Breastfeeding

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About Our Service

Our team of Clinical Midwife Specialists, Lactation Consultants, Physiotherapists & Dieticians have created a suite of breastfeeding videos. These resources aim to help parents to prepare for breastfeeding their babies. Topics covered in the videos include: preparing to breastfeed; the benefits of harvesting colostrum; positioning and attachment; signs of effective breastfeeding; common challenges encountered in breastfeeding; eating during breastfeeding and guidance on a number of techniques, such as hand expressing.

We have also included information for breastfeeding premature and sick babies.

Challenges in Breastfeeding

The following factors may pose challenges in breastfeeding. 

If you answer yes to any of the below please contact the Infant Feeding Department on 01 408 5761 when you are 34 weeks pregnant to discuss the possibility of harvesting colostrum and speak to us or leave a message on voicemail.

Videos for Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding your Baby

Remember, breastfeeding is a learned skill, it takes time, commitment and patience for mother and baby to become skilled at it. Please contact our lactation services if you have any further questions.

A special thank you to all the mothers and babies who assisted us in the development of these videos. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Preparing to Breastfeed

In this video Mary Toole, Clinical Midwife Specialist at the Coombe Hospital, discusses:

  • How your breasts change during pregnancy to feed your baby.

  • Why breastfeeding is important for the health of your baby and for yourself?

  • How you can prepare for breastfeeding?

  • If there are concerns, how we can support you with the collection of colostrum before the birth of your baby.


Position and Attachment for Breastfeeding

In this video, we will show you how to help your baby to position and attach for breastfeeding positioning. And attachment is about how you hold your baby at the breast. So if baby can feed effectively


Signs of Effective Breastfeeding

In this video, Kathy Cleere a Breastfeeding Specialist Midwife in The Commbe Hospital, discusses how to recognise signs of infected breastfeeding and how to know that your baby's getting enough breast milk.


Golden Hour after birth in skin to skin contact and feeding cues from your baby

Exercising during your pregnancy will increase your energy levels, improve your mood, aid sleep patterns, improve posture, prevent backache and help to regulate a healthy weight gain over the course of your pregnancy.

This video outline the benefits of exercising during pregnancy and things to be mindful of as you exercise throughout.


Common Challenges in the Early Days of Breastfeeding

In this video we discuss some common challenges that you may experience particularly in the early days of breastfeeding.

This includes:

  • Sleepy Baby

  • Sore Nipples

  • Cracked Nipples

  • Using a Hospital Grade Pump

  • Engorgement of the Breast

  • Cluster Feeding

  • Mastitis


Benefits of Breastmilk

In this video Iby Chacko, Lactation Consultant at Coombe Hospital, talks about your premature babies journey to exclusive breastfeeding and discusses things you can do to support your new baby.



Boosting your Breastmilk Supply

In this video Lisa Comboy, Lactation Consultant in the new natal unit in the Coombe Hospital, talks about boosting milk supply for premature and sick babies.


Golden Hour after birth in skin to skin contact and feeding cues from your baby

Exercising during your pregnancy will increase your energy levels, improve your mood, aid sleep patterns, improve posture, prevent backache and help to regulate a healthy weight gain over the course of your pregnancy.

This video outline the benefits of exercising during pregnancy and things to be mindful of as you exercise throughout.


Breastfeeding

All feeding information is now on our website, please take Opportunity during your pregnancy to read all the information available


Eating During Breastfeeding

In this video Fiona Dolly, a Dietician Manager at The Coombe Hospital, shares her tips for eating well during breastfeeding.


Attaching Your Baby at the Breast – Breastfeeding Series

Good attachment will help a baby get more milk and make breastfeeding more comfortable. This video shows why good attachment is so important to breastfeeding success and what a mother can do to deeply attach her baby to her breast. This video is intended primarily for mothers in the developing world, but may be helpful to breastfeeding mothers worldwide.


Videos for NICU Breastfeeding Journey

Breastfeeding your Baby

Breastmilk can be very beneficial to premature and sick babies. We have developed a series of videos especially for women who experience, or are at risk of, a pre-term birth. Topics covered in these videos include: the benefits of breastfeeding for premature and sick babies, expressing breast milk; boosting milk supply; and premature babies’ journey to exclusive breastfeeding.

