Thrive Infant Feeding

Thrive Infant Feeding Shami Shafi (IBCLC)
Tongue Tie Practitioner
Infant Feeding Specialist

19/06/2026

Ni**le shields are not essential for successful breastfeeding, but they absolutely can be used to help where there is a specific need 💚

You can better understand the feeding needs of your baby and whether a ni**le shield could help by consulting with someone who is trained to complete this assessment

Key points:

💡 Dont be afraid to use them where recommended by a trained professional
💡 If the option is between either feed with a shield or not feed at all...feed with a shield ALWAYS wins (in my experience)

Ask your provider:

❓️ How long am I likely to continue feeding using a shield?
❓️ How do I transition/wean off them?
❓️ What other alternatives are there to using a shield?

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

This reel is for educational purposes and not a substitute for face to face assessment and care planning with a trained professional

**leshield

19/06/2026

💚 If you are a parent looking for reliable, professional feeding tips, hit follow!

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

18/06/2026

💚 If you are a parent looking for reliable, professional feeding tips, hit follow!

Do I NEED to buy an O ball? ...nah...its not a necessity but if you are going to be spending money on baby toys/rattles, it is a great option. It is perfect for hand eye coordination and fine motor development as well as tongue function

Your practitoner will provide you information on tongue function exercises as part of your consultation, so you don't need to spend a penny more if you don't want to!

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

18/06/2026

...in my opinion anyway... 😏

💚 If you are a parent, carer or professional, give me a follow for more expert feeding info, free guides and Q and As!

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow

18/06/2026

Save this one if you are considering bottle feeding and feel free to share it with your mum friends ❤️

For an easy to follow bottle feeding checklist, straight to your inbox, comment "bottle"

This advice isn't exclusive to breastfed babies or combi fed babies. Angles, teat shape, flow rate and posture all impact feeding even if a baby has bottle fed from the beginning

If your baby is uncomfortable when feeding, seek support. Most often parents change bottle teat, bottle brand and milk brands before consulting someone for a feeding assessment.

Knowing WHAT to change and WHY is important...and you don't need the stress of trial and error as a new parent!

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet!

17/06/2026

Do they really?
If you are a parent or carer, give me a follow for more professional infant feeding reels that will make feeding your baby a dream!

Guidance differs, NHS advise small sips if needed (formula-fed, hot weather only).

AAP/WHO advise increase milk instead. All agree that milk is primary and that too much water can make babies unwell

🌞 In warmer weather, breastmilk composition changes and adapts to the needs of your baby. You may find that your baby feeds for shorter periods and more frequently. They don't need additional water

Formula composition remains the same at each feed and therefore your baby may need sips of cooled boiled water in between feeds when the weather is warmer than usual (does sometimes happen in the UK!)

So what do we need to do/know for babies under 6 months?

1. Formula fed babies can have small amounts of cooled boiled water in warmer weather in addition to their usual milk feeds. (NHS, 2025) "Formula fed babies under 6 months of age may need small sips of cooled boiled water during hot weather as well as their usual milk feeds."
2. Don't water down formula. Your baby still needs to have their usual feeds.
3. If you are breastfeeding, you need to remain hydrated in warmer weather so that your body can adapt your breastmilk composition as needed for your baby.

What about combi fed babies? ...this is a tricky one because it depends on how much breastmilk your baby is getting. If they are predominantly breastfed then they won't need additional water.

Share this with anyone who might benefit from the info!

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

This post is not a substitute for medical advice, always consult your GP/Health Visitor if you are worried about your baby in warmer weather and refer to your local/government guidelines

17/06/2026

💚 If you are a parent looking for reliable, professional feeding tips, hit follow!

Your practitoner will provide you information on tongue function exercises as part of your consultation, so you don't need to spend a penny more if you don't want to!

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

Comment LINK for the amazon product link!

17/06/2026

This is a hill that I will die on!!!

Weight gain alone is NOT an indicator of whether a tongue tie is present or impacting feeding...you can't argue this with me 🤣 but feel free to try!

📢 Parents! Comment "tongue tie" and I will send you a FREE tongue tie symptom checklist straight to your inbox to help you decide whether your baby needs onward assessment...and of course, HIT follow to keep up!

If you suspect your baby has a tongue tie, research symptoms and consult with a specialist, seek support as early as possible!

My name is Shami and I am a mum of three, feeding specialist working as an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and Tongue Tie Specialist in the Midlands, UK...this is my corner of the internet where I share my expertise with you 💚

This post is not intended to replace individual assessment and care planning, it is designed to raise awareness, understanding and to educate.

My goal is to help as many parents and babies to feed well, as I can in this lifetime...so follow along to see how I do this!

16/06/2026

💚 If you are a parent looking for reliable, practical and professional feeding tips, hit follow!

Do I NEED to buy a breastmilk collector or pump like the one in the video? ...it's not a necessity for successful breastfeeding and so important to know it's uses and impact. Part 2 will look at why these 'pumps' work for some 💚

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

16/06/2026

I'm going to put my hands up and say I knew nothing about block feeding as a mum (x3) or a Health Visitor. It took advanced training before I truly understood what, why, when and how... and so now I share my knowledge with you!

🏆 My name is Shami, I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

Block feeding:

❓️ Down regulates milk production
⏰️ Usually a short term intervention
👩‍⚕️ Oversight by a feeding specialist is useful
🥛 Treats oversupply if done correctly

It can, if implemented incorrectly or inappropriately:

⛔️ Reduce supply too much
⛔️ Cause mastitis
⛔️ Impact your baby's growth

If you have been advised to block feed and there is no improvement in symptoms, it is worth reviewing the care plan with your practitioner

This reel and caption is for educational and learning purposes and does not replace individual assessment or care planning

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