Breastfeeding can be one of the most rewarding parts of becoming a parent, but that doesn’t mean it always comes naturally or easily to everyone.
One day you may feel like everything is going well. The next, your baby won’t latch properly, feeding suddenly hurts, or you’re lying awake wondering whether your baby is getting enough milk.
And when you’re already tired, the last thing you necessarily want to do is pack a nappy bag, get your baby into the car and travel to an appointment.
That’s where an online breastfeeding consultant can make a real difference.
At Mamma’s Milk, families can access personalised breastfeeding and lactation support from home. Whether you're expecting your first baby, navigating the early newborn weeks or dealing with an ongoing feeding challenge, an online consultation gives you the opportunity to talk through what’s happening and receive guidance tailored to you and your baby.

What Is an Online Breastfeeding Consultant?
An online breastfeeding consultant provides breastfeeding and lactation support through a virtual consultation rather than requiring you to attend a clinic.
Instead of trying to piece together advice from social media, forums and well-meaning friends, you can discuss your individual situation with an experienced professional.
At Mamma’s Milk, Simone Mayze is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with more than 20 years of experience working with mothers and babies.
Her approach recognises something every parent quickly discovers: no two babies are exactly alike.
The advice that worked beautifully for your sister, friend or someone in a parenting group may not necessarily be right for you.
A consultation therefore focuses on your baby, your feeding experience, your concerns and, importantly, your goals.

Why Choose a Breastfeeding Consultant Online?
Convenience is an obvious benefit, but it isn't the only one.
Having a new baby can make even a simple trip out of the house feel like a major operation. An online breastfeeding consultation allows you to receive support in your own environment, without travelling or disrupting your day more than necessary.
It can be particularly helpful for parents living in regional or remote areas where specialist breastfeeding support may not be readily available nearby.
Online consultations can also allow the consultant to observe aspects of a feed through video, discuss positioning and attachment, answer questions and work through concerns with you in real time.
Most importantly, you have dedicated time to talk about your situation.

When Should I Speak to a Breastfeeding Consultant?
You don't have to wait until breastfeeding has become extremely difficult before seeking help.
Sometimes parents simply want reassurance that things are progressing normally. Other times there may be a specific problem that needs attention.
You might consider booking an online breastfeeding consultation if you're experiencing:

• difficulty getting your baby to latch or stay attached
• sore or damaged nipples
• concerns about milk supply
• uncertainty about whether your baby is getting enough milk
• uncomfortable or stressful feeds
• questions about expressing or pumping
• changes in your baby's feeding behaviour
• feeding concerns alongside unsettled behaviour or sleep
• anxiety about breastfeeding before your baby arrives
• difficulty making sense of conflicting breastfeeding advice.

Getting individual support can help you understand what may be happening rather than continuing to guess.

Can a Breastfeeding Consultant Really Help Online?
A surprising amount can be discussed and observed through a video consultation.
Virtual breastfeeding services are now used by healthcare and lactation organisations because video allows a clinician or lactation professional to discuss feeding history, observe a feed when appropriate and provide practical guidance without the family needing to attend in person.
During your consultation, you may talk about your baby's feeding patterns, positioning, attachment, your comfort during feeds and any specific concerns you have.
The aim isn't to force your feeding journey into a standard formula.
It is to look at the whole picture and identify practical strategies appropriate to you.
There will, of course, be situations where an in-person physical assessment or medical care is required. An online consultation can also help identify when seeking additional face-to-face healthcare is appropriate.

Breastfeeding Support Before Your Baby Arrives
You don't have to wait until your baby is born to talk to a lactation consultant.
In fact, pregnancy can be an excellent time to learn about breastfeeding.
Mamma’s Milk offers Before Baby Comes and antenatal breastfeeding support, giving expectant parents an opportunity to learn what to expect before those intense first few days with a newborn.
You can explore subjects such as positioning, attachment, feeding cues and what the early breastfeeding period may look like.
Partners can benefit too.
Understanding breastfeeding before your baby arrives means both parents can approach those first feeds with more knowledge and realistic expectations.
No antenatal session can guarantee that breastfeeding will be problem-free, of course. What it can do is give you a useful foundation and help you know where to turn if you need support.

Breastfeeding Advice Without the Information Overload
Modern parents certainly aren't short of breastfeeding information.
Search online and you'll find thousands of articles, videos, opinions and social media posts.
The problem is that much of the advice conflicts.
One person tells you to feed according to a strict schedule. Someone else says something completely different. Then a relative offers advice based on what worked decades ago.
Before long, you can end up more confused than when you started.
Individual breastfeeding support changes the conversation from:
"What are breastfeeding mothers supposed to do?"
to:
"What is happening with me and my baby?"
That distinction matters.
Your baby's age, feeding behaviour and individual circumstances all contribute to the bigger picture. Personalised support allows those factors to be considered together.
A Supportive Approach to Feeding
Feeding a baby can become surprisingly emotional.
When breastfeeding isn't going as expected, parents may experience frustration, disappointment, worry or simply exhaustion.
What you need at that point isn't judgement.
You need someone who listens.
Mamma’s Milk provides a nurturing and compassionate environment for discussing feeding concerns, recognising that every mother and baby is different.
Simone brings professional experience as an IBCLC alongside personal experience as a mother of four, with many years of breastfeeding experience herself.
The objective is practical, individualised support that helps you work towards your own feeding goals.

Online Breastfeeding Support Across Australia
One of the greatest advantages of virtual lactation support is geography.
You don't necessarily need to live close to your consultant.
Mamma’s Milk provides online breastfeeding consultations across Australia, allowing parents to access support from home. For families in and around Mackay, local consultation options are also available.
For a parent with a newborn, removing the need for unnecessary travel can make seeking support considerably easier.
All you need for an online appointment is generally a suitable device with video capability, an internet connection and somewhere you're comfortable feeding and talking.
Having your baby nearby can also be useful if a feed needs to be observed during the consultation.

Breastfeeding and Sleep Can Be Connected
Parents don't always experience feeding concerns in isolation.
A baby who is difficult to settle may also be feeding frequently. A tired parent may start questioning milk supply. Feeding, crying and sleep can sometimes become tangled together until it's difficult to know where one issue ends and another begins.
Mamma’s Milk also provides baby sleep support, allowing feeding and unsettled behaviour to be considered within the wider experience of caring for your baby.
This broader perspective can be particularly valuable when you aren't sure whether the problem you're experiencing is primarily about feeding, sleep or a combination of factors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Breastfeeding Consultants
What happens during an online breastfeeding consultation?
Your consultation provides an opportunity to explain what has been happening, discuss your concerns and receive advice relevant to your situation. Depending on your needs, the session may include discussing feeding patterns and observing aspects of breastfeeding through video.

