fats
Fats in breastmilk are essential for your baby’s brain and eye development.
Breastfeeding Glossary Terms
Learn about how your incredible body works.
feeding cues
Feeding cues are the signs babies give to indicate hunger or fullness.
feeding on demand
Feeding on demand is feeding your baby whenever they show hunger signs.
flanged lips
Flanged lips are when a baby’s lips are outward while latched to the breast.
football hold
The football hold, or clutch hold, is a breastfeeding position where you tuck your baby under your arm.
foremilk
Foremilk is the milk that flows at the start of a feeding session.
growth spurts
Growth spurts are phases of fast growth marked by frequent feeding and sleep changes.
hand expression
Hand expression is a technique to manually remove milk from the breast.
hindmilk
Hindmilk is the creamier, higher-fat milk at the end of a feeding session.
hormones
Hormones regulate milk production and ejection during breastfeeding.
hydrogel pads
Hydrogel pads are cooling pads that soothe sore or cracked nipples during breastfeeding.
inframammary fold
The inframammary fold is where the lower breast meets the chest wall.
inverted nipple
An inverted nipple pulls inward, making breastfeeding latch challenging.
inverted side-lying hold
In the inverted side-lying hold, both you and your baby lie on your sides with baby’s feet towards your head.
lactation
Lactation involves hormonal changes that stimulate milk production and release.
lactogenesis
Lactogenesis is the three-stage process of milk production in the breast.
laid-back breastfeeding
Laid-back breastfeeding, or biological nurturing, involves leaning back with your baby on your chest.
latch
Latch is how your baby attaches to your breast during breastfeeding.
let down reflex
The let-down reflex is a process that releases milk during breastfeeding.
lip tie
A lip tie restricts upper lip movement due to a thick frenulum.
lobes
Lobes are sections in the breast containing clusters of milk-producing alveoli.
lobules
Lobules are small clusters in the breast containing milk-producing alveoli.
manual breast pump
A manual breast pump is a hand-operated device used to extract milk from the breasts.
mastitis
Mastitis is breast inflammation causing pain, swelling, and flu-like symptoms.