How to breastfeed

The beauty of breast milk

• provides nutrition for optimum growth and development

• provides protection against a range of infections, such as chest, middle ear or gastrointestinal infections

• reduces risk and severity of allergies e.g. asthma, eczema

• protects against diseases in adulthood such as Diabetes Types I and II and childhood cancers such as lymphoma.

• assist your uterus to return to normal size after birth

• reduce the risk of premenopausal breast cancer

• delay ovulation if your baby is exclusively breastfed.

How to breastfeed

• make sure you are sitting comfortably and you are well supported

• hold your baby close to you, facing your chest

• position your baby on his side with his nose opposite your nipple

• support your breast from underneath

• position your fingers well back from the areola/nipple so your baby is able to take a big mouthful of breast tissue

• touch your baby’s lips with your nipple to encourage your baby to open his mouth wide

• make sure your baby's mouth is very wide (like yawning), bring your baby quickly to the breast, chin first

• attach so your baby's bottom lip is well down over the areola, 'off centre'

• continue to support your breast until your baby is sucking and swallowing in a deep rhythmic pattern

• if you experience pain once your baby has commenced swallowing take your baby off and re-attach

• remember to insert a clean finger between the baby’s gums to break the seal when taking your baby off the breast.

How often does baby need to feed?

• your baby is settled after most feeds
• your baby is alert, active and content when awake
• your baby has at least six soaked cloth nappies in 24 hours after your milk 'comes in'; disposable nappies should be heavy and spongy
• your baby has at least one yellow, loose bowel action every day after initial meconium (first bowel action) is passed.

• after some initial short frequent sucks to stimulate milk flow, your baby begins to swallow. Sucking becomes slower, deeper and more rhythmic with rest periods between each sucking burst. As the feed progresses the sucking bursts become shorter and the rest periods longer
  
• you can hear or see your baby swallowing.

• restrict suckling time at the breast
• give infant formula to your baby without medical advice
• use dummies in the early weeks.

Where to get more information

Related fact sheets

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