So what your best tip for breastfeeding in summer? I’ll start off

1. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Have a glass of water before a feed and then always have a glass by your side during a feeding session.

Who’s next?

I also had a chance to chat to the author Rachael Blair, who saw an information gap out there for breastfeeding mums and set out to write her own.

"There’s a lot of how-to books and a few anecdotal ones, but not many that combine expert information with the personal experience of real mums", she said.

"I’m a stay-at-home-mum/ ex-teacher/ freelance writer who is really passionate about breastfeeding and wanted other mums to be able to enjoy good breastfeeding relationships with their babies. I have two beautiful boys, both of whom were breastfed (one still is).'’

Sounds good to me and just what we are about at Mum Knows Breast! Check it out at www.breastfeedersanonymous.com.

See what you think of the article Breastfeeding Doesn’t Help Asthma.

But it seems that Facebook mums aren’t going down without a fight - a Facebook group has been started challenging Facebook’s right to do this - and it has over 7000 members.

If there are fines in place for discriminating against a breastfeeding mum in public, surely they should cover online public places as well - shouldn’t they?

Click here to read the article - and let us know what you think!

www.webmd.com/parenting/having-a-beer-to-nurse

So please help me out with your tips otherwise I’m going to be one busy bee. Here goes….

Tip No 1 -  Give yourself permission to fail

Sound strange doesn’t it? Let me explain. I think as new mums we put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect then when things don’t go to plan we think we have failed or are a bad mum. The same goes for breastfeeding. Give yourself permission to make mistakes and realise that the early breastfeeding days are hard for everyone. It’s O.K to ask for help and admit that your having problems with breastfeeding. Nearly all mums do. Ask for help and don’t put pressure on yourself to be perfect. Sometimes when the pressure is off you can find  breastfeeding can become a little easier. Eliminate ’shoulds’ from your vocabulary. Doing your best is enough. You might just surprise yourself. Hang in there.

I had no problems with consitipation even tho I dabbled in formula feeds for the late night dream feed…and its always been a saviour for me and my son.

Over time the breastfeeding relationship has changed unexpectantly. It has changed from the much needed nutrition to the extra toddler supplment just like the toddler formula ads promote although breast milk is even better and more magical. It has morphed into the as needed support and emotional copmfort/sickness helper.

I surprise myself everytime that there is in fact still milk still there and I have to check with my son and my nipple but yup surprise surprise it still there. The hope was I would be pregnant with 2nd child and wouldnt have to go thru that transition of engorged breast horribillus… and because I wasnt ready to give up my baby and my baby wasnt ready to give up breast milk. Sadly thats changed recently with the horrible 3yr old tanties which are shocking..

I remember sitting in TAFE studying my Diploma  years ago when I was a youngen at least 14 yrs ago and my Teacher telling the class how she was still breastfeeding her 2yo and me thinking OMG that is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo gross and WRONG!!!! and how Im never doing that. LMAO yup sadly thats me.. I accept that may be your opinion and as the title goes its my dirty little secret. Sadly im out and loud and I love it and so does my son.  Its not actually and surprisingly not gross… its the same as it always was.. lovely, natural, caring, helpful ,natural and I dont know how my boobs do it… but my milk is still there even though its not every day and not always once a day. It will go I assume soonish as he  no longer really needs it and i am ready for it to finish.. when hes readt, but we just go on as needed atm. My hubby and I make a special point to not to remind and just leave it to my son to request it as needed. When we feel its more emotional than actually needed such as when he is sick to say in a joking way "oh no you dont really need it" but when he is sick or emotional I allow it.

I dont feeel as tho I should feel guilty and I think breast is best. Its extended feeding and it works for us… 

I have to say though in looking back at the past breastfeeding is something I thought i wouldnt be able to do and would NOT want to do. I had all kinds of reasons for this but funnily enough I am still continuing to do this as its been such a great experience for me and my bub and hubby for the last few years. Judge me as you willl.

Save Time Online also have a great range of special offers available to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week as well as lots of links and useful information about breastfeeding. Check it out - there’s lots of great reading here!

Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

Breastfeeding a newborn can be a challenging experience at the best of times, let alone running a household and looking after older siblings at the same time. However, with a few tips and a little planning it can be a very rewarding experience for both you and your new baby. You will even get an excuse to put your feet up once in a while!  

Plan Ahead  

Think of what you need to achieve in a day and plan around your baby’s feeding and sleeping patterns. Babies are usually more settled in the morning after a good feed, so this may be the best time for you to attend to household matters. The best thing about a new baby is that you can work while your baby sleeps or have them near you on a play mat or rocker.  

Be Realistic  

When breastfeeding a new baby be realistic about what you can achieve and try not to plan too much in the first few months of your baby’s life. Stick to the essentials and live by the to-do list. This will help you to focus on what needs to be done – a must for the sleep deprived brain! Once feeding is established you will feel more confident to take on more.  

Buy a pump and express  

If you need to spend time away from your baby for work it is worth investing in a quality breast pump so you can express breast milk for your baby. Your partner or carer can then give the expressed breast milk in a bottle to feed your baby while you are away. Start freezing and storing your expressed milk so you have a good supply built up when the need arises.  

Look after yourself  

It is important to eat healthy and nutritious meals while breastfeeding, so have a cook up and freeze easy to prepare meals before your baby arrives. Casseroles, soups and lasagnes are good examples and simply add some crusty bread and salad for a healthy meal. Make sure you drink lots of water to keep your fluids up as well.  

Ask for help  

Don’t try to be superwoman and do everything yourself! The housework can wait and it is much more important to catch up on sleep and rest while you can. Why not hire a cleaner for the first few months or ask a friend or relative to help out. Except any offers of help or food!  

‘Me’ time  

It’s important to have time out for things you enjoy, even if it is just a walk around the block, a nice hot bath or a quiet cup of tea. You will feel refreshed and as they say ‘When Mum’s happy, everyone’s happy!  

Get support  

Find like-minded people that can help support and encourage you while you are breastfeeding. Mums are often the best source of advice and knowing that someone else is going through the same thing can be a big relief!   Remember do your best and try not to be too hard on yourself if things don’t go according to plan. Enjoy the early days with your new baby, because they really do go too fast. This article was written

This article is by Kelly Gough - a business mum who manages online boutique www.NuvoMaternity.com.au while also caring for her two small boys.  A version of this article appeared in the June/July edition ofBusiness Mums Magazine.