Can an online consultant check my baby's latch?
Video can allow a breastfeeding consultant to observe positioning and attachment and discuss possible adjustments. Some concerns, however, may require an in-person assessment, and you may be advised to seek appropriate face-to-face care where necessary.

Can I get help with low milk supply?
Yes. Concerns about milk supply are a common reason parents seek lactation support. Your individual circumstances and feeding pattern can be discussed so that appropriate strategies or next steps can be considered.

Do I need to wait until my baby is born?
No. Antenatal breastfeeding consultations can help you prepare before your baby's arrival. Mamma’s Milk offers support for expectant parents who want to understand breastfeeding before those first feeds begin.

Can my partner join the online consultation?
Having a partner involved can be helpful, particularly during antenatal preparation and the early weeks after birth. They can listen, ask questions and better understand how to support you.

Is online breastfeeding support available anywhere in Australia?
Mamma’s Milk offers online breastfeeding consultations for families around Australia, while local services are available in the Mackay area.

Is an IBCLC different from general breastfeeding support?
IBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. It is a professional credential specifically focused on lactation and breastfeeding care. Simone Mayze at Mamma’s Milk is an IBCLC with more than 20 years of experience working with mothers and babies.

What if I need medical attention?
Online lactation support does not replace necessary medical care. If you or your baby has symptoms requiring medical assessment, urgent concerns, significant illness or another issue outside the scope of a virtual lactation consultation, you should seek appropriate healthcare.
​
You Don't Have to Figure Everything Out Alone
There is no prize for struggling through breastfeeding problems without asking for support.
Sometimes one conversation can help you understand what you're seeing and give you a clearer idea of what to try next. In other situations, ongoing or additional healthcare support may be appropriate.
Either way, getting personalised advice can be far more useful than spending another exhausted evening scrolling through contradictory answers online.
With an online breastfeeding consultant, professional lactation support can come to you.
Mamma’s Milk provides compassionate, personalised breastfeeding support for mothers and families across Australia, with online consultations designed around the individual needs of you and your baby.
If breastfeeding isn't going quite as expected—or you simply want to feel better prepared before your baby arrives--reach out to Mamma’s Milk and book a breastfeeding consultation.

​If you’re awake at 2 am wondering, “Why won’t my baby sleep?”, you’re certainly not the only parent asking the question.
Baby sleep can be unpredictable. One night your little one might give you a longer stretch of rest, while the next involves frequent waking, feeding and resettling. Daytime naps can be equally confusing: a two-hour nap one day might become a series of short naps the next.
For exhausted parents, it’s easy to worry that something is wrong or that their baby “should” be sleeping better by now. But newborn and infant sleep is very different from adult sleep. Frequent waking, changing nap patterns and periods of unsettled sleep can all be normal parts of development.
Understanding what infant sleep actually looks like can help you set realistic expectations, respond to your baby’s needs and decide whether a baby sleep consultation in Australia could provide your family with some additional support.

How Much Sleep Do Babies Actually Need?
There isn’t one perfect number of hours that every baby should sleep.
Babies have individual sleep needs, and those needs change considerably during the first year. Rather than focusing on whether your baby matches another family’s schedule, it can be more useful to consider their age, development, feeding and individual cues.
Babies can sleep anywhere from 9 – 18 hours as newborns and this sleep is generally spread across the day and night rather than occurring in one long overnight stretch.
As babies grow, their sleep needs change. By around three months, many babies begin developing clearer day-and-night patterns and may start sleeping for longer periods overnight.
Focus on night time sleep rather than excessive day sleep is helpful.
The trick is getting to know your baby as the individual they are, and accepting that sleep needs will continue to evolve as your baby gets older.

Why Does My Newborn Wake So Often?
Frequent waking is one of the biggest surprises for many new parents.
Adults are accustomed to thinking of a “good night’s sleep” as seven or eight relatively uninterrupted hours. Newborn biology works differently.
In the early months, babies commonly wake several times overnight to feed. Their stomachs are small, and regular feeding is an important part of early infancy.
Newborns also haven’t yet developed mature day-night rhythms. This explains why a newborn can happily sleep during the afternoon and then appear surprisingly alert at 3 am.
So if your newborn wakes frequently, it doesn’t automatically mean you’re creating “bad habits” or doing something incorrectly.
It can simply be newborn sleep behaving like newborn sleep.

When Will My Baby Sleep Through the Night?
This is understandably one of the most common questions parents ask.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal age when every baby suddenly begins sleeping uninterrupted from bedtime until morning.
Between one and three months, some babies begin having longer periods of sleep at night. At around three months, some may regularly manage a longer stretch, although waking every 2 hours is biologically normal.
Even older babies can wake.
Hunger, teething, illness, developmental changes, temperature, separation awareness, changes to daytime sleep and many other factors can temporarily affect sleep.
Instead of treating “sleeping through” as a milestone that must happen by a particular date, it can be more helpful to look at your baby’s sleep as something that develops gradually.

What’s Normal for Baby Naps?
Naps can generate almost as many questions as night sleep.
“How many naps should my baby have?”
“Why does my baby only nap for 30 minutes?”
“Why was yesterday completely different?”
Again, age matters.
Newborn sleep is spread throughout the day and night, so there might not be an obvious “nap schedule” at all. As babies grow, daytime sleep often becomes more predictable.
Some babies day sleep for longer and for others, short naps are normal. Some babies will vary what they do based their individual needs.
Look at the bigger picture rather than judging sleep based on one nap.

Why Does My Baby’s Sleep Keep Changing?
Just when you think you’ve figured out your baby’s sleep, everything can change.
This can be frustrating, but infant development isn’t linear.
During the first year, your baby undergoes enormous physical, neurological and emotional development. Their feeding patterns change. They become more aware of their surroundings. They learn new physical skills. Their daytime sleep requirements gradually change, and more sleep begins happening at night.
This means a rhythm that suited your baby a month ago might need adjusting today.
Parents often hear these periods described as “sleep regressions”. Whatever terminology you use, periods of disrupted sleep doesn’t necessarily predict poor future sleep.
Sleep naturally evolves throughout infancy.

