Recent news
May 11, 2008
Breastfeeding: Every day makes a difference to your baby 11th - 17th May 2008... Click here to read more
May 13, 2007
National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (NBAW) is an annual event to raise aware- ness of the importance of breastfeeding and encourage health professionals and other groups to run events in their areas... Click here to read more
May 12, 2007
First time mums' story I amafirst time mum who has always wanted to breastfeed as I am aware of the benefits of doing it... Click here to read more
May 12, 2007
The Handsworth team, committed to help! Breastfeeding is a relaxing and rewarding experience for mother and baby. I work closely with the midwives who will often ask me to help any mothers who need that extra support... Click here to read more
Why Breastfeed FAQ
- Breast milk contains everything your baby needs. It is complex and contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins and carbohydrates that satisfy the particular needs of your child. Each mother's breast milk therefore is slightly different.
- It's more easily digested and absorbed by the child than formula milk. This can reduce the risk of Gastro-enteritis in the child. This condition causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines, which can result in stomach pain and/or diarrhoea and vomiting.
- It protects your baby from infection and illness - Breast milk contains vital Immunoglobins. These are antibodies produced naturally in the mother that encourage the baby's immune system to kick-start and keep it healthy.
- Reduced risk of obesity in the child - a study published by the British Medical Journal in 1999 found that 4.5% of bottle fed babies were obese by the time they reached five or six years old. Babies that were breast-fed for a year or more on the other hand are five times less likely to become obese.
- Reduced risk of childhood disease - Other research has shown that breastfeeding carried out in the first fifteen weeks protects against diarrhoeal and respiratory diseases, ear and urinary tract infections and reduces blood pressure.
- Reduced risk of breast cancer - Breastfeeding has also been shown to have healthy benefits for the mother. Research published in 2002 that studied women from 30 different countries showed that for every year of her life a mother spends breastfeeding the risk of her developing breast cancer reduces by 4.3%.
- Encourages a special bond between mother and baby - The act of breastfeeding in itself is important in developing an early physical bond with your child. Studies have shown that in child development, breastfeeding aids and association between feelings of closeness with a parent and personal nourishment in the child. This bond is also important for the mother as it promotes important maternal instincts early on.
- It can improve your babies IQ - 90% of people carry the FADS2 gene, which, when in a child who is then breastfed can improve their IQ by up to 7 points. This can be enough to put a child in the top third of a class. The gene works by helping to better break down fatty acids in food which has been linked to brain development - and in children who are breastfed, the gene works more efficiently.
- It's practical and time saving - preparing all of the baby formula a child needs each day can be a time consuming process, sometimes taking an hour over the course of the day. Looking after a new born child can be a stressful time so it is reassuring to know that when breastfeeding you will produce all the milk your baby needs without any preparation time at all. As your baby grows and requires more milk, your breasts will compensate for this extra demand.
It Helps to Know...
- The more milk your baby suckles from your breast, the more milk your breast will produce.
- When a baby wants to breastfeed it often does this to feel close to the mother as well as just requiring nourishment.
- Your breast milk is always the right food for your baby and will change to meet your baby's developing needs.
- Babies have a strong need to suck from the moment they are born so breastfeeding can begin right away if you are both healthy.
- To establish a good supply of milk, allow your baby to feed regularly, whenever they awake or seem hungry. Let them finish the first breast before offering the second side.