About Breastfeeding | Newborn Home Care

About Breastfeeding

Are you struggling with breastfeeding?

Finding it painful?

Feel like you are constantly feeding?

Or worried about an over or under supply?

Would you like to know more about breastfeeding before you give birth, to avoid running into these difficulties?

Using Ultrasound and Real Time Imaging, Dr Pam Douglas from the NDC Institute has explored and quantified the biomechanics of breastfeeding.

This evidence shapes the support we offer.

Let us show you how to enjoy comfortable and satisfying breastfeeding.

We can help you with the following:

Understanding breastfeeding, its stages and your anatomy

The latest breastfeeding research and evidence

The importance of frequent flexible breastfeeding

Supporting your baby's feeding instincts and reflexes

Managing engorgement

Managing an over or under supply

Oral assessment for tongue-tie

Nipple Care and Nipple Shields

Antenatal expressing

Storing breastmilk

PCOS

Removing strain from your neck, shoulders and arms

Breastfeeding a baby with health challenges

Breast Refusal

Twin feeding

Accreditation with the NDC Institute means that you can be assured you are receiving the latest lactation and breastfeeding advice from us which is underpinned by medical research.

Successful Breastfeeding Preparation

Breastfeeding is designed for babies, but understanding how it works can help you to have a satisfying feeding journey and avoid running into difficulties from the start.

Most women would agree that breastfeeding isn't as straightforward as imagined, and this can be compounded by the degree of conflicting advice individual health professionals give, often based on their own experience.

We now know through the findings of research that there are simple interventions that can be made to the way a baby is positioned at the breast that allow the nipple and a larger volume of breast tissue to be drawn up into a baby's mouth, closer to the junction where the hard palate meets the soft palate.
Why is this important?
Because it prevents nipple pain and supports milk transfer.

From this research we also now appreciate more definitively that opposing intra-oral forces can be set up between where the nipple lies in the mouth and where the breast and baby are positioned.
Why is this important?
Because eliminating conflicting forces and breast tissue drag can prevent nipple damage and support milk transfer.

What is Possums Breastfeeding?

Women have been breastfeeding forever and doing so very naturally. However, at some point in the western world we started to create various "holds", "techniques" and "latching routines" which have taken the focus off the natural biology of breastfeeding, driven by a baby's hunger and feeding reflexes.

The Possums approach is an evidence-based approach to breastfeeding. It has been developed over many years from research undertaken by a QLD medical practitioner, Dr Pam Douglas, who has powerfully re-framed breastfeeding using her scientific background in peri-natal medicine, General Practice and her experience as a lactation consultant for three decades.

Her findings open the door for better breastfeeding, better infant development and more joy in early life.

It is time for change from the traditions of old. To think differently, as we now offer women more choice by introducing them to groundbreaking breastfeeding evidence.

Possums Breastfeeding - How To

Here you will find a written guide to using the Possums approach, which is also called Gestalt Breastfeeding - reflecting there are greater benefits beyond the feed alone to be gained. Becoming familiar with the steps will support you to handle your baby with confidence from the very start to achieve what we refer to as "good fit and hold".

Further down this page you will also find a pictorial visual guide.

At Newborn Home Care we join a team of health practitioners across many parts of the world who have embraced Gestalt breastfeeding principles. Its practice has transformed the lactation and breastfeeding support we offer in ways that only serve to inspire us more.

The two things we hear women say over and over is - "this is so comfortable" and "this makes so much sense". The third is - "how can I thank you enough?" It is incredibly humbling to have at our disposal such useful evidence-based tools with which to empower breastfeeding women.

We invite other health care professionals to explore the value of the Possums principles. You can find a wealth of resources and how to become an NDC practitioner at ndcinstitute.com.au and at possumsndc.com.

See the evidence behind Possums Breastfeeding

How babies breastfeed: the biomechanics of infant suck (video & animation) (ndcinstitute.com.au)

This bub is being held in a way that eliminates breast tissue drag and supports her to bury her face in and fill her mouth with breast tissue.