Should My Baby Follow a Strict Sleep Schedule?
For some families, predictable routines are helpful. But babies aren’t necessarily going to follow a clock-based schedule.
With newborns in particular, paying attention to feeding, tiredness and behavioural cues can be more useful than expecting sleep at an exact time.
A simple rhythm might involve feeding, changing, cuddling or interaction, followed by another period of sleep. But flexibility matters.
If your baby becomes tired earlier than expected, they might need sleep. If they’re hungry, feeding might need to come first.
As your baby grows, you might gradually notice more predictable patterns developing naturally.
It doesn’t need to be complicated.

Remember: Safe Sleep Comes First
Any conversation about improving baby sleep must include safe sleep.
In Australia, Red Nose recommends that babies are always placed on their back to sleep, with their face and head uncovered, in a safe sleeping environment. Babies should be kept smoke-free before and after birth and sleep. Biologically babies are designed to sleep close to their mothers. Investigating and setting up for safe bed-sharing is important whether you choose to bed-share or not. So whether in your bed or a separate sleep surface, ensuring they are on a firm, flat and level mattress is important. Removing loose or soft objects that could obstruct a baby’s breathing is important too.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) also advises against using products such as baby nests or loungers, sleep positioners, soft toys and inclined or curved products as infant sleep surfaces.
Safe-sleep recommendations should always take priority over strategies designed simply to make a baby sleep for longer.

When Should You Seek Professional Support?
There’s a difference between normal infant waking and a situation where your family needs additional support.
You might consider talking to a qualified health professional if you’re concerned about your baby’s feeding, growth, breathing, health or development, or if there has been a significant unexplained change in their usual behaviour.
If your baby appears unwell or you have an urgent health concern, seek appropriate medical care rather than treating it simply as a sleep issue.
There are also situations where your baby might be healthy, but sleep has become difficult for your family to navigate.
Perhaps naps are becoming increasingly challenging. Maybe bedtime takes hours. You might be unsure how much sleep your baby needs, how feeding fits around sleep, or whether your expectations are realistic.
This is where individualised support can be valuable.

How Can a Baby Sleep Consultation Help?
Searching online for baby sleep advice can quickly become overwhelming.
One source tells you to follow wake windows precisely. Another recommends a strict schedule. Someone on social media insists your baby should already be sleeping through the night, while another person tells you never to use a routine at all.
Families and babies aren’t identical, which is why generic advice doesn’t always fit.
A baby sleep consultation in Australia can give parents an opportunity to look at their own baby’s sleep patterns and circumstances rather than trying to follow a one-size-fits-all template.
Support might involve exploring your baby’s current sleep and nap patterns, bedtime routine, settling, feeding and age-appropriate expectations.
Sometimes one of the most valuable outcomes is simply understanding what is developmentally normal.
If you’ve been worrying that your baby is “behind” because they still wake overnight, understanding normal infant sleep can take some of the pressure away.
​
You Don’t Need to Chase Perfect Sleep
Baby sleep can become something parents feel they have to solve.
But babies aren’t machines, and sleep isn’t a performance measure.
Some nights will be easier than others. Naps will change. Development will disrupt routines. Your baby might need more comfort during certain stages and become more independent during others.
Rather than aiming for a perfect schedule, focus on creating a safe, responsive sleep environment that work realistically for your baby and family.
And when you’re unsure, you don’t have to navigate all the conflicting advice alone.
Mamma’s Milk can help families better understand infant sleep, feeding and their baby’s individual needs. If unpredictable naps, frequent waking or uncertainty around sleep is leaving you confused, personalised guidance can help you understand what’s happening and identify practical next steps.
A baby sleep consultation in Australia isn’t about expecting every baby to sleep through the night. It’s about understanding your baby, setting realistic expectations and finding an approach that supports your whole family.
Because sometimes the most reassuring answer to “Why won’t my baby sleep?” is simply this:
Your baby may be sleeping more normally than you think

If you’re awake at 2 am wondering, “Why won’t my baby sleep?”, you’re certainly not the only parent asking the question.

Baby sleep can be unpredictable. One night your little one might give you a longer stretch of rest, while the next involves frequent waking, feeding and resettling. Daytime naps can be equally confusing: a beautiful two-hour nap one day might become a series of short naps the next.
For exhausted parents, it’s easy to worry that something is wrong or that their baby “should” be sleeping better by now. But newborn and infant sleep is very different from adult sleep. Frequent waking, changing nap patterns and periods of unsettled sleep can all be normal parts of development.

Understanding what infant sleep actually looks like can help you set realistic expectations, respond to your baby’s needs and decide whether a baby sleep consultation in Australia could provide your family with some additional support.

How Much Sleep Do Babies Actually Need?
There isn’t one perfect number of hours that every baby should sleep.
Babies have individual sleep needs, and those needs change considerably during the first year. Rather than focusing on whether your baby matches another family’s schedule, it can be more useful to consider their age, development, feeding and individual cues.

Australian parenting guidance indicates that newborns commonly sleep around 14–17 hours over a 24-hour period. However, this sleep is generally spread across the day and night rather than occurring in one long overnight stretch.

Newborns can commonly sleep in short periods of around two to three hours. Their sleep cycles are also relatively short – approximately 40 minutes – and they may wake or need help settling between cycles.

As babies grow, their sleep gradually becomes more organised. By around three months, many babies begin developing clearer day-and-night patterns and may start sleeping for longer periods overnight.
For babies aged approximately three to six months, total sleep might be around 12–15 hours across 24 hours. At six to twelve months, many babies continue having one or two daytime naps while a greater proportion of their overall sleep occurs overnight.

These figures are guides, not rules. There can be considerable variation between healthy babies.

Why Does My Newborn Wake So Often?
Frequent waking is one of the biggest surprises for many new parents.
Adults are accustomed to thinking of a “good night’s sleep” as seven or eight relatively uninterrupted hours. Newborn biology works differently.
In the early months, babies commonly wake several times overnight to feed. Their stomachs are small, and regular feeding is an important part of early infancy.
Newborns also haven’t yet developed mature day-night rhythms. This explains why a newborn can happily sleep during the afternoon and then appear surprisingly alert at 3 am.
Their sleep cycles are shorter too. A newborn might move through a sleep cycle in roughly 40 minutes and briefly wake at the end of it. Sometimes they move into another sleep cycle; at other times they might grizzle, cry, feed or need help settling again.
So if your newborn wakes frequently, it doesn’t automatically mean you’re creating “bad habits” or doing something incorrectly.
It can simply be newborn sleep behaving like newborn sleep.

