Infant feeding

Breast milk provides all the nutrients your baby needs for healthy development in the first stages of life, and also gives both short and long-term health advantages.

Benefits of breastfeeding for babies

It is recommended that you breastfeed for the first six months of you baby's life as it provides all the nutrients a baby needs. After this, you can still continue to breastfeed with other food and drinks for as long as you and your baby like.

Breast milk is best for your baby because:

breast milk is natural - it's the food specifically designed for your baby
breast milk changes as your baby grows so they get exactly what they need
breastfeeding helps protect your baby from infections
it helps to avoid constipation in your baby
breastfed babies are less likely to get allergies like eczema
it contains growth factors and hormones that help your baby develop
breastfed babies are less likely to become obese in later childhood

Benefits of breastfeeding for mothers

Breastfeeding is best for mothers because:

it is free
there is no need to sterilise bottles, prepare feeds or keep your baby waiting
you can do it anytime, anyplace, anywhere
it's a lot easier than bottle-feeding, especially in the middle of the night
your womb will return to normal size more quickly
you will use up more calories
breastfeeding reduces the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer

If you have breastfeeding problems

Breastfeeding is the healthiest option for you and your baby but it is a skill and all new skills need practice. With good information and support and if you are confident about breastfeeding, you should be able to overcome any problems that might arise. If you have specific concerns, your midwife or health visitor should be able to help, or you could contact a breastfeeding counsellor or local support group.

You may wish to express breast milk. You can do this by hand or using a breast pump. If you know you are HIV positive, you should not breastfeed or give your baby your expressed breast milk.

Bottle-feeding

For some mothers, breastfeeding just doesn't work out. If this is the case for you, you may choose to bottle feed your baby with infant formula.

If you are bottle feeding your baby, it is important to follow the instructions on sterilising your equipment and making up a feed. Infant formula milk powder is not sterile. Even though tins and packets are sealed, formula can contain bacteria which can cause serious illness, particularly in vulnerable babies.

Bottle-feeding may seem like hard work at first, but if you get into a routine you'll be able to relax and enjoy feeding. One advantage of bottle-feeding is that fathers and carers can feed your baby and give you a break. You can use formula or express breast milk for your baby to have. You can also use a combination of both expressed breast milk and formula. All of these options would give the nutrition your baby needs.

Remember:

make sure all your equipment is properly sterilised- you can make your baby ill if the bottle is dirty
always follow the instructions on the formula packet
make up one feed at a time as required and throw away any leftover milk
always check the temperature of the milk before feeding milk to your baby - you may scald your baby's mouth

Soya formula

Soya formula should only be given to babies who are allergic to cow's milk and only under your doctor's advice. Other milk such as goats’ milk or milks based on rice or oats should not be used to feed your baby.