A GENTLE GUIDE FOR

Breastfeeding Mothers
9 Evidence-Based Tips
to Help You Overcome Common
Challenges and Reclaim Control
of Your Breastfeeding Journey

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Reclaim Control Of Your Breastfeeding Journey
For many women,
breastfeeding starts off
tough and only gets
tougher.

But in many cases,

breastfeeding complications,
like nipple pain and low milk
supply can be overcome!

By seeking evidence-based
information, you’ve taken the
first step towards reclaiming
control over your breastfeeding
journey. (Well done, you!)

Let’s jump right in!

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BREASTFEEDING
CHALLENGES
RELATED TO PAIN

Many women experience

pain when breastfeeding.
But just because it’s a
common experience,
doesn’t mean there’s
nothing you can do about
it.

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 01 To reduce the risk of painful nipples,
avoid forceful techniques.

If you’re currently experiencing painful nipples, it’s quite likely you were
taught to hold your baby by the back of the head, neck, or shoulders and
direct your nipple to your baby’s nose. You may have even experienced
someone doing this for you in hospital!

It’s important to understand that this technique, known as the cross-

cradle technique, significantly increases your risk of painful nipple
trauma.

Instead, try to gently cradle your baby, with elbows relaxed by your side, so
your baby can instinctively locate your nipple and some breast tissue.
Gently hold your baby in your left arm for your left breast or in your right
arm for your right breast.

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 02 To reduce the risk of breast
engorgement and mastitis,
feed your baby around the clock.

While there are no rules or mathematics, evidence shows regular, rhythmical

hormone stimulation of both breasts around the clock, will help reduce the risk
of breast engorgement and mastitis. Doing so, provides nourishment for your
baby and assists in maintaining your breast milk production.

For the newborn or young baby, the aim is to feed from both breasts each
feed, approximately 7 times in a 24 hour period, once your milk volume has
peaked (on average, around 72 to 96 hours).

Breastfeeding in the early weeks can be especially exhausting.

Try to rest every chance you get, particularly when your baby is
sleeping. Please don’t be afraid to ask for help.
You deserve support!

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 03 To reduce the risk of pain with
teething, talk to your baby as
you breastfeed.

There is no doubt that a teething baby can create challenges for the
breastfeeding mother. If you’re experiencing pain from your teething baby
when breastfeeding, try to use gentle, consistent language to talk with your
baby. If possible (and this may not be easy) try to avoid reacting suddenly
and retracting your breast quickly as this may result in further nipple damage.

The go-to breastfeeding guidance from hospitals is

often forceful, out of date and inconsistent, which
can lead to a range of painful and stressful

Avoid Outdated complications that derail a woman’s determination

Breastfeeding to breastfeed.

Techniques The Thompson Method is a gentle, natural approach

that helps women breastfeed for as long as they
choose – free from pain and full of confidence.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE PROGRAM 05

BREASTFEEDING
CHALLENGES
RELATED TO ORAL DEVICES

Oral devices like bottles,

teats, nipple shields, and
dummies (pacifiers) can
sometimes be helpful –
and even necessary in
some cases. Still, it’s
important to understand
how oral devices may
complicate breastfeeding.

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 Avoid unnecessarily introducing oral devices.
04
When an oral device, such as a bottle, teat, nipple shield or dummy/pacifier is
introduced into a baby’s mouth, it changes their oral function, increasing the
risk of oral confusion. This means, if your baby returns to breastfeeding, the
risk of your nipple being rubbed or compressed into the roof of your baby’s
mouth increases, often resulting in painful nipples. In many of these cases,
women describe it as a ‘Lipstick Shaped Nipple’.

Avoid “gravity” feeding with

05 a bottle and teat.

If you use a bottle to feed your baby, it’s

important to ‘simulate’ what your baby
would be doing if breastfeeding, rather
than letting gravity do all the work. Gravity
feeding a newborn or young baby tends to
quickly overfill the stomach, which forces
the gastric sphincters to open and release
the milk quickly up into the oesophagus or
down into the intestine. As a result, your
baby can experience symptoms of reflux
and colic. (Tip #7 offers additional support
for a crying and unsettled baby.)

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You Don’t Have
To Figure Out
Breastfeeding Alone.
Join our Facebook Group!
Have you dropped by The Thompson
Method Facebook Group yet?

It’s full of women just like

you, and it’s a safe place
to learn more about The
Thompson Method and
receive encouragement
along your breastfeeding
journey, including teething
and weaning.

It’s free, and we’d love to CLICK HERE

welcome you in.

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BREASTFEEDING CHALLENGES
RELATED TO MILK VOLUME

Nothing challenges a mother’s self confidence more than being

told she has low milk supply. Fear surrounding low milk supply
and baby weight gain is a source of anxiety for so many women.
But when you understand the principles of breast milk production,
you can make informed decisions in relation to your baby and
your breast milk supply.

