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Breastfeeding support across Westmorland and Furness.

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Breastfeeding support across Westmorland and Furness.

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Final 2026 Infant Feeding across WaF Support Poster

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'Biological nurturing' video (laid back position)

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'Biological nurturing' video (laid back position)

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This video clip begins with a still image for about 30 seconds. In this time you can note the reclined and fully supported position of the mother and the baby 'tummy ON mummy' working with gravity. This mother seems to be enjoying holding her sleeping baby and the initiation of breastfeeding is not hurried and set in a relaxed atmosphere.

Biological Nurturing Scenario from S Colson on Vimeo.

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Sample of Biological Nurturing - Biological Nurturing

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This video clip begins with a still image for about 30 seconds. In this time you can note the reclined and fully supported position of the mother and the baby 'tummy ON mummy' working with gravity. This mother seems to be enjoying holding her sleeping baby and the initiation of breastfeeding is not hurried and set in a relaxed atmosphere.

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'Can I see laid back breastfeeding in action?'

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'Can I see laid back breastfeeding in action?'

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Can I see Natural Breastfeeding positions in action?

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There are loads of reasons to breastfeed: baby's health, mum's health, least expensive way to feed a baby etc etc. Also, it's just what most people want to do :)

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Our work to support breastfeeding is based on extensive and resounding evidence that breastfeeding saves lives, improves health and cuts costs in every country worldwide.

Infant health: Breastfeeding protects children from a vast range of illnesses, including infection, diabetes, asthma, heart disease and obesity, as well as cot death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

Maternal health: Breastfeeding also protects mothers from breast and ovarian cancers and heart disease

Relationship-building: Breastfeeding supports the mother-baby relationship and the mental health of both baby and mother

Worldwide benefits: The benefits are seen in both high- and low-income countries, with a study published in The Lancet in 2016 finding that increasing breastfeeding rates around the world to near universal levels could prevent 823,000 annual deaths in children younger than five years and 20,000 annual maternal deaths from breast cancer

Cost savings: Breastfeeding contributes to significant savings to the NHS, with initial investments paying off within just a few years. A NICE costing report estimates that Baby Friendly accreditation will start to save a facility money after three years, owing to a reduction in the incidence of certain childhood illnesses. Baby Friendly's report Preventing disease and saving resources found that moderate increases in breastfeeding would translate into cost savings for the NHS of many millions of pounds, and tens of thousands of fewer hospital admissions and GP consultations. In addition, Baby Friendly's staged approach to assessment and accreditation allows facilities to spread costs and enables better financial planning.

Key sources of breastfeeding research

Lancet breastfeeding series: Confirms the benefits of breastfeeding for children and mothers, regardless of whether they live in high- or low-income nations, and that countries are not doing enough to support breastfeeding

Acta Paediatrica special issue on breastfeeding: Finds that the health benefits of breastfeeding are substantial, lasting well beyond the period of breastfeeding and affecting high- and low-income populations alike, whilst also demonstrating that the Baby Friendly Initiative is highly effective in improving breastfeeding rates

Evidence and rationale for the Baby Friendly standards

Preventing disease and saving resources: Looks at the potential health and cost contributions of increasing breastfeeding rates in the UK.

Find our more in our research section.

Breastfeeding is a natural 'safety net' against the worst effects of poverty ... Exclusive breastfeeding goes a long way toward cancelling out the health difference between being born into poverty and being born into affluence ... It is almost as if breastfeeding takes the infant out of poverty for those first few months in order to give the child a fairer start in life and compensate for the injustice of the world into which it was born.

James P. Grant, Executive Director of UNICEF (1980-1995)

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The benefits of breastfeeding - Baby Friendly Initiative

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Learn more about Baby Friendly's work to support breastfeeding in order to save lives, improve health and cut costs worldwide.

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Isn't breastfeeding amazing! It's so powerful, for the baby and also for you.

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TOP 2 MIN FILM TO WATCH:  Breastfeeding is More Than Milk

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TOP 2 MIN FILM TO WATCH:  Breastfeeding is More Than Milk

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If you only have 2 mins to watch before your baby is due, use it to watch this film :)

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South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support's private online forum for local mums-to-be and mums

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South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support's private online forum for local mums-to-be and mums

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Please make sure you answer all the joining questions when you request to join. The questions are there to keep everyone safe. See you in there!

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SCBS In It Together is a private group for mums-to-be and mums in Cumbria (and N Lancs). The group enables mums to connect with each other, and also to receive skilled help and support from an IBCLC...

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This little film explains how your body makes milk. Cool hormones and cuddles combine to make a great milk supply.

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See a newborn baby wriggling his way to the breast for his first feed. Beautiful!

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Expressing colostrum while you're pregnant

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Expressing colostrum while you're pregnant

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Collecting small quantities of colostrum while you're pregnant can be helpful for some people. This article tells you all about why and how to do it.

