11 top tips for successful breastfeeding

Breastfeeding offers both you and your baby so many health benefits, as well as creating a really strong bond between you.

Breastfed babies are five times less likely to suffer tummy bugs and urine infections, and two times less likely to suffer from ear infections. Mums have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and will burn up to 500 calories per day.

As part of Breastfeeding Celebration Week, we spoke to mums and breastfeeding support workers to find out their top tips.

Get help

Don’t struggle alone, find out what help is out there – ideally before you have your baby.

Try to attend a breastfeeding support group to talk to other mums. You’ll meet lots of like-minded people and realise you’re not alone with your worries and questions.

Be realistic

The first few days are tiring but having a baby is tiring, and you won’t necessarily feel less tired by not breastfeeding.

This is a really special time with your baby. Time passes so quickly and the tiredness won’t last forever.

Send for reinforcements

Get your partner and family to help with drinks, meals, and general support, so you can get on with feeding.

Dads can still be involved

Remember – dads can have skin to skin contact and lots of lovely cuddles without having to give baby a bottle.

It will get better

The first 2-3 weeks are often the hardest. Don’t expect too much during this time - sleep whenever you can and enjoy having a ‘pyjama day’. Take each day as it comes.

By the time your baby is six-weeks-old, you’ll be an ‘old pro’ and things will seem so much easier.

Let your baby be your guide

Don’t worry about not being able to ‘see’ how much milk your baby is getting. If you are offering a feed 8-12 times a day, your baby is having six wet nappies and two yellow poos a day (after day five) and is content between feeds, then all is going well. Look at your baby for your reassurance.

There will be growth spurts

Be ready for growth spurts around day 10, three weeks and six weeks. Your baby may want to feed all day, but it’s just their way of increasing your milk supply and putting in their order for the next day!

Night time is the right time

Night time feeds are really important to help establish a really good milk supply for the future.

You can’t overfeed

Let your baby feed for as long as they want to feed – they need to get the creamy fat rich milk as the feed goes on.

You can’t overfeed a breastfed baby; your baby may want to feed for hunger, thirst or just for comfort.

You can call the shots

Remember, you can decide when it’s time to feed, too. If your breasts feel full or you need to go out, or maybe just want to sit down and have a cuddle with your baby.

Relax!
Most importantly…relax and enjoy! You’re doing a fantastic job responding to all your baby’s needs!