a skill that can be learned…
Breastfeeding
The vast majority of women
who have a baby in the UK
start breastfeeding – 83%
at the last count. National
surveys show that women,
who get good help and support
in pregnancy and in the early
days and weeks after the
birth, are more likely to carry
on breastfeeding for as long
as they want to. It comes as a
surprise to many women that
breastfeeding, whilst natural, is
not instinctive – it is a skill that
has to be learned.
Now you are home, the earlier
you get breastfeeding going
smoothly, the more likely you
are to be able to continue for as
long as you want.
• Use the ‘What’s in a nappy?’
sheet that you were given
to check that your baby is
getting enough milk
• Use the back of the orange
booklet ‘Successful
Breastfeeding’ that you were
given by your midwife, as a
troubleshooting guide
• Contact your midwife or
health visitor if you have any
concerns; don’t wait for your
next scheduled visit
• Use the contacts and source
of help you identified before
the birth to support you,
particularly while you are
still in the ‘learning phase’.
Bottle feeding
If you do not plan to
breastfeed or decide to switch
over to bottle feeding, you will
need to know what sort of
milk to give your baby, how to
prepare it and how to feed it.
First milk is the only food
your baby needs for the first six
months. After six months you
can continue to give first milk as
you start to introduce solid food.
When your baby is one year
old, you can start to give
ordinary (full-fat) cow’s milk. If
you chose to use other types of
milk, read the label carefully to
make sure they are suitable for
the age of your baby.
For further information and
for guidance on how to bottle
feed read: ‘A guide to infant
formula for parents who are
bottle feeding’. If you are bottle
feeding you should be shown
how to sterilise equipment,
make up and give a feed before
you leave hospital.
If you haven’t been shown –
ask. Even if you think you know,
check with a midwife or health
visitor as some advice may
have changed. You can also
watch the DVD ‘Guide to Bottle
Feeding’.
When to wean?
We now know that a baby’s
digestive system is not really
ready for foods other that milk
until about six months of age.
Your baby will let you know
when this is. Babies who are
ready for solid foods can:
• Stay in a sitting position and
hold their head steady
ts
fle
lea e y
d ar sit
an icle iver t
g
Ds art Un e a din
DV e rd sit ee
s, n th xfo eb ntf
ide o i O t w fa
gu d t the rus /in
he re n T k
l t fer o ls .u
Al re able pita nhs
.
ail os h
av H .ou
w
w
w
17
• Co-ordinate
their eyes, hands
and mouth and
look at food. They
can pick up finger
food and put it in their
mouth all by themselves
• Swallow food. Babies who are
not ready will push their food
back out, so they get more
round their face than they do
in their mouths.
It is rare for all these signs
to appear together before six
months.
Waiting till your baby is ready
will save you a lot of time too,
as they will very quickly be
able to feed themselves and
with less mess than spoon fed
purees. There is now some
evidence those babies weaned
through the baby-led approach
are less likely to be overweight.
You can offer your baby finger
foods such as: bits of banana,
soft cooked broccoli and other
veg, cooked pasta, slices
of soft fruit etc. For further
information you can read
the ‘Introducing Solid Foods’
leaflet. You still need to give the
first milk that you have been
using, alongside other foods,
until your baby is one year old.
sources of help
NCT (National Childbirth Trust) tel: 0870 444 8708
ABM (Association of Breastfeeding Mothers) tel: 0870 401 7711
BfN (Breastfeeding Network) tel: 0300 100 0210
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk
LLL (La Leche League) tel: 0845 120 2918. The national number
will connect you to your nearest local breastfeeding counsellor.
There is also a Department of Health funded national helpline
number 0300 100 0212.
To find local sources of help, including your local Baby Café:
www.ouh.nhs.uk/infantfeeding