Breastfeeding is often pitched as being one of the most natural things in the world, but the reality is it's also really hard work.
There are challenges with establishing a good milk supply, getting a decent latch and the physical discomfort many mums experience while getting used to it.
Expressing, too, comes with its own unique set of difficulites.
One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is learning to relax, which is crucial in encouraging your milk to flow without the letdown your baby provides, but is easier said than done.
However, lactation consultant Johanna Sargeant has developed a trick to helping with just this.
Simply cover the bottle with a baby sock.
Johanna, from Zurich, Switzerland, shared the idea on her infant feeding support page, Milk and Motherhood .
The thinking behind it is if you can't see how much (or little) milk is being expressed, then you'll relax, instead of watching the bottle intently.
'Are you someone who sits and watches the trickle of milk, if any, that comes when pumping? Do you get stressed or sad about your output?
She wrote: "When I was told to pump after feeding to boost supply, I'd sit there and watch.
"I'd double pump for twenty minutes after ever feed, and become more and more demoralised at the lack of milk in that bottle.
"I realised that, for my own mental health, I needed to stop watching! Easier said than done. Enter the baby sock."
Stress is bad news for milk letdowns, and Johanna adds: "We know that oxytocin release is inhibited by stress, and oxytocin release is required for letdowns, so if you find you are getting stressed while watching, try it!
"Some women are reporting often 2-3 times more milk when they remove themselves mentally from the result of their pumping session!"
Her post has been praised and shared thousands of times by mums grateful for the advice.
"I just did this and got 40ml more than usual. Plus the experience was less stressful. We’ll recommend," wrote one.
