One of the biggest aims of All Things Breastfeeding is to provide trustworthy breastfeeding information and advice, specifically aimed at South African moms. We know that our systems – our healthcare system, workplace environments and social networks – are not always breastfeeding friendly, despite everyone proclaiming that breast is best.
We hope to compensate in some small way for this by providing information content that moms can use to help them cope with their breastfeeding challenges. And its not all about challenges; breastfeeding can be a beautiful experience that you can celebrate and enjoy!
Enjoy reading, and do let us know if you have a topic that you would like to read more about.
Worried You Don’t Have Enough Milk? Feeling anxious about milk supply is one of the most common breastfeeding concerns for new moms — and also the main reason many stop breastfeeding earlier than planned. Yet, true low milk supply is rare. Most mothers produce enough milk once they understand how supply works and get the right support. If you’re only wondering whether your experience is normal, check out our article on false alarms for low milk supply — it might[...]
Worrying about not having enough breast milk is one of the most common fears new mothers face. While some truly experience a low milk supply, many mothers mistake normal baby behavior for signs of insufficient milk. This often happens when mothers haven’t had much exposure to breastfeeding—perhaps growing up in families where few women breastfed or not having close friends who did. Without this reassurance, it’s easy to misread what’s normal. If you genuinely suspect a supply problem, read our[...]
Mastitis is the term used to describe a spectrum of conditions, including breast engorgement, breast inflammation, blocked ducts, nipple blebs, bacterial mastitis (once an infection kicks in), and breast abscesses. There are two main causes of mastitis, and they work together to form an evil circle that can cause simple engorgement to lead to a devastating complication like a breast abscess. These are hyperlactation (too much milk or insufficient emptying), and dysbiosis (an imbalance in microbiome (or good bacteria)[...]
In 2022, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) released Clinical Protocol #36, a major update on how healthcare providers manage the mastitis spectrum. This new protocol was developed after new technology completely changed how we view the anatomy of the breast. It also revolutionised the treatment of engorgement, mastitis, breast abscesses, and plugged ducts. This protocol is still new — many doctors, nurses, and even lactation consultants may not yet be aware of it. Unless they’ve kept up with the[...]
Most new moms experience some breastfeeding challenges in the first few weeks. Getting the latch right and understanding your baby’s feeding cues can take time. Even after the initial hurdles, you may still find yourself wondering: Is my baby getting enough milk? Is it normal to feed this often? Why is baby so restless or fussy? Is my milk nutritious enough? Should my baby be sleeping better by now? It’s no surprise that many moms start doubting themselves or even[...]