When Will My Baby Sleep Through the Night?
This is understandably one of the most common questions parents ask.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal age when every baby suddenly begins sleeping uninterrupted from bedtime until morning.
Between one and three months, some babies begin having longer periods of sleep at night. At around three months, some may regularly manage a longer stretch of approximately four or five hours, although waking at least once overnight is still common.
By six months, some babies may sleep for stretches of around six hours. But that doesn’t mean every six-month-old will – or should – sleep continuously through the night.
Even older babies can wake.
Hunger, teething, illness, developmental changes, temperature, separation awareness, changes to daytime sleep and many other factors can temporarily affect sleep.
Instead of treating “sleeping through” as a milestone that must happen by a particular date, it can be more helpful to look at your baby’s sleep as something that develops gradually.

What’s Normal for Baby Naps?
Naps can generate almost as many questions as night sleep.
“How many naps should my baby have?”
“Why does my baby only nap for 30 minutes?”
“Why was yesterday completely different?”
Again, age matters.
Newborn sleep is spread throughout the day and night, so there might not be an obvious “nap schedule” at all. As babies grow, daytime sleep often becomes more predictable.
Between approximately three and six months, babies may move towards two or three daytime sleeps. From six to twelve months, many babies have one or two naps, which can range from around 30 minutes to two hours.
Short naps aren’t necessarily evidence that something is wrong. A baby who wakes after one sleep cycle may simply be transitioning between sleep stages and not return to sleep.
Look at the bigger picture rather than judging sleep based on one nap.

Why Does My Baby’s Sleep Keep Changing?
Just when you think you’ve figured out your baby’s sleep, everything can change.
This can be frustrating, but infant development isn’t linear.
During the first year, your baby undergoes enormous physical, neurological and emotional development. Their feeding patterns change. They become more aware of their surroundings. They learn new physical skills. Their daytime sleep requirements gradually change, and more sleep begins happening at night.
This means a routine that suited your baby a month ago might need adjusting today.
Parents often hear these periods described as “sleep regressions”. Whatever terminology you use, periods of disrupted sleep don’t necessarily mean your baby has permanently lost their ability to sleep.
Sleep naturally evolves throughout infancy.

Should My Baby Follow a Strict Sleep Schedule?
For some families, predictable routines are helpful. But very young babies aren’t necessarily going to follow a clock-based schedule.
With newborns in particular, paying attention to feeding, tiredness and behavioural cues can be more useful than expecting sleep at an exact time.
A simple rhythm might involve feeding, changing, cuddling or interaction, followed by another period of sleep. But flexibility matters.
If your baby becomes tired earlier than expected, they might need sleep. If they’re hungry, feeding might need to come first.
As your baby grows, you might gradually notice more predictable patterns developing naturally.
A calm and consistent bedtime routine can also help signal that nighttime sleep is approaching. This might involve a feed, changing into sleepwear, dimming the lights, cuddling and quietly settling your baby.
It doesn’t need to be complicated.

Remember: Safe Sleep Comes First
Any conversation about improving baby sleep must include safe sleep.
In Australia, Red Nose recommends that babies are always placed on their back to sleep, with their face and head uncovered, in a safe sleeping environment. Babies should be kept smoke-free before and after birth and sleep in their own safe sleep space in a parent or caregiver’s room for at least the first six months.
A safe sleep surface should be firm, flat and level. Loose or soft objects that could obstruct a baby’s breathing shouldn’t be placed in the sleep space.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) also advises against using products such as baby nests or loungers, sleep positioners, soft toys and inclined or curved products as infant sleep surfaces.
Safe-sleep recommendations should always take priority over strategies designed simply to make a baby sleep for longer.

When Should You Seek Professional Support?
There’s a difference between normal infant waking and a situation where your family needs additional support.
You might consider talking to a qualified health professional if you’re concerned about your baby’s feeding, growth, breathing, health or development, or if there has been a significant unexplained change in their usual behaviour.
If your baby appears unwell or you have an urgent health concern, seek appropriate medical care rather than treating it simply as a sleep issue.
There are also situations where your baby might be healthy, but sleep has become difficult for your family to navigate.
Perhaps naps are becoming increasingly challenging. Maybe bedtime takes hours. You might be unsure how much sleep your baby needs, how feeding fits around sleep, or whether your expectations are realistic.
This is where individualised support can be valuable.

How Can a Baby Sleep Consultation Help?
Searching online for baby sleep advice can quickly become overwhelming.
One source tells you to follow wake windows precisely. Another recommends a strict schedule. Someone on social media insists your baby should already be sleeping through the night, while another person tells you never to use a routine at all.
Families and babies aren’t identical, which is why generic advice doesn’t always fit.

A baby sleep consultation in Australia can give parents an opportunity to look at their own baby’s sleep patterns and circumstances rather than trying to follow a one-size-fits-all template.
Support might involve exploring your baby’s current sleep and nap patterns, bedtime routine, settling, feeding and age-appropriate expectations.
Sometimes one of the most valuable outcomes is simply understanding what is developmentally normal.
If you’ve been worrying that your baby is “behind” because they still wake overnight, understanding normal infant sleep can take some of the pressure away.

You Don’t Need to Chase Perfect Sleep
Baby sleep can become something parents feel they have to solve.
But babies aren’t machines, and sleep isn’t a performance measure.
Some nights will be easier than others. Naps will change. Development will disrupt routines. Your baby might need more comfort during certain stages and become more independent during others.
Rather than aiming for a perfect schedule, focus on creating a safe, responsive sleep environment and developing routines that work realistically for your baby and family.

And when you’re unsure, you don’t have to navigate all the conflicting advice alone.
Mamma’s Milk can help families better understand infant sleep, feeding and their baby’s individual needs. If unpredictable naps, frequent waking or uncertainty around sleep is leaving you confused, personalised guidance can help you understand what’s happening and identify practical next steps.
A baby sleep consultation in Australia isn’t about expecting every baby to sleep through the night. It’s about understanding your baby, setting realistic expectations and finding an approach that supports your whole family.
​
Because sometimes the most reassuring answer to “Why won’t my baby sleep?” is simply this:
Your baby may be sleeping more normally than you think.

Bringing your baby home can be a very exciting, emotional and sometimes overwhelming experience. While breastfeeding is often described as natural, that does not mean it always comes naturally or easily.

Sore nipples, difficulty latching, concerns about milk supply, unsettled feeds and uncertainty about whether your baby is getting enough milk can quickly leave you wondering where to turn for help.
Two professionals you may come across are a midwife and a lactation consultant. Both can play an important role in supporting you after birth, but their areas of expertise and the type of care they provide are different.

