Ask a Midwife! Ask anything you’d like to know about baby feeding - chance to win a Momcozy breast pump worth £269.99 and baby feeding essentials!

[geemumsnet]

Feeding your baby can feel like a bit of a rollercoaster from figuring out how to get started with breastfeeding, to wondering if your supply is enough, or juggling pumping and bottles.

Every feeding journey looks different, and it can be hard to know what’s best for you and your baby especially if you’re a new parent or your new baby’s needs are different.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with Momcozy for this Q&A with Marie – a midwife with 12 years’ experience and mum of two.

Whether you’re breastfeeding, pumping, combi feeding, or thinking about switching things up, Marie’s here with expert, down-to-earth advice to support you with your questions.

Please leave your questions below and Marie will be here W/C 6th October to answer. All questions entered before 24th October will be entered into the prize draw.

We are selecting 8 winners for all participants of this Q&A for the following prizes: Momcozy M9 Breast Pump, 5 X £50 Momcozy Vouchers, 2 x Milk Coolers!

About the expert:

Marie is a mum of two, Georgie (4) and Frankie (18 months). With over 12 years of experience as a qualified midwife, she is a trusted voice in the parenting space. She has more than 100K engaged followers on Instagram, where she shares her insights on parenting, baby care, and wellness. Marie is also the author of two best-selling books with Penguin and holds a Hypnobirthing diploma, as well as a PTTLS qualification as an adult educator. She’s passionate about supporting new parents with evidence-based information and practical advice.

About Momcozy:

Momcozy is a global brand devoted to supporting mums through every stage of motherhood – from pregnancy to feeding and beyond. Since 2018, they’ve been creating thoughtful, high-quality products designed with mums’ real needs in mind. Their range includes wearable breast pumps, nursing bras, maternity wear, and other everyday essentials that aim to make the journey into motherhood a little easier and more comfortable. With a focus on comfort, flexibility, and mum-friendly design, Momcozy’s mission is simple: to help mums feel supported, confident, and cared for at every step.

Click here to shop Momcozy’s latest Momcozy Mobile Flow™ Hands-Free Breast Pump | M9 or shop here for all Momcozy breast pumps.

Hope I can help a bit.
In order to increase supply you want to be pumping every 2-3 hours.
Adding in a power pump once or twice a day is great!
Make sure you're staying hydrated and you're eating well.

How to train the baby for bottle feeding while ensuring he is comfortable with breast feeding at the same time?

Thanks

it’s great that you’re already planning and thinking about what will work best for you and your baby. 💛

After a planned caesarean, it’s true that milk can sometimes take a little longer to come in, often around day 3–5 instead of day 2–3. This is mainly because labour hormones (like oxytocin and prolactin) can be a bit slower to rise after a surgical birth. But there’s lots you can do to support your supply right from the start:

Start expressing after birth or as soon as you feel ready. Hand expression is usually most effective in those early hours.

If you can, try skin-to-skin contact as often as possible it helps regulate your hormones, encourages milk flow, and supports bonding.

Use a hospital-grade double pump once your milk starts coming in to help build supply efficiently.

Don’t be discouraged by small amounts at first, early milk (colostrum) is thick, rich, and full of antibodies. Every drop counts.

Ask for support, this is key! Your midwife or a lactation consultant can help you plan how to express and store milk safely from the very beginning.

If you want, you can even start hand-expressing colostrum antenatally (usually from around 36–37 weeks, with your midwife’s guidance). Having a few syringes of colostrum ready can be really reassuring in those first couple of days.

You’re already setting yourself up beautifully for success by preparing early. Be kind to yourself, recovery and rest are just as important for your milk supply as the expressing itself.

Hi and hats off to you exclusively pumping for seven months is huge.

Yes, milk supply often comes in more smoothly second time around. Research shows the milk-producing glands in your breasts develop with each pregnancy and feeding experience, so your body tends to respond faster and more efficiently. Confidence and know-how also make a real difference things like latch, positioning, and recognising feeding cues all help your supply regulate more naturally.

If you had low supply before, try getting early support from a midwife or lactation consultant so you can start strong and feel supported this time. Every baby and journey is different, but it really can be a whole new experience the second time around.

This is really common lots of breastfed babies around 10 months aren’t keen on bottles! It’s more about comfort and familiarity than anything you’re doing wrong.

A few gentle tips:

Try a straw or free-flow cup instead of a bottle, many babies prefer them at this age.

Let the childminder offer the milk, not you, babies know when mum’s nearby!

Offer milk after a nap or snack, when baby’s relaxed.

