Milk Wisdom with Joelleen Winduss Paye - Part 01
5 Tips for Establishing an Optimal Milk Supply (Antenatal)
Our mission is to empower millions of women to feel less impeded by the demands of motherhood and more capable to live their own way as they navigate postpartum life and we have started by helping women feel comfortable and more supported on their breastfeeding journey.
Launching in line with World Breastfeeding Week 2024, we aim to share insightful tips from industry experts to help support breastfeeding mothers, so that accurate and useful information is available when it's most needed. Joelleen Winduss Paye is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Midwife and Naturopath who provides mothers with holistic breastfeeding support In this article, Joelleen shares five holistic tips on how to establish an optimal milk supply before you welcome your baby earth-side.
1. Learn about hand expression from 36 weeks
One of the most practical ways to support milk supply is to learn the technique of hand expressing while you are still pregnant. This is the process of manually squeezing and collecting any colostrum (early milk) in the breast. Not everyone manages to collect colostrum and that is ok, learning the technique ahead of time is the main goal. You will need to wait until 36 weeks of pregnancy and seek approval from your healthcare provider.
2. The benefits of skin to skin during the Golden Hour
The golden hour/s represent the first 1-3 hours post birth that are very impactful on the longterm breastfeeding journey. Learn about the breast crawl, which is where the baby finds their way to the nipple and latches on themselves! Studies have shown that babies who self-initiate their first feed have better feeding outcomes. Discuss prioritising the golden hours in your birth plan with your care providers.
3. Equip yourself with a strong support network by connecting with a Lactation Consultant near you
It is great to know what support is available ahead of time. Find out what your birth hospital and local council have available nearby. If you have the means to enlist some private support, seek out a local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and see if they have some availability around your due date. Doing a bit of research before your baby arrives helps to take the stress out of finding support if needed when your baby is here and you may be experiencing challenges. Delegating this research to a close support person can also be a good thing to do.
4. Naturopath, Nutritionist and/or Integrative Medicine support for hormonal conditions
If you have any metabolic or hormonal conditions that may predispose you to low milk supply it is great, not only for your breastfeeding journey but your overall health, to get support with these before your baby’s arrival. There is so much a naturopath, nutritionist and/or integrative GP can do to support your health and optimise your milk supply, and having a solid treatment plan can help to guide the way.
5. Postpartum planning: meal planning and delegating household chores
Planning will allow you and your partner to focus on establishing feeding in those early days and weeks. Good nutrition is really important to support healing, sleep and milk supply. The less you have to worry about running the house and the more you can utilise your village of friends, family and professionals, the more mental and physical energy you can dedicate to feeding and bonding with your newborn.
Learn more about establishing an optimal milk supply once you welcome your baby in Part 2 of this journal article.
Joelleen Winduss Paye is a Holistic Lactation Consultant, Midwife, Naturopath & Educator based in Melbourne, Australia. She is the founder of JWP, a holistic breastfeeding service that is both in-person and online. Joelleen can be found at www.jwp.care and also at @jwp.care where she shares holistic and supportive content for breastfeeding parents.