Reasons to breastfeed

It may seem like ages until you actually give birth, but how you will feed your baby is an important decision, which can have lifelong benefits for your health as well as your baby’s.

Breastfeeding protects your baby’s health from birth. Research also shows that the benefits can last into childhood and beyond. Breast milk builds immunity to infection, and can help prevent obesity and childhood-onset diabetes.

Breastfeeding is the healthiest option for you and your baby, and health professionals will give you information about it. If you choose not to breastfeed, formula substitutes are available. Whatever you decide, it’s important that you are prepared and feel confident about how to feed your baby.

Talking about breastfeeding

During pregnancy your midwife will discuss the health benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your baby, to make sure you have all the information you need to make your choice. Some areas run breastfeeding workshops which you can attend when you are pregnant. They give you lots of information about what breastfeeding is like and what you can expect in the early days.

Most Scottish maternity hospitals are taking part in the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Award Scheme, which means that staff are trained to give you as much support as you need to breastfeed. It can also be a good idea to chat to a friend who successfully breastfed her baby.

Health benefits

You will be told about the health benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby. This is not to press you to breastfeed, but to make sure you have all the information you need to make your choice. It can be helpful to talk to other breastfeeding mums and find out what kind of support is there for you.

Breastfed babies are less likely to have many illnesses, including:

• chest, urine, ear and gastro-intestinal infections (sickness and diarrhoea). They have better immunity and protection because of the antibodies and anti-infective properties in breast milk. Formula milk cannot copy these
• wheezing when breathing, asthma, eczema, allergies and diabetes, particularly where this runs in the family. Formula milk is made from cow’s milk which may cause some sensitive babies to develop these conditions
• high blood pressure and obesity. Many breastfed babies have better appetite control.

Breastfed babies often have improved eyesight and increased alertness because special fats found in breast milk are good for their rapidly growing brains. In addition, breast milk has special value for sick and premature babies, protecting them against infections and serious gut problems.

Breastfeeding has benefits for you too

Mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of:

• ovarian and breast cancer
• hip fracture in later life, caused by the bone disease osteoporosis.

Breastfeeding may also help you return to your pre-pregnancy weight. In pregnancy, your body lays down fat stores for breastfeeding. If you breastfeed, you use these stores, helping to avoid the long-term health risks associated with being overweight, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and heart disease.

Although it’s a natural process, you and your baby will both need to learn how to breastfeed. For some mothers it may be difficult for the first few weeks. It helps to be prepared for it and have the support of people around you, including your midwife and your family.

How your choice to breastfeed is supported

As soon as your baby is born you will start the bonding process (getting to know and love your baby) by enjoying skin-to-skin contact with her. This keeps your baby warm and calms her by stabilising her heartbeat and breathing. It also helps to stimulate your breastfeeding hormones.

Rooming in

Most maternity units in hospitals now recommend that babies stay with their mums 24 hours a day. This is called ‘rooming in’ and it helps you to get used to breastfeeding your baby as well as reducing the risk of infection. You’ll have support on hand from the staff in the maternity ward – as well as other new mums – and, of course, you’ll have the opportunity to spend time with your new baby and start bonding with her.

Help and advice

When you are in hospital – and once you are back at home – your midwife will be on hand to give you plenty of practical advice to help you to establish breastfeeding. You’ll be shown how to hold your baby (positioning) and how to encourage her to take your nipple and breast in her mouth correctly (attachment). This will help your baby to feed effectively – and also help you to avoid sore nipples or some of the other problems that new mums can experience when breastfeeding for the first time.

Early first feeds

When you start breastfeeding your baby, the first milk she gets will be colostrum. This will help her to have her first bowel movements and, as it is rich in antibodies, will also help her to fight infections.

Exclusive breastfeeding

Experts now believe that it is best to avoid bottles and teats altogether if you want to breastfeed successfully. Your midwife will be happy to discuss this with you.

Baby-led feeding

By allowing your baby to feed according to her own hunger or thirst – rather than a rigid timetable – you’ll find that you establish a good supply of milk and avoid breast engorgement.

For further information and advice please visit the section of the site about breastfeeding – or talk to your midwife to discuss your choice to breastfeed.