So, when comparing a lactation consultant vs midwife, who should you see for breastfeeding help?
The answer isn't necessarily one or the other. Midwives and lactation consultants can provide complementary support, with a lactation consultant offering specialised assistance when breastfeeding challenges require more focused assessment and management.

What Does a Midwife Do?
A midwife is a healthcare professional specialising in pregnancy, labour, birth and the early postnatal period.
Depending on your maternity care arrangements, you may see a midwife throughout pregnancy, during labour and birth, and for follow-up appointments after your baby arrives.
Postnatal midwifery care may include checking your recovery following birth, monitoring your baby's wellbeing, answering questions about newborn care and providing initial breastfeeding support.
This means your midwife may be one of the first people to help you breastfeed.
A midwife may assist you with:

• positioning your baby at the breast
• helping your baby attach or latch
• recognising early feeding cues
• understanding how frequently newborns typically feed
• discussing expressing breast milk
• checking your baby's general wellbeing
• providing reassurance during the early days
• identifying feeding concerns that may require additional support.

Midwives therefore provide valuable breastfeeding guidance as part of their broader responsibility for the health and wellbeing of parents and babies.
However, breastfeeding is only one component of midwifery care. When feeding becomes more complicated or you need detailed, ongoing lactation support, you may benefit from seeing a professional whose primary focus is breastfeeding and lactation.

What Is a Lactation Consultant?
A lactation consultant is a professional specialising in breastfeeding and lactation.
You may also see the letters IBCLC, which stand for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. An IBCLC has completed specific education and clinical experience requirements relating to lactation and passed an international certification examination.
Lactation consultants can work in maternity hospitals, community and child health services, or private practice.
Unlike a midwife, whose role covers pregnancy, birth and postnatal care more broadly, a lactation consultant's work focuses specifically on feeding and lactation.
A lactation consultation may involve observing an entire feed, assessing positioning and attachment, discussing your feeding history and concerns, and developing an individualised feeding plan.
This specialised approach can be particularly useful when a breastfeeding problem is persistent, complex or simply isn't improving with general advice.

Lactation Consultant vs Midwife: What's the Difference?
The main difference between a lactation consultant vs midwife is the scope and focus of their work.
A midwife provides healthcare throughout pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period. Breastfeeding assistance is an important part of that care, but it is one of many areas in which a midwife supports parents and babies.
A lactation consultant, particularly an IBCLC, specialises specifically in breastfeeding and lactation. Their training allows them to provide detailed assessment and support for a wide range of feeding concerns.
Think of your care as a team rather than choosing one professional instead of another.
Your midwife may provide initial breastfeeding assistance and recognise when you could benefit from more specialised support. A lactation consultant can then focus specifically on feeding, while your midwife, GP, child health nurse or other healthcare providers continue looking after your broader health and your baby's wellbeing.

When Can a Midwife Help With Breastfeeding?
Midwives are often an excellent first source of breastfeeding support, particularly immediately following birth.
In hospital or during early postnatal visits, your midwife may help you learn how to position your baby, recognise feeding cues and understand what breastfeeding can look like during the first few days.
This can be particularly valuable when you are breastfeeding for the first time and simply need guidance and reassurance.
You might ask your midwife questions such as:
Is my baby's position comfortable and effective?
How can I tell when my baby wants to feed?
How often should I offer the breast?
How do I hand express colostrum or breast milk?
What changes should I expect as my milk comes in?
Midwives can also monitor your recovery after birth and your baby's general health, giving them an important whole-picture view of your postnatal experience.
When Should You See a Lactation Consultant?
You don't have to wait until breastfeeding becomes extremely difficult before contacting a lactation consultant.
In fact, getting specialised support early can help you better understand what is happening and develop a feeding approach suited to you and your baby.
You may consider seeing a lactation consultant if you are experiencing:

Persistent nipple pain
Some tenderness can occur as you and your baby learn to breastfeed, but ongoing or significant pain deserves attention.
A lactation consultant can observe a feed and look closely at positioning, attachment and other factors that may be contributing to discomfort.

Difficulty with attachment
If your baby repeatedly slips off the breast, struggles to attach, becomes frustrated during feeds or feeds only in certain positions, a detailed feeding assessment may help identify what is happening.
Concerns about milk supply
Worrying about whether you are producing enough milk is extremely common.
A lactation consultant can take a detailed feeding history and assess the overall feeding picture rather than relying on a single sign or symptom.
If there are concerns about your baby's growth, hydration or health, appropriate medical assessment should also form part of their care.

Very long or difficult feeds
Some babies take time to become efficient feeders. However, if every feed feels exhausting, exceptionally long or ineffective, specialised support can help assess how your baby is feeding and transferring milk.

Expressing and pumping difficulties
There are many reasons you may need or choose to express milk.
You might be returning to work, building a supply for occasional bottles, exclusively expressing, supplementing feeds or expressing because your baby cannot currently feed effectively at the breast.
A lactation consultant can help you develop an expressing plan suited to your circumstances.

Breastfeeding after a difficult start
Premature birth, separation after delivery, an unexpected caesarean birth, maternal illness or a baby requiring additional medical care can all affect how breastfeeding begins.
Specialised lactation support can help you navigate these situations and establish realistic feeding goals.

Mixed feeding or changing your feeding plan
Lactation support isn't only for parents who want to exclusively breastfeed.
If you are combining breastfeeding and formula, expressing and bottle feeding, reducing supplements or considering weaning, a lactation consultant can provide information and support based on your individual goals.

Do You Have to Choose Between a Midwife and Lactation Consultant?
Usually, no.
The lactation consultant vs midwife question can make it sound as though these professionals perform competing roles, when in reality they can work together as part of your postnatal care team.
For example, your midwife might help you begin breastfeeding after birth and provide initial guidance with positioning and attachment.
If nipple pain continues or your baby is having difficulty feeding effectively, you may then see a lactation consultant for a more detailed assessment.
At the same time, your midwife, GP, paediatrician or child health nurse may remain involved in monitoring you and your baby's overall health.
Good postnatal care is collaborative.

Can a Midwife Also Be a Lactation Consultant?
Yes. Some midwives complete additional education and certification to become IBCLCs.
In this situation, the professional brings both midwifery experience and specialised lactation knowledge to their work.
However, being a midwife does not automatically mean someone is an IBCLC, just as being an IBCLC does not necessarily mean someone is a midwife.
When choosing breastfeeding support, it can therefore be helpful to look at the practitioner's specific qualifications, experience and scope of practice.

