Milk it - Support is key to breastfeeding rates in Limerick rising

HOLDING a newborn baby skin-to-skin, can not only heighten the bond between parent and baby, but it can also regulate the baby’s blood sugars and temperature, and it releases oxytocin, for both mother and partner. 

The theme of this year’s National Breastfeeding Week, taking place until October 7, is ‘Hold Me Close - the Power of Skin-to-Skin Contact’. 

Clinical Midwife Manager (CMM2) in Infant feeding, at University Maternity Hospital Limerick, Helen Byrt, told Limerick Live that holding a baby close can help to establish feeding, regulate supply.

It also helps a partner to bond with baby while the mother is resting or recovering from birth, and wearing a shirt that can open easily makes this accessible in a hospital setting. 

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“When you put a baby skin-to-skin, it’s their natural habitat. They were used to the womb, it was dark, warm, they could hear the mother’s heartbeat - this brings them back to that feeling and it lowers cortisol, brings down baby’s stress levels - it is just the right place for the baby to be after they are born.”

She stressed that safe skin-to-skin is when the mother is awake and alert and can see that the baby’s airways are clear.

Addressing the point that breastfeeding can be such a divisive issue, Ms Byrt said that it is natural, but it is a learned skill.

“It is natural, when you know what you’re doing like anything, but there can be challenges and mothers need to commit and not let anything stop them

“Even when a mother is struggling, continuing skin-to-skin will trigger feeding cues. The baby will crawl, they will root, they suck, they swallow.”

The lactation expert also stressed that every feeding journey is different, but support is key and by having a Lactation Station in the hospital, women are supported in a peer-to-peer environment, with advice on latch, positioning and getting to share their stories with other women who have just given birth, helping them to not to feel so alone in their experiences. 

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The Lactation Station was set up by Helen Byrt and her colleagues Carmen and Sheena, while midwives Catherine and Shauna provide weekend cover for lactation support and advice. 

“For some women, breastfeeding is very difficult and it’s challenging, some women may express milk and we call them the champions of breastfeeding and mothers need to know that even some breastmilk will make a difference to your baby’s health.

“Women sometimes say they ‘only’ fed for a certain time, but we will champion and praise that, it’s never about shaming anybody about how they feed their baby.

“Do your research while pregnant, attend the courses and learn as much as you can, along with your partner. 

“The most important thing when the baby is born is for the mother to be responsive, hold the baby, keep them close - breastmilk is the best thing we can give the baby.”

Ms Byrt said that for mothers who had a difficult or unexpected experience with their first pregnancy, they will often be even more determined to breastfeed their next child. 

She said that expressed colostrum or breastmilk can even be given in a cup to an older child and that child will still get the benefits from this. 

“It’s very emotive and there can be feelings of guilt, and oxytocin, we call it the ‘mothering hormone’ supports the mother to sit under and feed the baby, while the prolactin helps mother and baby to sleep and relax and many mothers miss these feelings when feeding has stopped. 

“Supplementation with formula is sometimes needed, but we will always look for breastmilk first, if the mother has harvested colostrum. If a baby does need to have feeds supplemented, I advise mothers to think of it as medicine and as a way to protect their supply.

“Don’t ever think of it as failure - we will help the mother make a plan and plans can change.”

Before mothers are discharged from the hospital, they will be directed to resources on mychild.ie and also linked up with the community lactation consultants, if they need further or ongoing support, while the hospital also provides phone support. 

“It’s all about timely advice - the right advice at the right time, information and knowledge, it really is powerful,” Ms Byrt told Limerick Live. 

As part of National Breastfeeding Week, there is an art exhibition by Limerick mothers in King John’s Castle tomorrow (Tuesday, October 7, 2025) from 10.30am until 12.30.pm and there will be fun play experiences for parents and their little ones. 

Tickets are free, but those attending are asked to register on Eventbrite here - https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/nourish-nurture-a-playful-parenting-event-tickets-1743303259979