Output (wees and poos) is one reliable indication of input, as well

as your baby being active and alert. Of course, if you are
concerned and/or your instincts are guiding you, it’s important to
seek help from your trusted health professional.

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 Be aware of cleverly
06 marketed supplements.

As mentioned in Tip #2, regular, rhythmical

stimulation of both breasts, is required to
increase or maintain your milk production.
Depending on your unique circumstances,
it’s possible for most women to increase
breast milk volume without depending on
cleverly marketed supplements, drinks,
lactation cookies, and/or medications.

This may take some time and patience.

You can do it!

07 Feed from both breasts each feed.

After your milk volume has peaked, it’s important to switch to feeding from
both breasts each feed with a rest and digest period in between breasts (see
Tip #8).

Continuing to feed from only one breast each feed may increase the risk of
breast engorgement as well as a fast flow, making it difficult for some babies
to breastfeed. Feeding from both breasts (with time for rest and digest) assists
in gently spacing out feeds, which regulates your breast milk production and
also provides more time in between feeds.

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 BREASTFEEDING CHALLENGES RELATED
TO A CRYING OR UNSETTLED BABY

Practice ”Rest and Digest”

08
When feeding from both breasts each feed,
the rest and digest period provides time for
your baby’s digestive system to process
the milk from the first breast, before
feeding from the 2nd breast to complete the
feed. This resting time reduces the risk of
(or assists in easing) gastrointestinal
disturbances, which are a common factor
for the crying, unsettled baby.

Expect hormonal changes.

09
As a breastfeeding mother, you’ll likely experience
fluctuations in your breast milk volume. This is
commonly a result of hormonal changes
associated with ovulation and/or menstruation,
which may also result in your baby becoming
fussy and, at times, even breast refusing. You are
encouraged to persevere, because fortunately,
this is usually temporary and commonly occurs
with babies around 8 – 10 weeks old.

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Next Steps…
Whether you’re a first-time mother or you’ve been
through it all before, we know you’ll have a lot more
questions about breastfeeding. By empowering
yourself with a trusted source of knowledge, you’ll
gain the confidence to reclaim control of your
breastfeeding journey.

The Thompson Method is here for

you!
As many as 80% of mothers stop breastfeeding
before they want to. But that doesn’t have to be
your story! The Thompson Method Breastfeeding
Program offers evidence-based education, gentle "My milk
guidance, and 24/7 support so women can supply is
breastfeed for as long as they choose. plentiful and
there’s NO
PAIN
whatsoever.
I just wished I
found you
before I had
my first."

- Kirstie

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 Throughout the program, we promise to:

ü Provide you with non-judgemental guidance and support. Through our

online Breastfeeding Club, available exclusively to Thompson Method
members, you have 24/7 access to our breastfeeding experts. Plus, thousands
of women are there to cheer on one another!
ü Protect you from misinformation. Dr Robyn's method is grounded in 50 years
of midwifery experience, 7 years of doctoral research and is supported by
thousands of successful outcomes. Our online community is staffed by
midwives and breastfeeding experts so you can trust the guidance you
receive is based on evidence and experience, not opinion.
ü Encourage you to trust your maternal instincts. Our aim is to share
information with you, so that you empower yourself with knowledge to be the
amazing mother that you are innately born to be. We support every woman’s
right to choose how she feeds her baby.

For less than the cost of one breastfeeding consultation, you’ll

have all the education and ongoing support you need—right at
your fingertips, right when you need it.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE PROGRAM

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Meet
Dr Robyn Thompson ,
(FOUNDER OF THE THOMPSON METHOD)

With 50+ years of midwifery experience, Dr Robyn Thompson has had the
privilege of being with thousands of women and babies during labour,
birth, and breastfeeding.

Dr Robyn was awarded a PhD for her research into nipple trauma during
early breastfeeding. She and her team have made it their mission to share
her knowledge and experience with women during pregnancy—so they
can avoid common breastfeeding complications and continue
breastfeeding for as long as they choose.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE PROGRAM

*Medical Disclaimer
Certain information in this guide may deal with health, midwifery and medical related issues. Please note that the information
contained in this guide is not intended to be medical advice, nor does anything contained in this guide create any health,
midwifery or medical practitioner-woman relationship, or supplant any in-person health, midwifery or medical consultation or
examination. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding any
medical condition and before seeking any treatment. Professional advice should always be sought for specific conditions and
specific circumstances. Never disregard professional health or medical advice or delay in seeking medical treatment due to
information obtained from this guide. Any information from this guide is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any
disease or illness. This guide is for information purposes only and is not intended to replace health, midwifery or medical care,
nor is it intended to be (or should be taken for) medical diagnosis or treatment.

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