What Happens During a Lactation Consultation?
Every consultation will be slightly different depending on your concerns and your baby's needs.
Generally, your lactation consultant will begin by listening.
They may ask about your pregnancy and birth, how breastfeeding began, how often your baby feeds, any pain or difficulties you are experiencing, expressing or supplementation, and your personal feeding goals.
When appropriate, they may observe a feed and assess areas such as:

• your baby's positioning
• attachment to the breast
• sucking and swallowing patterns
• your comfort during feeding
• feeding behaviour
• how breastfeeding is progressing overall.

Rather than simply telling you that something is "right" or "wrong", good lactation support should help you understand what is happening and give you practical strategies that feel manageable for your family.
You may also receive a personalised feeding plan and recommendations for follow-up or referral to another healthcare professional where appropriate.

When Should You Seek Medical Care?
Breastfeeding problems sometimes overlap with medical concerns.
If you or your baby is unwell, you should seek appropriate medical advice rather than relying solely on breastfeeding support.
For example, prompt medical assessment may be needed if you are concerned that your baby is not feeding adequately, has fewer wet nappies than expected, is unusually sleepy or difficult to wake for feeds, or you are worried about your baby's hydration or growth.
Similarly, breast pain accompanied by fever or feeling significantly unwell requires appropriate healthcare assessment.
Your lactation consultant can be an important member of your care team, but they do not replace your GP, paediatrician or other medical professionals when medical treatment is required.
​
Getting the Right Breastfeeding Support
There is no prize for struggling through breastfeeding difficulties alone.
Sometimes a small positioning adjustment makes an enormous difference. At other times, breastfeeding challenges require careful assessment, a personalised plan and ongoing support.
Your midwife is an important source of care during pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period and can provide valuable assistance as breastfeeding begins.
When you need more specialised breastfeeding support, an IBCLC lactation consultant can provide focused assessment and guidance tailored to you and your baby.
At Mamma's Milk, lactation support is about meeting you where you are. Whether you're preparing to breastfeed, navigating challenges in the early days, expressing, mixed feeding or trying to make feeding more comfortable, personalised support can help you make informed decisions with greater confidence.
If feeding isn't going the way you expected, you don't have to wait until things become overwhelming. Seeking support early can give you the information, practical strategies and reassurance you need to move forward in a way that works for you and your baby.

​Breastfeeding is very often described as natural, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it comes naturally or easily from the beginning. Feeding is a skill that both you and your baby learn, and every breastfeeding journey is different.
Some parents find feeding settles into a comfortable rhythm relatively quickly. Others experience painful nipples, difficulties with attachment, concerns about milk supply, an unsettled baby or simply the feeling that something isn't quite right.
This is where a lactation consultant can help.
Professional lactation support can provide personalised guidance, help identify potential feeding difficulties and give you practical strategies based on your individual circumstances. Importantly, you don't need to wait until breastfeeding becomes overwhelming before asking for support.
So, when should you see a lactation consultant?
Here are 10 common signs that it may be worth seeking professional breastfeeding support.

1. Breastfeeding Is Painful
Some nipple sensitivity can occur when you first begin breastfeeding, but ongoing or significant pain shouldn't simply be accepted as an unavoidable part of feeding.
Pain may occur because your baby isn't attaching deeply or effectively to the breast. Other factors can also contribute, which is why an individual assessment can be valuable.
Healthdirect notes that breastfeeding shouldn't be painful when your baby sucks and recommends speaking with a health professional if breastfeeding is continuously painful.
A lactation consultant can observe a feed, assess positioning and attachment, and suggest adjustments that may make breastfeeding more comfortable.
Getting support early can also help prevent nipple damage from becoming more severe.

2. Your Nipples Are Cracked, Bleeding or Damaged
Sore or damaged nipples are another reason to seek breastfeeding support.
Cracked nipples are commonly associated with attachment difficulties. Rather than simply trying to tolerate the discomfort, it is important to investigate why the damage is occurring.
A lactation consultant can assess how your baby attaches and feeds and work with you on positioning techniques that may improve milk transfer while reducing pressure on the nipple.
Addressing the underlying issue is particularly important because nipple damage can make every feed stressful and painful.
Breastfeeding shouldn't have to become something you dread.

3. Your Baby Has Difficulty Attaching
Effective attachment — often called a good "latch" — plays an important role in breastfeeding.
Signs that your baby may be having difficulty attaching can include repeatedly coming on and off the breast, struggling to maintain attachment, appearing frustrated during feeds or causing significant nipple pain.
Sometimes changing the feeding position can make a considerable difference. In other situations, there may be additional factors affecting how effectively your baby feeds.
Watching a baby breastfeed gives a lactation consultant valuable information that cannot always be obtained from a description of the problem alone.
They can assess positioning and attachment and suggest techniques tailored to you and your baby.

4. You're Worried About Your Milk Supply
"Am I making enough milk?" is one of the most common concerns among breastfeeding parents.
Frequent feeding doesn't automatically mean that your supply is low. Young babies commonly breastfeed very frequently, and cluster feeding — periods when a baby wants several feeds close together — can also be completely normal.
Breasts becoming softer after the early weeks doesn't necessarily indicate falling milk production either.
Rather than judging supply based on breast fullness or how frequently your baby asks to feed, health professionals consider factors such as your baby's growth, feeding effectiveness, nappies and general wellbeing.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association advises that by around five days old, an exclusively breastfed baby would generally be expected to have at least five heavily wet disposable nappies or six very wet cloth nappies during a 24-hour period.
If you're concerned about your milk production, a lactation consultant can help assess the whole picture rather than focusing on a single sign.

5. Your Baby Isn't Gaining Weight as Expected
Growth is another important indicator of how feeding is progressing.
It is normal for newborn babies to lose some weight following birth before beginning to gain again. However, concerns about ongoing weight gain should be discussed with an appropriate health professional.
If your baby's weight isn't progressing as expected, breastfeeding assessment may form part of investigating what is happening.
A lactation consultant can look at factors including feeding frequency, attachment and how effectively your baby appears to transfer milk.
They may also work alongside your GP, paediatrician, midwife or child and family health nurse when additional medical assessment is required.
The goal isn't simply to "feed more". It's to understand what may be happening and establish an appropriate feeding plan for you and your baby.

6. Your Baby Is Very Sleepy During Feeds
Newborns sleep a lot, and some babies naturally become sleepy while feeding.
However, a baby who repeatedly falls asleep before feeding effectively or is difficult to wake for feeds may need additional assessment.
There are many reasons babies can be sleepy. The Australian Breastfeeding Association notes that medical factors such as jaundice or infection can sometimes contribute to excessive sleepiness, which is why concerning changes in a baby's behaviour should be discussed with a doctor or other appropriate health professional.
A lactation consultant can help assess the breastfeeding component and suggest practical techniques for encouraging effective feeding.
If there is concern about your baby's health, however, medical assessment should not be delayed.

