Visual Glossary of Breastfeeding Terms

Click any image to learn more about how that term relates to breastfeeding

  • An abscess is a painful, pus-filled lump in the breast caused by a bacterial infection.

  • All-purpose nipple ointment is a prescribed cream for treating nipple pain and damage.

  • Antibodies are immune proteins passed through breastmilk to help protect your baby.

  • The areola is a pigmented area around the nipple that contains Montgomery glands and helps a baby find the breast.

  • The Australian hold, or koala hold, has your baby straddling your thigh while upright.

  • Avoiding tight clothing helps prevent blocked ducts and supports milk flow.

  • Baby blues are a temporary emotional state with mood swings and sadness after birth.

  • Blessed thistle is a herb believed to act as a galactagogue that increases milk supply.

  • The breast is a glandular organ on the chest with lobules that produce milk and ducts that transport it.

  • Alveoli are grape-like clusters in the breast that produce and store milk.

  • Breast compression involves squeezing your breast during nursing to increase milk flow.

  • Breast massage is a technique to stimulate milk flow and relieve engorgement.

  • A breast pump is a device used to extract milk from the breasts manually or electrically.

  • A breastfeeding support group connects mamas for shared experiences and support.

  • Breastmilk storage bags are plastic bags designed for storing and freezing milk.

  • Brewer’s yeast is a type of yeast rich in B vitamins, protein, and minerals that may help boost milk supply.

  • Burping is gently helping your baby expel trapped air after feeding or crying.

  • Carbohydrates from your diet give energy to you and your baby.

  • Cluster feeding involves frequent feeding sessions that support a baby’s growth.

  • Colic is when a baby cries a lot and is hard to soothe for no clear reason.

  • Colostrum is the first milk, thick and yellowish, rich in nutrients and antibodies.

  • Colostrum harvesting is expressing and storing the first milk produced.

  • Cooper’s ligament is a connective tissue that supports and maintains the shape of your breasts.

  • Cradle hold is a breastfeeding position where your baby’s head rests in the crook of your elbow.

  • The cross-cradle hold, or front cross hold, supports your baby with the opposite arm.

  • Delayed cord clamping is waiting to cut the cord to allow extra blood flow to the baby.

  • A double electric breast pump extracts milk from both breasts at once.

  • The double football hold positions each baby under your arms like a football.

  • Dry heat refers to high temperatures without moisture, used for therapeutic breastfeeding treatments.

  • Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex is a brief wave of negative emotions during milk let-down.

  • An electric breast pump uses a motor to extract milk from the breasts.

  • Engorgement is when your breasts are swollen and painful due to too much milk.

  • Exclusive pumping is using a breast pump to provide milk instead of breastfeeding directly.

  • Expressed breastmilk is collected manually or with a breast pump.

  • Fats in breastmilk are essential for your baby’s brain and eye development.

  • Feeding cues are the signs babies give to indicate hunger or fullness.

  • Feeding on demand is feeding your baby whenever they show hunger signs.

  • Fennel Fennel is a herb you can use for its culinary and medicinal properties. It…

  • Fenugreek is an herb commonly used to boost milk supply during breastfeeding.

  • Flanged lips are when a baby’s lips are outward while latched to the breast.

  • The football hold, or clutch hold, is a breastfeeding position where you tuck your baby under your arm.

  • Foremilk is the milk that flows at the start of a feeding session.

  • Goat’s rue is a lactation-supporting herb known to promote milk production.

  • Growth spurts are phases of fast growth marked by frequent feeding and sleep changes.

  • Hand expression is a technique to manually remove milk from the breast.

  • Hands-on pumping uses massage and compression to boost milk supply and milk removal.

  • Hindmilk is the creamier, higher-fat milk at the end of a feeding session.

  • Hormones regulate milk production and ejection during breastfeeding.

  • Hydrogel pads are cooling pads that soothe sore or cracked nipples during breastfeeding.

  • An IBCLC is a highly trained consultant offering personalized breastfeeding guidance.

