Infant Care
Breastfeeding, baby sleep and cry fuss issues managed through an evidence based lens
Our philosophy is based on Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) which is based on over twenty years of medical research, and supports your baby's developing brain. NDC also supports your mental health, helping you to meet the challenge of parenthood.
Many families experience baby sleep, crying and breastfeeding issues, and find that the traditional advice simply doesn’t work for them. The approach goes beyond assessing a problem in isolation, recognising that you, your baby, and your family unit need to be considered together. The comprehensive approach considers families in terms of five areas: feeds, sleep, baby's health and sensory needs, and carer health; understanding that these five areas are interrelated and interact to influence your wellbeing and your baby's wellbeing.
The Bubble Hobart has two Perinatal and Infant Specialist GPs, Dr Samantha Wyton and Dr Tara Kurrajong, who are currently accepting patients for “Mums and Bubs” consults.
They have young families themselves and know the struggles parents can have but also want to be able to provide the space that parents require as well as quality evidence-based advice that supports their mental well-being.
The Mums and Bubs consultations are a comprehensive sixty-minute or ninety-minute consult that will cover sleep, feeds, growth, crying and parents’ health. All babies and families are different, and our approach is tailored to your baby and family.
Sleep support
Sleep support that is offered at The Bubble is not your traditional sleep training, and we provide sleep help that doesn't let your baby cry it out. Support offered is based on the most up to date medical evidence, and involves understanding your baby's sleep hormonal regulators and biological rhythms, i.e. working with your baby's biology, not against it. This approach aims to optimise outcomes for you and your baby.
As an example, many sleep programs suggest a delayed response to your baby, or to ignore powerful biological cues (such as baby falling asleep with feeds). Yet high level of evidence shows that these suggested sleep training programs don't decrease the frequency of night waking’s. At The Bubble, the doctors will take the time to explore the issues you are facing with sleep and then use a comprehensive approach to find strategies that will work for you and your family.
The aim is to help make nights manageable, have enjoyable days and protect your emotional bond with your baby.
Feeds
At The Bubble, we are here to help you on your feeding journey, whether that is breast or bottle feeding. Difficulties are common early on for many mothers and most of these issues can be easily resolved with the right support.
The breastfeeding journey takes time to learn and develop. We can help you on this journey through the latest evidence-based approach. This approach is the Gestalt breastfeeding program, and was developed from an understanding of breastfeeding biomechanisms through ultrasound studies. It aims to help optimise “fit and hold” which usually leads to a resolution of many breastfeeding problems.
Breast examination and observing breast feeds during this time is to be expected to help with any lactating issues, painful feeds, sore nipples, milk supply concerns, low supply, fussing at the breast and much more.
Difficulty bottle feeding can also be addressed with focused discussion around paced bottle feeding.
Unsettled Baby
Having a baby who cries and fusses can be extremely hard for parents. There are so many reasons why this may be happening and it can be difficult to know where to start to get help. The Bubble doctors are also GPs who can medically assess the baby first to ensure there are no underlying issues, such as growth concerns, reflux, tummy pain, wind and tongue tie.
During an appointment we will explore what difficulties you are having, perform an examination of your baby if needed to exclude medical causes and discuss approaches that might be helpful in managing this challenging period.
A holistic approach to this issue is important to manage the unsettled baby.
What to expect?
These consults are long and sometimes can run overtime due to the complexity of these issues. So don’t plan for anything important in the hours after a consult.
Please bring your baby to these appointments.
Quite often we will need to observe a feed to if bub is due a feed during an appointment this is fantastic.
Siblings are absolutely welcome but keep in mind that these sessions are long and siblings may get bored. If you have someone to look after them for the time, that’s great, otherwise be sure to bring toys, books and food for them.
Partners are always welcome and we encourage their participation if possible.
However, we understand that it can be difficult and everyone will be emailed all discussions within 24 hours.
Please bring along with you any baby feeding equipment you may use such as nipple shields and bottles and your baby blue book.
Offering appointments for Infant Care:
