Some of you may have tried your little heart out to breast feed and couldn't, well don't let it bring you down! The rest have you might have chosen not to breast feed for personal reasons and I am not here to judge that either! In the end we are all still feeding our babies right?

| breast feeding is easier, in my opinion anyway! No making bottles, no formula, no carrying extra things around with you! 

| but then again with bottle feeding you know exactly how much your baby is being fed and it forms more of a structures feeding routine! 

| since formula feeding Charlie sleeps through the night 🙌

| other people cn help with feeding your baby when they are having bottles 

| I don't feel as you bond as closely when bottle feeding.

OMG it's sooooo hot at my place today, deffinitely an overly warm spring at 32! I'm struggling to get Charlie to nap because his so hot and sticky too 😩 but anyway let's talk! 

Blocked Milk Ducts? Yeah I had no idea either, I found myself crying with an 8 week old screaming hungry baby because my left breast was rock hard and I couldn't let down any milk! Charlie had already fed off the right hand side and it was empty. This young first time mum was not calm and relaxed I can say that much, searching google with all my might whilst trying to pump to unblock my nipple! 

I found some information on one site that spoke about milk hardening and blocking the duct in the nipple, and it would appear as a white dot on your nipple. Some people said they used a pin to flick it out as such. That sounded painful to me so I kinda pinched my nipple exactly like you woul pop a pimple I guess :/ yep so painful! But when that little white plug was realised it was instant relief! I ran out to Charlie and made him nurse that second because I was like a fountain of milk! LOL

Well the second time I wasn't as stressed, I'm like okay I got this. But no. It was not as simple as last time. The second bloked duct I had didn't form on the nipple, it must have been inside my breast somewhere. I had a major lump too! It lasted 5 days! 5 days of a bulging boobie full I milk is not comfortable 😭 on the third day I saw my health nurse who told me to use the palm of my hand and work the lump down towards my nipple. I did this under a warm shower, after two or three attemps it worked. I was about to dry up all my milk after that! It was horrible but I pushed trough (: 

Another tip is to always offer the blocked side first! Also try to pump. If problems persist obviously seek medical advice! Because if it's blocked for too long that is when mastitis will occur. 

Happy Nursing my loves. 

I have just recently stopped feeding Charlie, I EBF (exclusively breast fed) for 4 months and then continued to breast feed whilst introducing solids. At 6 and a half months Charlie was on 100% formula and 3 solid meals a day. I weaned him into formula slowly, which not only benefited his belly in the transition but also my boobies whilst drying up! I'll write about that in another post though. So my goal was 6 months and I exceeded that by two weeks yay. (: 

| BREAST PADS!!!! lots and lots of breast pads! I cannot make it any more clear, those nice Lacey bras will become rotten and milk stained I'm sorry girls but it's a part of motherhood. 

| Nursing pillow, it looks like a triangle pillow but it hugs your waist more to comfort your baby to support them in the correct position to breast feed. Trust me your arms will get tired! 

| Nipple Cream. Majority of you will get sore cracked bleeding and blistered nipples. Apply some moisturising nipple cream regularly! Also seek help to re attach bub! If it hurts bub is not attached properly. Breast feeding shouldn't hurt (:

| Breast Pump & closer to nature style bottles. I'll touch base more about this in another post this week, but if your wanting to express milk or even just pump to relieve pressure this is really handy to have in the cupboard! I say closer to nature because their bottles and teats are designed to be the closest to the natural feel and shape of your breast. Charlie transitioned perfectly!

Next week I will be talking all about breast feeding, from how to prepare befor baby is born and the essentials to stock up on.  All the way to weaning and drying up your milk supply if need be (: 

If anyone has any questions that they would like me to answer please please ask! I'll incorporate and include them all! 

Love @mummyblogger xx