7. Your Baby Seems Constantly Unsettled After Feeding
Babies cry and become unsettled for many reasons, and an unsettled baby doesn't automatically mean there is a breastfeeding problem.
Your baby might be tired, overstimulated, uncomfortable or simply looking for closeness.
Frequent feeding can also be normal. Cluster feeding is particularly common during the early stages of breastfeeding and periods of rapid growth.
However, if your baby consistently appears distressed during or after feeds, repeatedly struggles at the breast or you are worried they aren't feeding effectively, seeking support can provide reassurance and help identify possible feeding issues.
A lactation consultant can look at the overall feeding pattern rather than focusing only on how frequently your baby feeds.
Sometimes reassurance that your baby's behaviour falls within a normal range is just as valuable as identifying a problem.

8. You're Experiencing Engorgement, Blocked Areas or Breast Inflammation
Breasts can become very full when milk production increases during the first few days after birth. Some parents also experience ongoing problems with breast inflammation or mastitis.
Mastitis can cause breast pain, redness and swelling as well as flu-like symptoms and feeling generally unwell.
This is an area where knowing when to seek medical attention is particularly important.
Healthdirect recommends seeing a doctor if you think you have mastitis and the breast isn't beginning to improve within 12–24 hours, or earlier if you feel unwell. Untreated mastitis can sometimes lead to complications such as a breast abscess.
A lactation consultant may provide breastfeeding support alongside appropriate medical care, including assessing attachment and feeding patterns.
However, lactation support isn't a substitute for medical treatment when you are unwell or infection is suspected.

9. You're Introducing Bottles, Expressing or Returning to Work
Lactation consultants aren't only there when something has gone wrong.
They can also help during breastfeeding transitions.
You may want guidance when:

• introducing expressed breastmilk
• learning how to use a breast pump
• combining breast and bottle feeding
• preparing to return to work
• reducing supplementary feeds under professional guidance
• maintaining your milk supply while separated from your baby
• planning to gradually reduce breastfeeding.

Returning to work in particular can create new practical questions around pumping, storing milk and fitting expressing sessions into your day.
Planning before the transition can make the process feel much more manageable.

10. You Simply Feel That Something Isn't Right
You don't need to have a clearly defined breastfeeding "problem" before contacting a lactation consultant.
Sometimes parents simply have questions.
You might wonder whether your baby is feeding too frequently, whether your attachment looks right, whether your supply is adequate or whether certain behaviours are normal.
You might also be breastfeeding successfully but finding the experience exhausting or confusing.
Seeking professional support isn't an indication that you have failed at breastfeeding.
Often, a consultation is about understanding what is happening, discussing your concerns and developing strategies that work for your individual family.

What Does a Lactation Consultant Do?
A lactation consultant provides specialised breastfeeding and lactation support.
Depending on your circumstances, a consultation may involve discussing your baby's feeding history, observing a breastfeed, assessing positioning and attachment, talking about feeding patterns and discussing milk supply concerns.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association explains that International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) hold a specialist lactation qualification and may work in hospitals, child health services or private practice.
Importantly, breastfeeding support should be individualised.
There isn't one feeding position, routine or strategy that works perfectly for every parent and baby.
Professional support allows recommendations to be based on what's actually happening for you.

When Should You Seek Medical Help?
A lactation consultant can be an important part of your breastfeeding support network, but some situations also require medical assessment.
Seek advice from an appropriate medical professional if you are concerned about your baby's health, hydration, alertness or growth, or if your baby appears unusually unwell.
Likewise, seek medical advice if you are experiencing symptoms of mastitis, fever, significant breast redness or swelling, or you are otherwise feeling unwell.
Your GP, midwife, paediatrician, child and family health nurse and lactation consultant can all play different but complementary roles in supporting you and your baby.
​
You Don't Have to Wait Until Breastfeeding Feels Impossible
One of the most useful times to see a lactation consultant is often before a small feeding concern develops into a much bigger one.
Breastfeeding is something you and your baby learn together. Challenges don't mean you're doing anything wrong, and needing additional information or hands-on support is common.
Whether you're experiencing painful feeding, attachment difficulties, concerns about milk supply or simply want reassurance that breastfeeding is progressing well, professional lactation support can help you better understand what's happening and determine your next steps.
At Mamma's Milk, support is centred around the individual needs of parents and babies. If breastfeeding isn't going as you expected — or you'd simply like some guidance and reassurance — reaching out for lactation support can help you move forward with greater confidence.

Today in my neck of the woods, records might be broken. The heatwave prediction is for the temperature to rise above 4o degrees! It is important to stay hydrated and whilst for us that might mean frequent drinks of cold water, many mums wonder about how to ensure their babies are well hydrated. Thankfully our breastmilk is still the perfect balance of water and nutrients for our children. For babies under 6 months, exclusive breastfeeding is still the recommended way to ensure babies receive what they need. If your baby is older, then in addition to more breastfeeds water can be offered from a cup. 
You may notice that your baby asks to feed more frequently but for a shorter duration when the weather is hot. Breastmilk is always changing to suit the baby's needs. When your baby begins their feed the milk available is less fat rich and is more watery which quenches your baby's thirst. As the feed progresses the fat content naturally increases. If your baby is having quick frequent feeds, they are more likely to be getting the lower fat milk, thus quenching their thirst. 

A reassuring indication of a well hydrated baby can be summed up by saying, "what goes in, must come out."

• At least 6 very wet cloth nappies or at least 5 very wet disposable nappies in 24 hours. The urine should be pale or clear in colour without a strong smell. A young baby should be stooling about three times a day, however a baby older than about a month may be having less dirty nappies than this. You will know what is usual for your child. 
• Good skin colour and muscle tone. Does she look like she fits her skin? 
• A listless baby with no energy can be a sign of heat stress or illness

When the mercury soars the idea of snuggling up on the sofa with our little ones may feel less than appealing. 
Here are some tips to help beat the heat:

• Stay well hydrated yourself. Keep a water bottle handy.
• Stay out of the sun during the hot weather. Stay indoors and if your home isn't air-conditioned consider a shopping centre or cafe that is.
• If you can't avoid the outdoors, look for shade, wear suncream and a hat - for you and your baby
• Make some ice chips with your breastmilk. Older babies can have fun and keep cool playing with and enjoying your breastmilk ice-lollies
• Wear less clothes
• Put a wet cloth nappy or something similar into the fridge to chill and then when it is time to feed place that between you and your baby
• Feed baby in the bath or pool or feed after you hop out. This can be particularly refreshing if you can position yourself under a fan whilst still damp.
• Keep a light wrap handy to mop up sweat during a feed or to place in between you and your baby. This will help keep you feeling fresh

The summer heat can feel unrelenting. Thankfully when it's too hot to do anything else, having a baby to "do nothing" with is the best way to pass the time.