A muslin that smells of you can help comfort them.

Try not to stress about ounces - solids are starting to take over and it’s normal for babies to feed more when you’re back together. You’re doing a great job, it often just takes a little time and consistency

That’s really common, and usually nothing to worry about. Breastfed babies often poop after most feeds because breastmilk is so easy to digest it’s actaully a sign everything’s moving through nicely.

An intolerance is more likely if there’s blood or mucus in the stool, persistent green frothy poos, eczema, vomiting, or your baby seems very unsettled after feeds. If you’re not seeing those signs, it’s probably just normal digestion.

You don’t need to change your diet unless advised by a healthcare professional, but if you’re at all concerned, it’s always worth asking your health visitor to have a look for reassurance.

It's individual preference really. But breastfeeding cushions can be really helpful for comfort and positioning — especially to bring baby up to breast height so you’re not hunching over. They can ease strain on your back and arms and make longer feeds more comfortable.

Just remember, they’re a support tool, not a fix for latch or positioning issues. If the cushion’s too soft or high, it can make things trickier. Always bring baby to you, not the other way around — and if you’ve been using one, make sure you don’t fall asleep with your baby on a pillow or with a pillow nearby, as that can be unsafe.

Used well, they can make feeding more relaxed for you both

That sounds really uncomfortable engorgement can be tough. I had the same with my first baby! Remember it well. The good news is, it often settles much more quickly with your second baby because your body knows what to do.

A few tips that can really help:

Feed frequently from birth, avoid long gaps and offer both breasts responsively.

Check positioning and latch early, as good milk removal is the best prevention.

Hand express a little for comfort if you’re very full, but avoid pumping too much as that can increase supply further.

Cool compresses after feeds and a gentle massage can ease swelling.

A well-fitting, non-restrictive bra helps with comfort and circulation.

If you ever feel your breasts are hot, red, or you start feeling unwell, contact your midwife or GP as it could be a sign of mastitis.

Most mums find their supply regulates much more smoothly second time around, so fingers crossed it’ll be a lot easier this time.

That’s such a good question, it’s easy to worry about whether your baby is getting enough. True signs that breastmilk alone isn’t meeting their needs usually relate to age and development, rather than your milk supply.

For most babies, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for around six months (WHO, NHS), and then solids are introduced alongside breastmilk not as a replacement at first.

Signs your baby is ready for weaning include:

They can sit up and hold their head steady.

They show coordination, like picking up food and trying to put it in their mouth.

They can swallow food rather than pushing it out with their tongue.

These are developmental signs, not hunger cues and it's really important to ensure your baby is developmentally ready. Increased feeding or waking doesn’t mean your milk isn’t enough — it’s often a growth spurt or cluster feeding phase, which helps boost your supply.

If your baby is having at least six wet nappies a day, is generally content after feeds, and gaining weight steadily, your milk is doing exactly what it should.

There’s no set age when you should stop giving breast milk, it’s completely your choice. At six months, babies start solids, but milk (whether pumped or direct) still provides most of their nutrition for the first year. The WHO organisation recommend breastfeeding for the first 2 years of a babies life.

When the times right you can start to gradually reduce pumping once your baby is eating a good variety of foods and drinking water confidently usually between 9 and 12 months, but it’s different for everyone.

If you decide to stop, reduce one session at a time over a few weeks to avoid engorgement or blocked ducts. There’s no “right” time it’s about what feels manageable and right for you and your baby.

I’m so sorry you went through that! It's so tough, I have been there too mama. You were absolutely right to question it. We now know that proteins from foods like cow’s milk can pass into breast milk and, in some babies, trigger allergic symptoms such as eczema or tummy issues.

Current guidance (like iMAP) supports keeping breastfeeding wherever possible — sometimes with a short elimination diet for the parent, guided by a GP or paediatric dietitian, then reintroducing to confirm the allergy.

Awareness among GPs is improving, but it can still vary. If it happens again, ask directly for an allergy-focused assessment and referral to a paediatric allergy clinic if there are strong or immediate reactions. You’re absolutely right to trust your instincts.

You’re doing brilliantly keeping up with your baby’s needs at four months is a huge achievement, especially while preparing to go back to work!

To gently boost your supply:

Feed or pump more often. Milk supply works on demand, even one or two extra pumping or feeding sessions in 24 hours can help signal your body to make more.

Double pump if possible. It’s more efficient and can give a stronger hormonal response for milk production.

Try “power pumping.” That means short bursts of pumping (e.g. 10 minutes on, 10 off, for an hour) once a day for a few days — it mimics cluster feeding and can boost supply.

