🤱 Ask The Expert | World Breastfeeding Week 2026

It may help if someone other than mum offers it, as babies may naturally prefer to breastfeed when they can smell and see mum! You can also experiment with different bottle teats, but avoid changing too many things at once. For bottle teat, it is recommended to get one with a gentle gradient from the top to the base of the teat. When bottle-feeding, try paced bottle feeding: keep your baby relatively upright, hold the bottle more horizontally and allow regular pauses. This could help baby stay in control of the pace of the feed. Also, babies may feed differently at the breast and bottle. Most importantly, look at your baby's overall intake for the day, the number of wet and dirty diapers, weight gain and behaviour.

It is completely natural to worry about your baby’s future health. However if you are out without your baby or if you don't have enough expressed breastmilk to feed the baby, and your baby tolerates the formula well, it is ok to offer the formula. Genetics and family history may play a larger role in whether a child develops allergies later in life.

Our nipples come in different shapes and sizes. Some are erected, some are shorter or flatter, so are inverted. It could be more challenging initially to latch your baby if you have flat nipples, but that does not mean that it is impossible to breastfeed. There are no strong evidence to show that treating your nipples during pregnancy helps, but some mums find using suction devices like nipple evertors during pregnancy to help draw out their nipples helpful. When baby is born, there are also various ways to help baby latch on better, such as breast massage, using the pump or nipple evertor before feeding to draw out the nipple more, and shaping your breast when attaching baby onto the breast. Given your previous experience, I'd strongly recommend arranging early breastfeeding support from an IBCLC after birth rather than waiting until you're struggling. All the best!

First, be gentle with yourself. Stress can affect breastfeeding, but it doesn't mean that being stressed will automatically make your milk “disappear”. Often, stress affects the let-down reflex, making it harder for milk to flow during a feed or pumping session. This can make it look as though your supply has suddenly dropped. And importantly, life happens, and everyone will feel stress at some times. You don't need to eliminate stress completely in order to breastfeed successfully. Focus on what you can control. Continue offering the breast regularly and, if you're pumping, check whether your pump parts are still working well and whether the flange size is appropriate. Seek professional breastfeeding support if you're concerned about your baby's intake or your supply.

Absolutely. If possible, consider having a prenatal consultation with an IBCLC or lactation professional, particularly if you had significant challenges previously. You can develop a plan for the early days before you're sleep-deprived and recovering from birth. You can also learn about newborn feeding cues, positioning and attachment, hand expression and what normal newborn feeding looks like. After birth, getting help early can make a big difference. You don't have to wait until breastfeeding becomes painful or overwhelming before asking for support. Most importantly, try not to carry your previous experience as a prediction of what will happen this time. This is a new baby, a new breastfeeding relationship and a new experience.

Breastfeeding can be beautiful, but it can also be exhausting, repetitive and overwhelming — especially in those early weeks when it feels like your baby is constantly feeding. Rather than thinking, “I have to do this for the next six months,” try taking it one feed at a time. Build opportunities to rest into your day and let other people take care of meals, household chores and other responsibilities. If breastfeeding is painful, baby is feeding for very long periods without seeming satisfied, or you feel constantly anxious about whether baby is getting enough, please get help from an IBCLC to address any underlying feeding issues and it could make the experience much easier. And give yourself permission to define what a successful breastfeeding journey means for you. You don't need to feel blissful at every feed to be a good mother.

Some food and herbal products are labelled as “galactagogues”, which are substances used to increase milk supply. Everyone's reaction to galactagogues differ - what works for some mothers may not really work for others. What has the strongest effect on milk production is effective and frequent milk removal either via direct latching or pumping. In simple terms: the more effectively milk is removed from the breast, the stronger the signal to your body to produce milk. A balanced diet, adequate fluids and sufficient calories are important for your own health and wellbeing. If you enjoy the soups or your favourite lactation tea, go ahead — but you don't need to force yourself to consume something you dislike because you're worried your milk supply depends on it. If you genuinely have low supply, it's much more useful to identify why than to simply add more “milk-boosting” foods/herbs.

You could try to get some one-on-one time with your toddler whenever possible. Even 10–15 minutes of undivided attention can help them feel connected and reassured that they haven't been “replaced” by the new baby. And don't feel guilty about asking your partner or other family support to help care for your toddler while you feed your newborn, or using snacks or other shortcuts occasionally to keep your toddler occupied. You are getting through a tiring and demanding time, but remember, this too, shall pass.

Yes, tandem breastfeeding is possible, and many mothers successfully breastfeed both an older child and a newborn. Your body is capable of producing milk for both children. However, during the early days after birth, make sure your newborn has unrestricted access to the breast and is getting enough colostrum and milk for healthy growth. Monitor your newborn's diaper output and weight gain. You may notice that your older child changes their feeding pattern once the baby arrives. Some toddlers nurse more frequently because of the change in family dynamics, while others lose interest. Tandem breastfeeding can be physically and emotionally demanding, so nutrition, rest and support are important.