There is good positional stability at the breast for feeding.

This is the Possums Approach.

If feeding in the way depicted in the COMMON PROBLEM images below is painless and enjoyable for you, does not strain your body in any way or lead to nipple damage, mastitis or breast inflammation; is clearly providing effective milk transfer for your baby, along with the absence of fussing or pulling off the breast, resulting in good weight gain and acceptable patterns of night waking - then you are doing fine.

The Possums philosophy is that breastfeeding is about workability, not perfection, whilst standing by the strong and proven biological and scientific principles that underpin its approach.

Dialing down the sympathetic nervous system for both you and your infant has direct biological benefits which are neuro-protective to your baby. This is facilitated by securing positional stability at the breast.

You are invited to experiment with what works best for you and your baby and explore the benefits for yourself - particularly if you have nipple pain or a baby that is fussing at the breast.

As your baby grows and becomes too big and active to tuck snugly into your ribcage, you will find more of a diagonal laying of bub, draping her across your upper tummy works well.

BELOW IS A PICTORIAL SPREAD OF COMMON PROBLEMS often seen in breastfeeding that may help you better understand the fit and hold of the Possums approach.

Both these images depict a common way that babies are put to the breast - and there is much that can be improved to help baby feed well and ensure breastfeeding is comfortable.

Research has shown that

making brief Gestalt interventions

when breastfeeding, results in more efficient

milk transfer.

Symmetrical Face Bury

Turned Right on Side

Arms Around the Breast

Snug Ribcage Wrap

Lean Back For Comfort

Let Gravity Assist

Bottom Tucked in Under Other Breast

Head Position in Line with Breast and Nipple

When a newborn isn't stable at the breast, he will struggle to achieve a deep and symmetrical face bury that will draw the nipple and breast tissue through to the junction of the hard and soft palate where it is then unlikely to hurt with suckling.

Holding the breast in this way throughout the feed can strain the neck, shoulder, back, arm and wrists of the mother.

These images demonstrate traditional "C shape" sandwiching of the breast that can inadvertently block the fine milk ducts that lie above the areola and then lead to breast tissue drag when the mother lets go.

This results in poor positional stability.

This is more of a mechanical approach to latching that limits bub's ability to get close enough to bury into the breast or enjoy full expression of his feeding reflexes.

Clothing can switch off feeding reflexes and prevent a nice rib cage wrap.

A structured bra can prevent a close ribcage wrap and cause breast tissue drag.

Can you see how the mother's fingers are preventing a deep symmetrical face bury?

The structure of a feeding chair can work against being able to make the small micro-movement adjustments that are required for good head alignment. The middle of the lounge is great with firm cushions or rolled towels as supports. See how high bub's head is in relation to the breast?

Achieving a deep face bury is difficult coming on to the breast from under the arm. We would be concerned with any sense of force or pressure that bub may feel in this position.

Bubby cannot be held in a snug rib cage wrap when pumping the other breast. Note the significant breast tissue drag as a result.

A baby will dial up and can learn to refuse the breast if force is being used. Bring him back to your chest and calm him... then try the Possum's approach.

Hands to mouth is a natural feeding reflex. Lying back will help stabilise bubs hands onto the breast and help him bury his face in.

Significant breast tissue drag can be created by trying to multi-task while feeding. We understand that mothers are time poor ... but remind parents about the wondrous neuro-plasticity of their newborn baby's brain. And how much they can shape this in a positive way during feed times.

The feeding reflexes in this baby are sadly largely suppressed. Force at the back of the head when feeding can trigger a back-arching reflex that sets up breast refusal and conditioned dialling up at the breast. Health care workers are genuinely trying their best but may be unaware of the latest research and evidence.

Feeding pillows can be tricky. They need to work with the mother's body shape and support the baby to be at the right height for good head alignment while also allowing for micro-movement adjustments. Note the considerable upward drag and twist of the left breast in relation to the right.

