Breast feeding can be challenging, but there is lots of advice and support available.
Midwives, health visitors and locally trained volunteer mothers (peer supporters) are there to help you get breastfeeding off to a good start. They can give you lots of information and support just when you need it.
If you need to speak to your midwife or health visitor in between appointments, you should find their contact details in your baby’s red book. Ask them to show you the page when you first get it.
Recommendations for breast feeding are currently to breast feed exclusively for the first 6 months of baby’s life. However, any amount of breast milk has a positive effect. The longer you breastfeed, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits. The World Health Organisation recommends breast feeding should continue for up to 2 years of age and beyond, with complimentary food from 6 months.
Helplines
- National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212
- The Breastfeeding Network supporter line in Bengali and Sylheti: 0300 456 2421
- Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300 330 5453
- La Leche League: 0345 120 2918
- National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300 330 0700
How do my breasts produce milk?
As soon as you’re pregnant, your body starts to change to support milk-making. You may notice some of these changes in your breasts, like a slight tenderness and maybe a darkening of your nipples and areola. These changes are among the early signs of pregnancy.
When will I start making milk?
During pregnancy your breasts increase in size as the mammary glands grow to support milk production. Sometime during the second trimester your body is ready to produce milk. You might notice a little milk leaking from your breasts in the final weeks of pregnancy.
Once your baby is born and you pass the placenta, your body releases the hormone prolactin. This tells your body to produce milk.
“You can start to feed your baby immediately after birth as soon as you’re both ready.”
Skin-to-skin contact can help to stimulate your milk flow and your baby’s natural feeding responses.
Benefits of breastfeeding
It’s never too early to start thinking about how you’re going to feed your baby. But you do not have to make up your mind until your baby is born.
Some of the benefits of breastfeeding are:
- your breast milk meets all of your baby’s nutritional needs
- breast milk protects your baby from infections and diseases
- breastfeeding provides health benefits for you
- breast milk is available for your baby whenever your baby needs it
breastfeeding can build a strong emotional bond between you and your baby
Formula milk does not provide the same protection from illness and does not give you any health benefits.
Mammary glands
These glands are in your breasts and produce breastmilk. Each mammary gland contains the following parts that help you to make breastmilk.
- Alveoli These are small clusters of sacs that develop when you are pregnant and produce your breastmilk. Muscles that squeeze the milk into ductules surround these sacs.
- Ductules These are small channels carrying milk from the alveoli to the milk ducts.
- Milk ducts These are the network of channels delivering milk from the alveoli and ductules to your baby. When you’re pregnant, these ducts grow larger and there will be more of them. The average breast has about nine milk ducts ready for breastfeeding.
Nottingham Walk and Talk
Gedling Country Park, Spring Lane, Nottingham, NG4 4PE
Date
Saturday 17 August 2024
Time
10:30am – 12:30pm
Nottingham Walk and Talk
Rushcliffe Country Park, Mere Way, Ruddington, NG11 6JS,
Date
Monday 19 August 2024
Time
11:00am – 12:00pm