Stay hydrated and eat regularly. There’s no magic food, but your body needs enough energy and fluids to keep up.

Keep baby close when you can. Skin-to-skin, cuddles, and direct feeding help release oxytocin, which supports milk flow.

If supply still feels tight, reach out to a lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist — they can check your pump fit, technique, and schedule. Most parents find that with a little focused effort, supply can increase within a few days. You’ve got this mama!

Firstly wow, you’re doing amazingly. Feeding and pumping for triplets, especially after a NICU stay, is such a huge achievement.

It’s really common for one breast to produce less, most of us mummies have a “slacker boob”! A few things can help even things out and ease the soreness:

Start pumping or feeding on the lower-producing side first. That side gets the strongest let-down reflex.

Apply warmth and gentle massage before pumping to help milk flow more easily, especially if you feel full but it’s not releasing.

Check your flange size and fit. With elastic nipples, a smaller or differently shaped flange can make a big difference, the nipple should move freely without pulling in too much areola.

Try different pump settings. Some respond better to higher suction, others to a longer stimulation phase.

Hand express after pumping if you still feel full, it can help drain the breast fully and prevent blocked ducts.

Alternate holding a warm compress or doing gentle massage during pumping on that side to help release the milk that’s sitting there.

Elastic nipples can sometimes reduce how effectively a pump removes milk, but with the right flange fit (often a narrower one) and good stimulation, most people find improvement.

If the difference stays big or you get repeated soreness or blockages, it’s worth seeing a lactation consultant they can check your pump fit and technique properly.

You’re doing incredibly! Triplet feeding is marathon-level work, and even with uneven output, every drop you make is amazing for your babies.

Some nipple tenderness is common in the first days or weeks, but if its a pain that continues, worsens or makes you tense up during feeds isn’t normal, it’s a sign that something’s off with latch or baby’s tongue movement.

With tongue-tie, you might notice:

Pain that doesn’t ease once baby’s latched on

A pinching or rubbing feeling instead of a deep pull

Flattened, creased, or white nipples after feeds

Clicking sounds or milk leaking as baby feeds

Baby struggling to stay latched or gets frustrated at the breast and isn't gaining weight

If any of these sound familiar, ask your midwife, health visitor, or a lactation consultant for a tongue-tie assessment, they can check how baby’s tongue moves and whether release might help.

If it’s just latch-related, small adjustments and positioning support can often make a big difference. Either way, pain is always worth investigating. Mama, feeding shouldn’t hurt. 💛

Sorry to learn you didn't get support from you GP on this. Raynaud’s of the nipple is quite common but often missed. It’s caused by blood vessel spasms that reduce blood flow, leading to burning, stabbing, or throbbing pain, sometimes with the nipple turning white, then purple or red. It’s often triggered by cold or by nipple compression from a shallow latch.

Evidence-based guidance (from NICE and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine) suggests:

Warmth is key — use breast pads, warm compresses, and avoid cold exposure or air-drying.

Optimise latch and positioning — this reduces compression, which is one of the main causes of nipple vasospasm in breastfeeding.

Gentle massage and warmth after feeds help restore circulation.

If pain persists, nifedipine (a calcium-channel blocker) can safely be prescribed while breastfeeding and is shown to significantly reduce symptoms.

Most people can continue breastfeeding comfortably once the latch and warmth strategies are in place, and pain usually improves within days to weeks.

Can you recommend anything to help with blocked ducts and milk blebs please? I'm getting them constantly!

Thank you, will give those tips a try! Your books have been my bibles postpartum/during my pregnancy 😊

Thankyou, Im lovely that im keeping up with their milk drinking ability. These girls are going through it! We're dipping our toes in 100ml each and each feed as we've been holding steady on 90ml for quite a while with no issues.

My difference is about 2/3oz still so I'll try your tips in the hopes that lefty joins righty in the milk production stakes.

Is there any flanges that are recommended that dont cost a small fortune? These girls are expensive

How soon can you start breast pumping? Id prefer to give my child milk through a bottle so my husband can feed too rather than by breast.

I am a soon to be first time Mum, and would like to try breastfeeding. How do you know/track how much milk baby is getting, versus the ease of being able to do that from a bottle…? Or is this not important…?

Can you exclusively express/bottle feed from day one? Or would you have to breastfeed or use formula first? I’d really like to express and feed that way but don’t want to breastfeed for many reasons. I’m just wondering if this is possible?

Congratulations to some of our prize winners! @Hope26Bea, @elyshagrubb, @Mama3Awladand @AliKiKe

Thankyou so much!!!