Breastfeeding
Choosing how to feed your new baby is a very important decision as it can have an effect on your baby's health and your own. This guide gives you some information about the benefits of breastfeeding for you to consider before you make up your mind. There are also tips to help get breastfeeding off to a good start and information about the support you can expect from your midwife and health visitor. Your baby is referred to he in order to avoid confusion. This is your guide to the breastfeeding policy. Please ask a member of staff if you wish to see the full policy.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mother
- lower risk of breast cancer
- lower risk of ovarian cancer
- faster return to pre-pregnancy figure
- stronger bones in later life
Breastmilk contains antibodies to protect your baby from infection. It also protects your own health. For the first 6 months your baby will benefit from having only your milk. He will get all the food and drink he needs and be protected against a range of illnesses. After this age, continuing to breastfeed while your baby is being introduced to other foods will have the benefits for both of you, especially during the first year.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby
- protection against ear infections
- protection against diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and tummy upsets
- less smelly nappies
- protection against chest infections and wheezing
- lower risk of diabetes
- less eczema
Off to a good start
No matter how you choose to feed your baby, spending some time quietly holding him with skin-to-skin contact straight after birth is very important because it:
- Helps to calm your baby
- Helps to keep your baby calm
- Steadies your baby's breathing
- Gives you time to bond with your baby
It also helps you get breastfeeding off to a good start. Provided you and your baby are both well, you will be able to hold him straight away. Usually, the midwife will dry him quickly and then give him to you. A blanket over both of you will help keep your baby warm.
If you have a Caesarean birth, or if you have to be separated form your baby for a while after the birth, you will both still benefit from skin-to-skin contact as soon as you are able.
Early Days
The milk you produce is full of antibodies to protect your baby against infections. You will produce the right amount to meet your baby's needs. You will be shown how to hold your baby for feeding and how to make sure that he attaches properly to the breast. This is very important as it will help you both to breastfeed successfully. Most of the problems experienced by breastfeeding mothers in the first few weeks (e.g. sore nipples) happen because the baby is not attached to the breast in the best way.
In hospital your baby will sleep in a cot beside your bed. This will help you to get to know him well and to know when he needs to be fed. This is important at night when you can feed him as soon as he wakes. You will be shown how to express your breastmilk. This is a useful skill to learn.
What your baby needs
It is important to feed your baby whenever he seems hungry. This will make sure that your produce plenty of milk to meet his needs. That is because each time he feeds messages are sent to your brain, which then sends signals to your breasts to produce more milk.
More feeding = More signals = More milk
Breastmilk contains all the food and water your baby needs. Giving other food and drink could be harmful and may also make him less interested in breastfeeding.
If you give your baby formula feed:
- He may be at greater risk of infection
- He will be at greater risk of developing allergies if you have a family history of allergy
- You may produce less milk for future needs
- Sucking on a teat (or dummy) may make it more difficult to latch onto your breast properly
Who to ask for information
Your midwife or health visitor will be able to help if you need any more information about feeding your baby and tell you about local breastfeeding groups. You can also be given the telephone number of your local trained breastfeeding counsellor.
The Breastfeeding Network supporter line:
0870 900 8787 Lines open 9.30am-9.30pm
NCT National Helpline
0870 444 8708 Lines open 8am - 10pm
0845 120 2918
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
020 7813 1481
Useful websites:
Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative
Click here to read the Parents' Guide to the policy on breastfeeding
- All staff have been specially trained to help you to breastfeed your baby.
- During your pregnancy, you will be able to discuss breastfeeding individually with a midwife or health visitor who will answer any questions you may have.
- We recommend that you hold your new baby against your skin as soon as possible after birth. The staff will not interfere or hurry you but will be there to support you and to help you with your first breastfeed.
- A midwife will be able to explain how to put your baby to the breast correctly and to help with feeds in the early days. A health visitor will provide support later.
- We will show you how to express your breastmilk and will give you a written sheet about this.
- We recommend that you keep your baby near you whenever you can so that you can get to know each other. We will give you information and advice about bed sharing and infant safety. If any medical procedures are necessary in hospital, you will always be invited to accompany your baby.
- We will encourage you to feed your baby whenever he/she seems hungry.
- We recommend that you avoid using bottles, dummies and nipple shields while your baby is learning to breastfeed. This is because they can make it more difficult for your baby to learn to breastfeed successfully and for you to establish a good milk supply.
- Most babies do not need to be given anything other than breastmilk until they are around 6 months old. If for some other reason your baby needs some other food or drink before this, the reason will be fully explained to you by the staff.
- We will help you to recognise when your baby is ready for other foods and explain how these can be introduced.
- We welcome breastfeeding in all area of our premises. If you would prefer somewhere private, please ask a member of staff.
- We will give you a list of people who you can contact for extra help and support with breastfeeding, or who can help if you have a problem.
This is your guide to the breastfeeding policy. Please ask a member of staff if you wish to see the full policy.