Remember, breastfeeding is a learned skill, it takes time, commitment and patience for mother and baby to become skilled at it. Please contact our lactation services if you have any further questions. We hope you enjoy our videos.

A special thank you to all the mothers and babies who assisted us in the development of these videos. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Premature Baby’s Journey to Exclusive Breastfeeding

In this video Iby Chacko, Lactation Consultant at Coombe Hospital, talks about your premature babies journey to exclusive breastfeeding and discuss things you can do to support your new baby.


Expressing Breastmilk for Premature Babies

In this video Lisa Comboy, Lactation Consultant in the new natal unit in the Coombe Hospital, talks about expressing breast milk for premature babies. It is especially important for premature and sick babies to receive breast milk. This may be through breastfeeding itself or by feeding your baby express breast milk,


NICU Lactation Services

This video is for all the mothers whose babies are in the anti-natal unit and for mothers who are at risk of preterm delivery in the anti-natal world or at home.

We recommend that all premature and sick. Infants, receive breast milk.

However, the boom Hospital supports and respects all families, in their feeding choices.


Benefits of Breastfeeding for Premature & Sick Babies

In this video Dr. Anne Doolan, Consultant Neonatoligist in the Coombe Hospital talks about the benifits of breast milk including:

  • Breast milk contains food for your baby.

  • It contains many more ingredients than formula milk.

  • It contains essential amino acids for muscle and brain development.

  • It contains taste fats, which are important components of the immune system, cardiovascular system and nervous system.

  • It contains enzymes to encourage chemical reactions in the body.

  • It contains human milk, oligosaccharides to feed healthy bacteria in the gut.


Boosting Milk Supply for Premature & Sick Babies

In this video, we are going to talk about visiting milk supply for premature and sick babies. It is especially important that premature and sick babies receive breast milk.

This can be done by breastfeeding your baby or by feeding your baby expressed breast milk.


Eating During Breastfeeding

In this video Fiona Dolly, a Dietician Manager at The Coombe Hospital, shares her tips for eating well during breastfeeding.


Attaching Your Baby at the Breast – Breastfeeding Series

Good attachment will help a baby get more milk and make breastfeeding more comfortable. This video shows why good attachment is so important to breastfeeding success and what a mother can do to deeply attach her baby to her breast. This video is intended primarily for mothers in the developing world, but may be helpful to breastfeeding mothers worldwide.


Bottle Feeding

In preparation for bottle feeding we recommend that you visit the HSE website and read the information on the following:

Breastfeeding and Exercise

Moderate exercise while breastfeeding has many benefits. It can improve mum’s health and has a positive effect on emotional well- being.

This feeling of well-being, improved energy and reduced stress levels can enhance maternal-infant relationship. For information speak to our physiotherapy department or download our Breastfeeding and Exercise leaflet.

FAQs

Choose The Right Care For You

Our clinics offer tailored care for every stage of a woman’s life, from family planning and maternity to menopause and beyond. Whether you choose Public, Semi-Private, or Private services, we are here to provide expert, compassionate care that supports your health and well-being every step of the way.

Public Clinic

If you are living and working in Ireland and have the PRSI contributions or you have a medical card you can access free maternity and newborn care.

Semi Private Clinic

The semi-private clinic is a fee based option. Most women who choose this clinic use private health insurance to cover costs. .

Private Clinic

There are a number of consultant obstetricians offering services through our private clinic. Antenatal care fees vary between consultants..

Patient Experience

Every patient’s path to diagnosis and treatment is individual. No matter your specific journey, we believe in empowering you to take an active role in your healthcare.

Departments & Services

Help & Support

  • Appointments:
    All appointments can be directed through Hospital reception: 01 408 5200, 24 hours a day

  • Health Insurance:
    We operate a direct payment scheme with VHI, Laya Healthcare, Irish Life Health, Garda Medical Aid, ESB, Medical Provident Fund, and Prison Officers Medical Aid. If you are covered by any of these insurers, the relevant insurance forms are signed electronically on your admission to hospital.

    Fees:
    For more information on Fees - visit our Hospital Charges page

  • The Resource Page:
    Browse our collection of patient resources, brochures, and information leaflets—all in one place. Downloadable and easy to access, these documents cover everything from appointments and procedures to maternity, newborn care, and more.

    Resource Page

Contact Us

Tel: 01 408 5200

Find Us

The Coombe Hospital

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Location:

Cork St, Dublin, D08 XW7X