Breastfeeding gives your baby the best start in life, so it is a good idea to be prepared by finding out about how to breastfeed. You can do this by attending hospital antenatal classes (your midwife will tell you about these) or those run by charitable organsiations such as the NCT (www.nct.org.uk). If you choose to formula feed then it is important to know how to do so safely and hygienically.

Breast feeding

 Almost all women can breastfeed successfully and find it an easy and enjoyable experience. Breast milk is the best form of nutrition for babies as it provides all the nutrients a baby needs. According to the World Health Organisation, most babies need no other food or drink until they are six months old.

Breastfed babies do not need water between feeds as they get a drink when they first start to feed. Even in very hot countries no water is needed.

If your baby is showing signs of hunger such as hand sucking, lip smacking, poking tongue out, sooner than you would expect to feed him or her, but there doesn’t seem to be any other problem, offer another feed. It is important to feed on demand, including through the night, since babies often don’t conform to routine. This is particularly important for breastfed babies because they increase the milk supply by increasing the frequency of feeds.

Your baby doesn’t need anything other than breast milk for the first six months. If you like, you can carry on breastfeeding, while giving appropriate weaning foods after six months of age.

Breastfeeding has lots of benefits for both mother and baby.

Why breast is best for babies:

• Breast milk is the only food designed by nature for your baby. It contains the nutrients your baby needs in the right amounts, and they are in a form that is very easily absorbed. Its composition even changes as your baby grows.
• Breastfeeding helps to protect your baby from infection because antibodies are passed into the milk. Your baby will be less vulnerable to coughs and colds and other infections than bottlefed babies. If you breastfeed for the first three to four months, this protection can last for up to a year.
• Breast milk is easily digested and absorbed and is much much less likely to cause stomach upsets or diarrhoea. It will also help to avoid constipation in your baby.
• Breastfed babies are less likely to get allergies, such as eczema.
• Breast milk contains growth factors and hormones to assist your baby’s development.

Why breast is best for mothers:

• As one mother said, "It was feeling close, and being together; that was what I liked."
• Breast milk costs nothing.
• There’s no need to prepare feeds or bottles. Your baby isn’t kept waiting.
• Breastfeeding helps your womb return to its normal size more quickly and, because it uses up calories, it will help you to lose some of the weight gained in pregnancy.
• It’s so much easier and more practical in the middle of the night.
• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer.

If you decide not to breastfeed it’s important to know that it may be difficult to change from formula to breastfeeding. If you like, you can breastfeed your baby for a year or more, but you may decide to breastfeed for a shorter time, then change to formula feeding.

If you are returning to work, the Department of Health has produced a leaflet to provide mothers with advice on breast feeding at work which gives you guidance on expressing milk for your baby in the workplace.

• Breastfeeding and Work (Department of Health)

Whatever method of feeding you choose, your midwife, health visitor, or breastfeeding counsellor can explain how to do it.

• Where to get support when breastfeeding (.pdf)
• Breastfeeding: Off to the best start (Department of Health)

For Details of hiring a breast pump, click on the above link  " where to get support when breast feeding".

Feeding support for you and your baby

There are a number of support groups operating in the county to help breastfeeding mothers. The Trust also employs a Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife, Sue Maxwell, who is available for help and advice during office hours for all mothers, whether breast or formula feeding.

Useful contacts

Sue Maxwell, Trust Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife: 0300 422 5546 or 07799 341200

• Gloucestershire Breastfeeding Support Network (GBSN) http://www.breastfeedingsupporters.org.uk/

More contacts can be found in the attached leaflet