National Breastfeeding Week
To download a guide to help you start breastfeeding, click here.
This booklet provides parents with top tips on how to breastfeed and contains information about the 24/7 Breastfeeding Friend from Start4Life, available via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Facebook Messenger.
Breastfeeding has long-term benefits for your baby, lasting right into adulthood.
Any amount of breast milk has a positive effect. The longer you breastfeed, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits.
Breastfeeding can help to reduce your baby’s risk of:
- infections, with fewer visits to hospital as a result
- diarrhoea and vomiting, with fewer visits to hospital as a result
- sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- obesity
- cardiovascular disease in adulthood
Breastfeeding also has many benefits for the mother; including lowering the chances of breast cancer and obesity.
For more information about breastfeeding, click here
Top Tips for Supporting Breastfeeding.
Dads, partners and family are a hugely important source of breastfeeding support. Here are a few ways you can support someone who is breastfeeding…
- Attend antenatal or breastfeeding sessions
- Make her comfortable with extra pillows
- Bring her something to drink and a snack
- Help by being involved in baby’s care, e.g., change their nappies.
Everyone plays a unique role in supporting breastfeeding. Why not offer to cook for the family, or provide childcare for any older children? This helps parents to focus on becoming a family unit.
There are many ways you can get support with breastfeeding. Midwives, peer supporters, breastfeeding cafes, helplines, and grandparents.
Click here for more information about breastfeeding helplines and support!
Have you got questions about breastfeeding?
If you or someone you know has questions about breastfeeding, there’s lots of help available…
- The Start For Life Breastfeeding Friend Chatbot has lots of useful information and advice. Available whenever you need it, get the answers you need now!
- For information and support, call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212. Lines are open 9:30am to 9:30pm every day!
Top Tips for a Happy Baby.
A happy baby isn’t just a fed baby. Every cuddle, smile and interaction counts, for you and your baby. Here are some top tips for keeping your little one happy.
- Sing songs and rhymes with your baby
- Talk to your baby about anything and everything
- See if your baby can copy you when you stick out your tongue
- Try baby massage
Click here to learn more about helping your baby learn to talk from 0 to 6 months.
Top Tips for Breastfeeding in Public.
Breastfeeding in public may make you feel nervous, but you have a legal right to breastfeed anytime and anywhere. No-one can ask you to leave a public place while you’re breastfeeding. Here are some top tips for breastfeeding in public plac:
- Fortunately, the majority of people don’t notice
- Look out for Breastfeeding Friendly stickers in windows
- If you feel self-conscious, try to remind yourself that you are doing the most natural thing for baby
- If you are asked to leave somewhere, you are within your rights to challenge that request.
Click here for more information about breastfeeding in public.
Top Tips for Breastfeeding and Work.
If you’re returning to work after maternity leave, you might wonder whether you can continue breastfeeding your baby. It’s completely possible and many women do it. Here are some tips for breastfeeding and going back to work:
- See if there’s an option for you to work flexibly
- Try and find childcare close to work so you can breastfeed in your breaks
- Experiment with mixed feeding – breastfeeding at home and expressing milk at work
- Your workplace is legally required to provide suitable facilities for you to rest or express (and it shouldn’t be a toilet)
Local breastfeeding support.
Halton Infant feeding team offer classes, telephone and home visit supports. Visit Infant Feeding for more information.