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability" - Sam Keen

Touch comes before sight, before speech. It is the 

first language and the last, and it always tells the 

truth  Margaret Attwood

​Our babies crave touch. It’s not a want. It is a need. Without touch, babies don’t thrive. Babies that don’t receive enough loving touch are at a higher risk for behavioural, emotional and social problems as they grow up. Yet how often do we hear, “Put the baby down”, “You’ll spoil the baby”, “You’re making a rod for your own back”. All too often we are bombarded with baby paraphernalia that encourages us to put our babies elsewhere: car-seat, pram, swing, bassinet, or the cot, and yet from a baby’s perspective being separated from its mother is life-threatening.
 
Babies need to be touched. 
 
Despite knowing this throughout time, the Victorian era saw families move away from this. The invention of the pram, the idea that children should be seen and not heard and the outsourcing of baby feeding through the growth of the formula industry have had a lasting impact that continues even today. It took some rather distressing studies by Harlow in the 1930s for the tide to slowly begin to change. 
 
By all means follow the link to read about the studies, but I shall summarise the results here by saying that Harlow found there was far more to the mother-infant bond than an exchange of milk. He found that it was the physical contact that was needed for the optimal psychological development of baby monkeys. Harlow concluded that “nursing strengthened the mother–child bond because of the intimate body contact that it provided” and the hormonal cascade it initiated. “Touch was more important than food to motherless monkeys!” 
 
Researchers Drs Mason and Berkson in their monkey studies, demonstrated that touch and movement were both required for normal brain and social development. They demonstrated that only the monkeys who were raised with both touch and motion had normal brain development, demonstrating the importance of maternal holding and carrying throughout infancy for ongoing brain development.
 
A 2017 study also looked at the effects of a ‘nurturing touch’ on a baby’s development. The type of touch that this encompasses may include massage, stroking, holding, carrying and skin-to-skin contact. Breastfeeding fulfils many of these roles. Dr Maitre showed that an ‘intentional supportive touch’  is “absolutely crucial to babies’ developing brains.” 
 
Ideally, positive, nurturing touch begins after birth when a baby is placed skin against skin with the mother. This becomes the catalyst for a hormonal dance that mammals have perfected over millennia.  
 
Hormones known to influence attachment behaviours are increased by skin-to-skin contact. Babies in contact with their mothers are assisted in regulating their heart and with the mother’s body warming in response to a baby that is cool and falling as the baby’s temperature rises. This in turn helps a baby maintain its blood sugar level as the mother’s body continues to assist the baby with these functions meaning that calories can be used for growth instead. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends skin-to-skin contact should continue for at least the first three months and even beyond. They suggest snuggling for around 60 mins at a time. 

So cuddle, love and hold your babies. Maybe at times it will feel that they will never be happy anywhere else. Don’t despair, as Dr Maitre says, “Gentle touch, especially skin on skin, is just one of the most important things parents can do for their babies.”

    “A touch communicates what can't be said.”
                                                                           Marty Rubin

We often hear that breastfeeding is "natural". And perhaps in days gone by women did find adjusting to feeding a new baby easier. So why does it seem so hard for us? "Why is it so hard for me? "

Well the world we live in has changed. No longer are we living in close communities where we are participating in the raising of children from a young age. We don't see other women feeding their babies. These days there is a whole movement intent on having mothers stay hidden in case a breast or nipple is seen out in public with a hungry baby trying to feed. But that is a discussion for another day.  The learning that once took place throughout our lives is suddenly thrown at us once the baby is placed on our chests after birth. The pressure to have breastfeeding sorted before discharge anywhere from 4 hours to maybe 4 days post delivery is daunting to say the least. 

Learning about breastfeeding before your baby is born, without the stress of a crying infant and a sleep deprived brain can set you up for a better and more enjoyable breastfeeding experience.  

Information 

• Attend an Antenatal Breastfeeding Class, or a private session with an IBCLC to learn and discuss breastfeeding and how to get off to your best start breastfeeding your baby.
• Knowing that if your breastfeeding journey didn't go to plan with previous babies, it doesn't mean that things will be the same this time. Meeting with an IBCLC and working out how things could be different this time and having a plan in place can be helpful.
• Read  about breastfeeding - how it works, what are the benefits and things that other mothers found helpful. 

• Speak with breastfeeding mothers - ask them about their experiences. What helped, what didn't. 
• Watch breastfeeding mothers and see how they feed their babies. Joining the Australian Breastfeeding Association and meeting other mothers there can provide a safe place to ask questions, see babies being breastfed and provide a network of supportive women
• Speak with any family members. Ask how they fed and let them know how you would like to be supported with regards to feeding your baby.
• Watch videos of babies feeding. A great site with many videos is Global Health Media. 
• Acknowledging that a mother's health can influence our breastfeeding outcomes. Knowing that if you have conditions such as gestational diabetes, PCOS or previously struggled to make enough milk for an earlier baby  (to name but a few...) having a breastfeeding plan in place to offset these risk factors can improve your chances for meeting your breastfeeding potential.
• Recognising that our birth choices can also influence our breastfeeding journey. Sometimes we don't have control over what happens with our births, but aiming for the least amount of interventions is a good place to start. If things don't go to plan then speaking to an IBCLC and setting up a breastfeeding plan after the birth can help get breastfeeding off to the best start.

Create a positive mindset

• Have a positive attitude to breastfeeding. Most women are able to breastfeed. Let people know that you’re planning on breastfeeding your baby. Hearing this will helps you to become accustomed to the fact yourself.
• Having realistic expectations is important. Yes, breastfeeding is natural, but so is walking. Yet we allow our babies many months to practise and perfect this skill. The same mindset should be applied to breastfeeding. It is not unusual for mums and bubs to have some early hurdles. With support most mums work through their struggles.  
• A supportive partner is huge predictor of breastfeeding success and enjoyment. Speak with your partner and let them know how they can support you. Including them in your antenatal preparation helps them to appreciate how important breastfeeding is for both mum and baby's lifelong health. 

                                Information
                              Determination
                                  Support