Client Resource Page

For Comfort, Engorgement & For Faster Let Down and Expression

For Better Mobility and Softening of The Breast

 Gentle Rhythmic Movements can be a great way of warming up for a feeding as these rocking motions tend to be very relaxing for baby. Use this opportunity to sing to your baby.  See below for description of each.  

 This is a great exercise if your baby has had a frenotomy, or if they have a head tilt preference, or any flat or pronounced bony areas on their head. 

Great for colic or generalized discomfort.

If your baby is full term, your baby should be spending a minimum of 1 hour each day on your chest, which can be in chunks of time. Being on your chest helps calm your baby, helps them adjust neurologically to the outside world and it helps you to recognize their earliest feeding cues. (If your baby is pre-term, then you should have your baby glued to your chest for as much of the time as possible! Your baby came into this world early and needs that contact more than ever.) But, you can also start doing TummyTime!™ on a separate surface as soon as you get home from the hospital too.

• Try to do one full tummy time cycle at each diaper change.  This will get your baby used to the idea of rolling into and out of tummy time. 
• Have baby suck on your pinky, with nail side down on tongue, while in tummy time, to help baby find ease in this position.

This is such important work for your baby and can have incredible effects on your baby's nursing ability and fussiness.  

If your baby can't tolerate it for long, let them suck on your clean finger (nail side down on tongue) to help them stay there a little longer, sing to them, call their name to help them turn their head in each direction, and gently rub or jiggle their back.  

If they get upset, roll baby onto back, pick baby up, calm baby down, and try again! 

The TummyTime!™ Method (by Michelle Emanuel, OTR)

• Select a TummyTime!™ spot in your home. It may be helpful to choose a spot on a carpet, area rug, yoga mat, padded foam floor or even a padded table top (only for young babies and NEVER leave unattended!). Stock a basket with blankets, burp rags, and fun toys like the Noggin stick, the 4-inch Oball rattle, and a baby mirror.
• Place a clean blanket on the surface, sit your baby on his/her tush, then slowly lay down on his or her back to begin.
• Engage your baby in back and forth interaction. Use eye contact, cooing, and make different facial expressions. You are playing first to warm your baby up for a fun tummy time experiences.
• Be available for eye gaze as much as possible.
• Slowly roll your baby from their back to their tummy.  It can be helpful to roll baby to his or her side first, and wait until it flows to roll into tummy time position. Tuck an arm and then facilitate the roll using your hand under baby's hip. Let them feel the twist to engage all those important muscles.
• You can sing or talk, make gentle playful noises, offer a toy for looking at, etc, to keep baby engaged during TummyTime! ™. 
• It may be very helpful to lie down on your tummy with your baby.  This benefits both of you, the baby has his mom/dad close by and you get to spend some quality time with him or her.  Additionally, you will also reap the physiological benefits of TummyTime!™ (see Benefits of TummyTime! ™)
• When your baby starts to communicate they are ready to transition out of tummy time, by vocalizations or movements/facial expression, gently tuck one arm underneath the chest and roll your baby to his or her side and then onto their back.
• It is supportive and loving to pick your baby up, hug him or her, and give lots of encouragement by holding baby close to your heart.  Reassure your baby, “You did it!”  “Wow, you are amazing on your tummy!” etc.
• Then repeat several more times, depending upon your baby’s abilities.

This is such important work for your baby and can help tremendously when there are feeding challenges.

• Also you will want to pull down on the baby's jaw sometimes, while they are in tummy time.  This provides a great stretch for the tongue and jaw. 
• Make sure baby's head is gently extended back when sucking on your pinky for a great suck-training exercise.