Healthy Living
Healthy Living
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is natural and normal and gives your baby the best start. The Department of Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and can continue to benefit your baby along with solid foods for many months after. Every day you breast feed makes a difference to your baby’s health now and in the future.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Breastmilk gives babies all the nutrients they need for the first six months of life and helps protect them from infection and diseases. It also reduces mothers' chances of getting certain diseases later in life.
Breastfeeding also allows you and your baby to get closer - physically and emotionally. So while your child is feeding, the bond between you can grow stronger.
Bottle feeding does not give your baby the same ingredients as breastmilk, which is designed to be easy for your baby to absorb and is perfect to help him grow and develop. Also, bottle feeding doesn't provide protection against infection and diseases.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Breastmilk gives babies all the nutrients they need for the first six months of life and helps protect them from infection and diseases. It also reduces mothers' chances of getting certain diseases later in life.
Breastfeeding also allows you and your baby to get closer - physically and emotionally. So while your child is feeding, the bond between you can grow stronger.
Bottle feeding does not give your baby the same ingredients as breastmilk, which is designed to be easy for your baby to absorb and is perfect to help him grow and develop. Also, bottle feeding doesn't provide protection against infection and diseases.
Breastfeeding helps protect your baby against:
• ear infections
• gastro-intestinal infections
• chest infections
• urine infections
• childhood diabetes
• eczema
• obesity
• asthma.
Breastfeeding helps protect mothers against:
• ovarian cancer
• breast cancer
• weak bones later in life.
Women who breastfeed return to their pre-pregnancy figure faster. Breastfeeding uses about 500 extra calories a day, making it easier to lose weight.
Local Help and Support
During pregnancy your midwife will help you with your decision whether to breastfeed, providing you with lots of information including a DVD ‘Breast to Bump’.
At delivery your midwife will respect your decision and help your baby take her first feed. If you have decided to breastfeed you will receive further information including a magazine ‘Mothers Guide to Breastfeeding’. Your midwife will continue to help you up to 28 days and give you the phone number of the postnatal ward where 24 hour telephone help is available.
Your midwife will inform your health visitor how you are feeding your baby to allow appropriate help to be continued.
Your midwife and health visitor will ensure that you are aware of the local breastfeeding community support groups – Baby Cafes, health visitor led groups, National Childbirth Trust and La Leche League. Check times and days of groups with your health visitor.
Don’t forget if you are experiences difficulties with breastfeeding your midwife (up to 28 days) and your health visitor (after 10 days) are there to help.
Internet help is also available at www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk
And telephone help as follows:
National Breastfeeding Helpline
Operated by the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers and The Breastfeeding Network
0300 100 0212 (9.30am – 9.30pm)
La Leche League
Tel. 0845 120 2918
The Breastfeeding Network - breastfeeding support in Bengali and Sylhetti
Tel. 0300 456 2421
