Common Breastfeeding Acronyms and Definitions

Antepartum Depression – When a mother experiences depression during their pregnancy. Approximately 1 in 5 women experience this type of depression

Attachment Parenting – A style of parenting that promotes the connection of parent and child through continuous closeness of parent and child

Baby Led Weaning – allowing the baby to eat foods directly from the table as they are ready instead of (or in conjunction with) feeding all of the purees

Babywear – When the adult uses a wrap or carrier of some kind to “wear” the baby. This is often used with attachment parenting and can help parents feel more productive as they can still have their baby close while attempting to get things done

Braxton Hicks – These are contractions that can feel very minor or still be quite painful but are not the contractions of labor. These contractions are the body getting ready for actual labor. Some women never experience them while other experience them for months

Bleb – When there is a milk blister on the breastfeeding nipple most often causing milk to not be able to pass. These can also be very painful

Clogged Duct – When milk is unable to flow through a certain part of the breast. This can be very painful and lead to more severe problems

Colostrum – The super liquid that comes before the milk actually comes in. This liquid is packed with as many vitamins and antibodies as well as fat as it possibly can to nourish the baby when their stomach is the size of a pea

Cry it Out – Letting the baby cry until they decide they don’t want to cry anymore, usually ending in them falling asleep

Doula – A trained professional caregiver that has been trained to help mothers through labor and childbirth. Doulas often assist before, during and after the baby is born. Many doulas will help with the preparation of childbirth as well as many things after such as breastfeeding support

Exclusively Pump – A term used when the mother does not actually breastfeed the baby but instead pumps throughout the day and bottle feeds the baby the expressed milk

Engorged – Occurs more in the early months of breastfeeding but can happen at any time. Where the breast is super full of milk and the breast becomes hard. Usually very painful

Feeding on Demand – Nursing when the baby shows signs of being hungry instead of feeding on a schedule

Fore-milk – this milk is more runny milk that a baby typically gets at the beginning of the nursing session and has less calories and fat

Hind-milk – This milk is thicker. Baby usually gets this the longer they nurse. It is filled with more fat and calories. The goal is to have the baby get a good mix of both fore-milk and hind-milk

Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant – These professionals start out at Lactation Consultants. After taking all the necessary courses they also have gone through 1000 hours of working with other IBCLCs and breastfeeding mothers as well as taken a test to obtain this certification

Lactation Consultant – A medically trained person in the art of breastfeeding

Latch – When the baby actually suctions to the breast. A proper latch will be deep with both upper and lower lip filleted outward and the tongue between their lower gun and the nipple. Shallow latches are not as efficient at getting the milk out and can cause a lot of pain for the mother

Let-Down – The let-down reflex is when the brain tells the body to release all of the milk from the breast. Usually this happens after the baby has been sucking on the breast. Let-down’s can also happen quite a bit in the early months while the mothers supply is being established. Some women can feel when they have a let-down while others do not

Lip Tie – Where the thin flap of skin that connects the upper jaw to the upper lip is too short

Mastitis – This is a painful infection that many women get typically from having a clogged duct. Women often experience pain, red spots and heat coming from the infected area. Breastfeeding typically helps this infection disappear but many women also need antibiotics for it to clear

Midwife – A professional who is trained in assisting women with childbirth.

Nipple Shield – Made of a thin, soft silicone, the nipple shield is often used when baby has a hard time latching or when the mother has inverted nipples. It creates the help many babies need in order to get their latch down well

Pace Feeding – A technique used mostly by breastfeeding families. It is when you hold the baby more upright and use a slightly more difficult nipple. This allows for the baby to work for the milk in a similar way they would have to work for a let-down from the breast. This allows the baby to eat more at their own pace and not get overfull. There are also some recommended guidelines for the amount of milk a baby would be getting during each feed to more simulate breastfeeding as well

Postpartum – The time shortly after a mother has given birth

Postpartum Depression – When a mother experiences depression after the birth of their child. This is very common in mothers

Thrush – An infection where there is a yeast build up typically in the babies mouth or on/in the mothers breast

Tongue Tie – Where the thin skin under the tongue is too short for baby to stick their tongue out far enough to properly latch

Triple Feeding – Feed on the breast, feed from a bottle, then pump (usually every 2 hours from the start of a feed)