Mother to Mother breastfeeding support in New Zealand
Connect with a Leader near you
Questions or worries about breastfeeding? Our accredited La Leche League Leaders are parents like you, who have been trained to provide lactation information and support. We can help over the phone, you can come along to our informal meetings, or ask a questions via email and on social media. All of this is free and confidential.
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You can find details of our accredited Leaders and group meetings across Aotearoa here.
La Leche League NZ Online Community
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Our mission is to help mothers to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, education, information, and encouragement and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.
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Breastfeeding Support - La Leche League New Zealand
La Leche League provides parent to parent support and information for those who want to breastfeed or feed their babies human milk.
I got a big response from my posts last week on gas in babies so I thought it might be good to follow up with another couple of posts this week. ![]()
People often ask me about gurgle noises that they hear from their baby’s gut. If you can hear some digestion noises coming from your baby this is very very normal.![]()
I find that many parents worry when they hear some growly, gurgling noises. Usually these are just the movement of little gas bubbles along the gut (gas is produced as part of digestion). As long as your baby is otherwise well and is generally content (all babies will have some fussy periods) then these are likely just very normal digestion noises. No noises at all are actually more concerning because it can indicate no movement, and a possible obstruction. We all have gurgles - with older children or with ourselves we often equate the gurgles with feeling hungry - we don’t worry that it is a sign of something wrong. Unless your baby is distressed when your are hearing the noises they are likely just normal digestion. More tomorrow on where this gas comes from....![]()
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If your baby seems uncomfortable and cries at the same time as you hear these noises you can help. If your baby isn’t in your arms, pick them up and hold them against your chest or your shoulder with their tummy towards you. The fact you are holding them will make them feel safe and secure - and that aids digestion. If you are already holding them, try a shift in position. Sometimes holding babies in the chair hold (back towards you and thighs parallel to the floor) can help release gas or help them to poo. Tummy massage can help too - but if you are breastfeeding and your baby seems gassy and sore, latching on can also help to relax their muscles and pas gas.![]()
The noises themselves though are usually just a sign of normal healthy digestion. Not a sign of reflux. Not a sign of a problem
Our breast milk is amazing!🤓The Hicks et al. team (2022) have identified specific tiny molecules in human milk, known as microRNAs, that could potentially reduce the likelihood of infants developing eczema, asthma, and food allergies. ![]()
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These microRNAs play a crucial role in regulating the immune system, and their identification opens up new possibilities for preventing and treating these common conditions. One-third of little ones experience food allergies, asthma, and atopic dermatitis, much to the distress of parents. ![]()
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The protective factor in human milk appears to be miRNA-375-3p, which amazingly increases in concentration over time while lactating! ![]()
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So keep it up parents, your milk is magic! ![]()
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#milkismagic #humanmilk #lactation #micrornas ![]()
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Citation: Hicks, S. D., Beheshti, R., Chandran, D., Warren, K., & Confair, A. (2022). Infant consumption of microRNA miR-375 in human milk lipids is associated with protection from atopy. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 116(6), 1654-1662.
Eva Neely of Massey University is looking for study participants - If you are a first time mum and interesting in participating in a study on Birth Experiences, please check out the poster below. Please note La Leche League NZ is not involved in this research so please contact Eva direct.