It's normal to wonder.
Clear, calm answers to the worries that keep you up at night — paired with on-demand video guidance from Sara, anytime you need it.
Am I making enough milk?
Doubting your supply is one of the most common worries — and almost always unfounded if your baby is content and growing.
- ·Look for relaxed behaviour after feeds and adequate wet & dirty nappies.
- ·Steady weight gain across weeks (not days) is the most reliable measure.
- ·Cluster feeding and growth spurts are normal — not a sign of low supply.
I have mastitis — what do I do?
Mastitis comes on fast and feels terrible. Modern protocols have moved away from aggressive massage and pumping.
- ·Treat it like an inflammatory injury: rest, ice, and gentle lymphatic drainage.
- ·Continue normal, rhythmic feeding — don't over-pump the affected breast.
- ·If symptoms worsen or you spike a fever, contact your GP for antibiotics.
Will giving a bottle ruin breastfeeding?
No. A bottle introduced thoughtfully can be a wonderful tool that supports — not undermines — your breastfeeding relationship.
- ·Use 'paced bottle feeding' so baby drinks at a slow, manageable rhythm.
- ·Hold baby upright and let them control the pace, just like at the breast.
- ·Choose a slow-flow teat and pause regularly to mimic breast pacing.
Is it safe to wean now?
Weaning is safe whenever you and your baby are ready — whether that's 6 weeks or 2 years. The healthiest approach is gradual.
- ·Drop one feed every few days to give your body time to down-regulate.
- ·Gradual weaning prevents engorgement, blocked ducts, and mastitis.
- ·It also gives your baby time to adjust emotionally to the change.
How do I return to work and keep feeding?
It takes planning, but it is absolutely possible to return to work and continue breastfeeding for as long as you wish.
- ·Establish a pumping rhythm that replaces missed feeds during the day.
- ·Get the correct flange fit — it makes a huge difference to comfort & output.
- ·Communicate early with your employer about pumping breaks and storage.
What is this painful blister on my nipple?
That is likely a milk bleb — a small blockage at the pore. They are notoriously sharp but very treatable.
- ·Do not attempt to pop it with a needle at home.
- ·Warm compresses and gentle massage are the safest first steps.
- ·Address any underlying latch issues to prevent recurrence.
How do I know if my baby has a tongue tie?
You can't tell from a photo or a quick look under the tongue — a tongue tie is identified by how the tongue functions, not by how it looks.
- ·Watch for nipple pain, clicking or lost suction, endless feeds, and slow weight gain.
- ·A proper assessment checks lift, extension, and cupping — with a gloved finger, not by sight.
- ·Not every tongue tie needs releasing. If one does, I'll refer you to a trusted provider.
Feeding hurts — is that just part of it?
No — pain that lasts all the way through a feed means something needs adjusting, not that you must endure it. Brief tenderness in the first weeks is common.
- ·Aim for a deep latch: chin into the breast first, mouth wide, more areola above the top lip.
- ·If it pinches, gently break the suction and start again — repeating a painful latch deepens the damage.
- ·Pain despite a good latch can be thrush or vasospasm. Shooting pain after feeds needs your GP.
Why is my milk supply low?
Supply follows demand — milk is made in response to how often and how well it is removed, so low supply usually means something is interfering with milk removal.
- ·The usual causes are timed or infrequent feeds, a shallow latch, restricted oral function, or top-ups.
- ·Building supply means removing more milk, more often — responsive feeding, an expression after feeds, skin-to-skin.
- ·Thyroid changes, PCOS, retained placenta, and previous breast surgery can all play a part — see your GP.
Why do I have a hard, painful lump in my breast?
A firm, tender lump that comes on over a few hours is usually a blocked duct — swelling and inflammation, not milk that needs squeezing out.
- ·Cold packs between feeds, rest, and an anti-inflammatory your pharmacist approves will settle the swelling.
- ·Keep feeding on your normal rhythm. Extra pumping to 'empty' the breast only makes it worse.
- ·Fever, chills, or no change within 24 hours means mastitis — contact your GP.
What do I do if my baby refuses the bottle?
Bottle refusal usually resolves by changing the circumstances rather than persisting with the same bottle — most babies take one when calm, from someone else, slowly.
- ·Offer when your baby is content and lightly hungry — never at the point of distress.
- ·Change one thing at a time: a different person, room, position, or a walk outside.
- ·Warm the teat, choose a slow flow, and pace the feed. An open cup is another option.
How do I know if I have too much milk?
Oversupply looks like a baby who splutters and pulls off early, explosive green nappies, and a lot of wind — usually alongside rapid weight gain.
- ·Laid-back positions let your baby manage a fast flow with gravity working for them.
- ·Feeding one breast per feed can settle supply, but taken too far it tips into blocked ducts.
- ·A shallow latch or restricted oral function can look identical — worth confirming before you change anything.
Do I have to keep feeding through the night?
Night feeds are normal well beyond the newborn weeks — prolactin runs highest overnight, so night feeding protects your supply as much as it feeds your baby.
- ·Most babies still need a night feed through the first year. Waking is normal, not a fault.
- ·Changing who settles, or handing one feed to someone else, helps more than dropping feeds.
- ·Follow Red Nose safe sleep guidance. If you might fall asleep, prepare the bed — never a couch.
How long does expressed breastmilk keep?
Freshly expressed breastmilk keeps 6–8 hours at room temperature, 3 days in the fridge, and about 3 months in a separate-door freezer. That is the Australian Breastfeeding Association's guidance.
- ·Store in 60–120ml amounts so nothing is wasted, and label every container with the date.
- ·Thaw in the fridge or under cool running water, never the microwave. Use within 24 hours.
- ·Frozen milk can smell soapy from lipase. It is safe — scalding before freezing helps if baby refuses.
How do I prepare for breastfeeding before my baby arrives?
The most useful preparation is knowing what normal looks like in week one — how often a newborn feeds, what a deep latch feels like, and when to ask for help.
- ·Expect 8–12 feeds a day at first. That frequency is how your supply gets set.
- ·Antenatal expressing can help, but usually from 36 weeks and only with your midwife's go-ahead.
- ·Line your support up now: your midwife, your GP, and the Australian Breastfeeding Association helpline.
My baby has had a tongue tie released — what happens now?
The first two weeks after a release matter most — the wound heals quickly and can reattach, so the work is keeping tissue mobile and helping your baby relearn.
- ·Feeding often improves within days, but can briefly feel worse while your baby relearns. That is normal.
- ·Keep the aftercare movements gentle. If your baby is distressed or refusing to feed, stop and ask.
- ·Bodywork, suck training, and where appropriate serrapeptase support healing. Book a follow-up within a fortnight.
When should my baby start solids?
Australian guidance is to start solids at around six months, and not before four — when your baby shows readiness, rather than when the calendar says so.
- ·Readiness is steady head control, sitting upright with support, and reaching for food rather than watching it.
- ·Breastmilk stays the main nutrition through the first year. Start with iron-rich foods alongside milk feeds.
- ·Introduce common allergens within the first year — talk to your GP first if your baby has severe eczema.
Still have questions?
Every feeding journey is different. If your worry isn't covered here, reach out — Sara replies personally to every message.