Supporting a baby's instinctual drive to find the breast and feed is deeply nourishing to the brain.

Touch plays an important part in this.

A baby's cheeks, chin, hands, chest, tummy, legs and feet switch on their human mammalian feeding reflexes when touching their mother.

If baby's lower arm and hand is in front of the breast between you both, it will prevent a deep face bury and rib cage wrap. The twist in bubs body contributes to breast tissue drag.

Breastfeeding does not have to be like this.

Improve feeding by resting back, wrapping him close up under the other breast on his side and positioning his head further down on the lower forearm away from the crook of the elbow. Help bub to achieve a deep face bury where the lips are not seen for better milk transfer.

The mother's hand is preventing close contact of baby onto the breast. If she took her hand off the breast and placed it along his back, tucking him in close and leant back, this bub would likely find positional stability.

Swaddling a baby for feeding interferes with feeding reflexes and prevents a snug ribcage wrap. Note the breast tissue drag and twist on the nipple. Bub is unable to get into a stable position to draw the nipple through to the soft palate junction.

Leaning back and then removing the hand from the breast and using it instead as a paddle hand along the length of bubs back will tuck her in for a deeper face bury. Head position on the lever arm is perfect for making horizontal and vertical adjustments to bring the right cheek onto the breast more.

Breastfeeding does not have to be painful.

Even if your baby appears to be positioned well, small micro-movements can completely remove any lasting pinching or discomfort.

Experiment with slight adjustments and tune into the difference each make to your body.

A deeper face bury would help if this is not painfree. Cuddling bub in with a paddle hand along her back and tucking her legs around the ribcage are small micro-movements that may improve this fit and hold.

A higher rib cage wrap under the other breast would bring the right cheek more symmetrically onto the breast, if needed. Position bubs head down onto the forearm more, out of the crook of the arm to be able to adjust the head position for comfort.

Resting bubs head more towards the forearm will allow a lever movement upwards to bring bubs head in line with where the breast and nipple naturally fall. Lean back and tuck baby in closer for a deeper face bury. Use a firm support under the lever arm to hold baby's weight. Rolled towels and firm cushions work well.

Using the paddle hand, use a little pressure between the shoulder blades as you very slightly wrap bub tighter around the rib cage and under the other breast to bury the chin in more and lift the nose off a fraction - if needed.

Leaning back would help achieve a face bury into the breast. There is a degree of breast drag to the right as well which is difficult to control for when the head is positioned tightly into the crook of the arm. With small adjustments this bub can achieve better stability at the breast for optimal milk transfer.

A tighter rib cage wrap, around and under the other breast will achieve a deeper face bury. Leaning back would also help.

When you look down you should see a deep symmetrical face bury with both cheeks on the breast. Wrapping his body around the rib cage and resting his head on the lever forearm will enable easy repositioning of bub so he is not pulling the breast towards the armpit and sucking with the breast on twist.

Lowering the angle of bubs head so that it is more in line with the natural fall of the breast and nipple will achieve a more symmetrical face bury. Resting bubs head onto the lever forearm and using the paddle arm to tuck bub in closely will help too.

Reclining back on pillows can help bub achieve a deep face bury that is assisted by gravity. It's also more relaxing for most women. Bringing bubs head down the lever arm a little and making a very small vertical drop as she tucks bub in closer would provide better stability.

This looks a great fit and hold, but if it is not completely painfree, the slightest micro-movements can change that. Experiment with hugging him in closer or leaning back a fraction more to let gravity help him bury in.

Take hold of bubs body with the length of your paddle hand and wrap him right on his side, around your rib cage. Move his head down onto your lever forearm and bring it in line with where the breast and nipple naturally fall. Relax your shoulders, lean back and put your feet on a footstool. Tune into the difference each movement makes to your comfort. An NDC Possums practitioner can help you feed without pain.