Home > Natural Feeding > Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding

One of the greatest moments for a new mum is the first sight of her baby, and the first time he sucks when placed on the breast. Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed your baby, and involves much more than just providing milk to your baby. Your baby will enjoy the warmth of your body, hearing your heartbeat and recognising your smell from when being in the womb. By breastfeeding him you would establish a close relationship with your baby, building emotional bonds between you two. Nursing will be comforting and loving experience for both your baby and yourself. Just imagine his eyes, full of love, gazing upon your face while sucking.

Before birth, lots of women worry if they will be able to breastfeed their baby. But, with little help from midwifes and other health professionals, breastfeeding can be satisfying and enjoyable for both mother and baby. Mother Nature has designed our bodies to nurture our babies before and after birth. Being confident you can nurse your newborn is the half way to successful breastfeeding. Simply trust you can do it!

Benefits of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is natural – what could be better than that!
It gives babies all the nutrients they need for the first six months of their life and helps protect them from infection and diseases. Among these are:
allergies eczema
asthma
ear infections
gastro-intestinal infections
chest and respiratory infections
urine track infections
It reduces mother’s chances of getting certain diseases later in life as ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or weak bones. It also helps the mother naturally to return to her pre-pregnancy figure faster.
Breastfeeding promotes better bonding between mother and child. It establishes a close emotional and physical relationship between mother and baby, building a stronger bond between you two.
It’s more convenient and hygienic! – Whenever you need to feed your baby simply put him on the breast, and you do not have to worry about washing and sterilising bottles, and preparing the formula.
It is waste free, which means it’s earth-friendly, too.
Breastmilk has the ideal balance of nutrients. It contains ingredients, such as immunoglobulins and natural probiotics, which no other milk or formula could provide.
Breastmilk is the most digestible and will naturally protect the infant’s undeveloped gut.
It exposes your baby to new tastes. The breastmilk taste varies depending on what you eat. This may be helpful with weaning.
It sets the foundation for good health for the infant later in life. Breastfeeding exclusively for six month helps protect your baby from allergies, food obesity, and high blood pressure later in his life.
Did you know breastfeeding make your child more intelligent? Several studies have found that babies who were breastfed for more than three months have a higher IQ than those who were not.
It's environmentally friendly
It’s free

Today’s recommendations are for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of live, but the longer you breastfeed, the better the benefits.

Tips for successful breastfeeding

Make sure your baby is properly attached to the breast. A proper attachment will provide a good supply of milk and your baby will get a feed he needs. It will also help stop your breasts getting sore.

Try not to give your baby formula milk or water
The more you feed your baby, the more milk you will produce. Giving your baby formula milk or water will reduce your milk supply.

Relax Babies can sense your emotions and will naturally pick them up. So if you experience fear or anxiety, so will your baby. By relaxing before breastfeeding you will provide an enjoyable experience for both of you, so the baby will feed well.How to breastfeed

Choose a comfortable position
There are lots of different positions for breastfeeding. You just need to check some of them and pick up the best ones for your and your baby. Baby's head and body need to be in a straight line in order for your baby to swallow comfortably.

Always support his back, shoulders and neck. He should be able to tilt his head back easily, and trying to reach out to feed.

Place your baby's nose opposite your nipple. This will allow him to reach up and attach to the breast well.

Hold your baby close to you, with his nose level with the nipple.

Wait until your baby opens his mouth really wide with the tongue down. Then quickly bring your baby closer to your breast.

Your baby's chin needs to be touching your breast. He should take a large mouthful of breast then.

Signs that your baby is feeding well

Your baby's chin is touching your breast and as a large mouthful of breast.
It doesn't hurt you to feed. Your breasts and nipples should not be sore.
You should see more dark skin above your baby's top lip than below their bottom lip.
Your baby rhythmically takes long sucks and swallows. Well, he may pause sometimes, which is normal.
Your baby comes off the breast on his own.
He is healthy and gaining weight after the first two weeks.
After the first few days, your baby should have at least six wet nappies a day, and passes at least two yellow stools every day.

And don’t forget – the breastfeeding may be difficult at the beginning, but you can always seek help from health professionals, close relatives, as your mother. If you are feeding on demand, the first few weeks and month could be very exhausting. But if you feel tired and anxious, the chances of not producing enough breastmilk increase. Your partner could also help by taking the pressure of you and help you with the baby care, nappy changing and crying episodes during the night, and by giving you a nice and relaxing massage.

Bottle feeding
Only a few mothers are not able to breastfeed by special reasons. If you are one of them, or if you have chosen not to breastfeed by any other reason, you should not feel guilty... Read more

Weaning
The UK Department of Health recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months, as milk provides all the nutrients your baby needs during this early stage. All babies are different, and so do their needs... Read more

Feeding toddlers
Toddlers have small stomach. Three meals a day and two snacks between meals would be the optimum feed. But, as we all do, sometimes they may not be hungry at lunchtime... Read more

Picky eaters
I’ll tell you something – feeding toddlers can be challenging. Well, you already know that, right? Imagine that you’ve put all your efforts to prepare the best dinner for your child and she... Read more

Why go organic
Buying organic food is the only way to reduce the chemicals your baby is exposed to. Choose… Read more

How dangerous are the E numbers
There are a few types of additives that you are most likely to see on food labels, marked as either their exact name, or with E followed by number... Read more

Check out our sample menus for all stages, nutrition guide and healthy recipes.