new mothers is “Am I making enough milk?” A huge number of wome...

There are many ways to hold a baby while breastfeeding. The way they are positioned and latched can make a big difference to how much milk they are drinking and to overall breast and nipple comfort. It’s good to try a few different positions to see what feels the best for you and your newborn.

Here are a few general tips

Get ready

When you start breastfeeding you may not be able to get u...

Humans have been breastfeeding for millennia but for many people, it doesn’t come easily. Some research has shown that only one in three mothers are meeting their breastfeeding goals. Too many women find themselves struggling and end up weaning their babies sooner than they had hoped to.

So how come something that is natural, doesn’t come easily?

Today many people enter motherhood without havin...

Preparing for the postpartum time is just as important as preparing for the birth. There are remarkable changes happening in the mind and body of the new mother. I encourage you to take time to think about the post-natal period before you are experiencing it. It can give you time to organise some helpful natural remedies for postpartum and hopefully, you can ease into motherhood a little easier.