  • Immunoglobulin D is an antibody in breastmilk that helps protect your baby from infections.

  • The inframammary fold is where the lower breast meets the chest wall.

  • An inverted nipple pulls inward, making breastfeeding latch challenging.

  • In the inverted side-lying hold, both you and your baby lie on your sides with baby’s feet towards your head.

  • Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes in newborns caused by high bilirubin levels.

  • Lactation involves hormonal changes that stimulate milk production and release.

  • Lactogenesis is the three-stage process of milk production in the breast.

  • Laid-back breastfeeding, or biological nurturing, involves leaning back with your baby on your chest.

  • Latch is how your baby attaches to your breast during breastfeeding.

  • The let-down reflex is a process that releases milk during breastfeeding.

  • A lip tie restricts upper lip movement due to a thick frenulum.

  • Lipstick nipple latch A "lipstick nipple" latch refers to when a baby's latch causes the…

  • Lobes are sections in the breast containing clusters of milk-producing alveoli.

  • Lobules are small clusters in the breast containing milk-producing alveoli.

  • Mammary glands include alveoli and ducts that work together to produce and release milk.

  • A manual breast pump is a hand-operated device used to extract milk from the breasts.

  • Mastitis is breast inflammation causing pain, swelling, and flu-like symptoms.

  • Maternal illness is any health condition affecting a mama during pregnancy or postpartum.

  • Mature milk provides balanced nutrients and antibodies for your baby after the first few weeks.

  • Metoclopramide Metoclopramide (commonly referred to as Reglan) is a medication commonly used to treat gastrointestinal…

  • A milk bleb is a small white or yellow spot on the nipple blocking milk flow.

  • Milk ducts are tiny tubes in the breast that transport milk from alveoli to the nipple.

  • Milk supply is the amount of breastmilk produced to meet your baby’s needs.

  • Minerals in breastmilk support your baby’s growth and bone development.

  • Mixed feeding Mixed feeding, also known as combination feeding, involves providing a baby with both…

  • Moist heat, like warm compresses or baths, can help relieve pain and aid milk flow.

  • Montgomery glands are around the areola and help lubricate and guide the baby to the nipple.

  • Night feeds are feeding your baby during nighttime hours.

  • The nipple is the small, raised part of the breast where milk flows to your baby.

  • Nipple cream is an ointment for relieving nipple pain and dryness during breastfeeding.

  • Nipple pain can result from poor latch, dry skin, or infection during breastfeeding.

  • A nipple shield is a silicone cover used during breastfeeding to help babies latch.

  • Nipple stimulation helps boost milk production and may naturally trigger labor.

  • Nipple vasospasm is a condition where restricted blood flow causes nipple pain and discoloration.

  • A nurse practitioner is an advanced nurse who diagnoses and treats illnesses.

  • A nursing bra has front clasps for easy breast access without removing the bra.

  • Nursing frequency is how often a baby breastfeeds.

  • Nursing pads are absorbent pads worn in your bra to catch leaking breastmilk.

  • A nursing pillow is a cushion that supports your arms during breastfeeding.

  • Oversupply is when your body produces more milk than your baby needs.

  • Oxytocin is a hormone known as the “love hormone” that helps trigger the let-down reflex during breastfeeding.

  • Paced bottle feeding mimics breastfeeding by letting the baby pace milk intake.

  • A pediatrician is a medical doctor focused on children’s health and development.

  • A peer counselor is trained to support mamas with advice and encouragement.

  • Plugged ducts occur when milk flow is blocked, causing pain and a lump.

  • A postnatal support group offers emotional and practical help to new parents.

  • Postpartum anxiety is excessive worry and fear after childbirth.

  • Postpartum depression is intense sadness, anxiety, and/or exhaustion following childbirth.

  • A postpartum doula is trained to assist with newborn care, breastfeeding, and recovery.

  • Power pumping is a technique to increase milk supply by mimicking cluster feeding.

More results...

Filter by Categories
Illness
Body
Physical feature
Condition