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Small volumes of colostrum (the first breast milk) are usually enough for most newborn babies until their mothers’ milk arrives

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How to get breastfeeding off to a smooth start, by using your baby's inbuilt reflexes.

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Within the first few hours after birth, most healthy newborns will instinctively move to their mother's breast and attach on their own. This video shows early breastfeeding initiation through the journeys of 3 newborns and ways to ensure the success of this vital practice for any new mother and baby.

Join the Conversation

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Breastfeeding in the First Hours - Video - Global Health Media Project

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Within the first few hours after birth, most healthy newborns will instinctively move to their mother's breast and attach on their own. This video shows early

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ABM Antenatal Breastfeeding Course (free, online)

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ABM Antenatal Breastfeeding Course (free, online)

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This course is by the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. It's designed to help you, and your nearest and dearest, to learn how breastfeeding works, before your baby arrives. It's free, online, and you work through it in your own time.

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It doesn't just take the parent who has the breasts to make breastfeeding work, it takes a team and you can make all the difference! It's about knowing how breastfeeding happens, knowing how newborns behave, accessing qualified support when things are challenging, providing encouragement and emotional support - and practical support around the home too.

This FREE course is aimed at,

Expectant couples

grannies and grandads

sisters and the brothers

aunties and the uncles

friends and supporters

The course is broken down in to 5 sections which include articles and videos to empower you to become informed and confident.

1. The decision to breastfeed

2. How breastfeeding works

3. How newborns behave

4. What challenges can arise

5. Where to get help

At the end of each section, you'll also find a 'partner challenge' - an activity you can do with your partner. It can take a few minutes in the car on the way to the supermarket, or however long you like. You can do them at any point in the course or afterwards!

Please note this course is compatible only on Edge, Chrome and Safari Browsers.

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A free online short course to empower you to become informed and confident around the topic of breastfeeding

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This film shows the 9 instinctive stages that babies go through if they're given uninterrupted skin to skin contact after birth. These steps allow a baby to find their way to the breast and have their first feed. Ignore the bit about the hat - it's not necessary at all, and babies' heads smell AMAZING!

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Yes, you can! And there's loads of support to help you to do it.

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Here at Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets UK we will answer all of these questions and more. We will try to put your mind at rest whilst being honest about journey on which you are about to embark. Breastfeeding more than one baby is challenging, but it is definitely possible and a lot of mums go on to have a really enjoyable experience.

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Fab app, packed with info, including animations showing how to latch a baby on, in all kinds of positions.

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Using smart technology, we provide parents and parents-to-be with vital support on their breastfeeding and parenting journey, anytime, anywhere.

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You can nurse your baby in any position you like! If it's comfortable for you, and effective for baby, then you're good to go. Here are a few examples that you might like to try.

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The way a mother holds her baby affects how easy it is for her baby to feed effectively. This video shows basic points important for any position and then demonstrates several common positions that have worked well for many mothers and babies.

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Positions for Breastfeeding - Video - Global Health Media Project

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The way a mother holds her baby affects how easy it is for her baby to feed effectively. This video shows basic points important for any position and then demonstrates several common positions that have worked well for many mothers and babies.

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This is a very common concern for new families. You can't 'see' how much milk is going in, after all. But if you know what to look for, it's possible to be confident that your baby is getting enough milk.

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Is my baby getting enough milk? We can't see how much breast milk has been taken but there are several ways to find out if your baby is getting enough.

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Our drop-in groups for pregnancy onwards

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Our drop-in groups for pregnancy onwards

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Loads of info, help and support at South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support's in-person drop-ins. We also have a weekly, live, online drop-in, for members of our closed group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/233370164464923

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South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support (Instagram Post (Square))

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Having your baby latched on deeply and comfortably is key to a happy breastfeeding journey.

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Good attachment will help a baby get more milk and make breastfeeding more comfortable. This video shows why good attachment is so important to breastfeeding success and what a mother can do to deeply attach her baby to her breast.

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Attaching Your Baby at the Breast - Video - Global Health Media Project

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Good attachment will help a baby get more milk and make breastfeeding more comfortable. This video shows why good attachment is so important to breastfeeding

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Signs of effective feeding in the early days

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Signs of effective feeding in the early days

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If you know what you're looking for, it's easy to tell if your newborn is getting enough milk. The clue is in the poo......

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Signs of effective feeding in the early days - La Leche League GB

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Most babies are keen to feed in the first 90 minutes after they are born especially if they are in skin-to-skin contact with their mum. If your baby is too sleepy to take this first feed or needs medical attention, it’s a good idea to ask your healthcare team to show you how to hand […]

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The first hour or two after birth are a really important time for a baby and their mother. Uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact allows a baby to go through 9 instinctive stages, which happen in the same order for all babies. These stages lead to the baby starting to breastfeed :)

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Healthy Children Project
159 Long Pond Drive
Harwich, MA 02645
Ph: 508.888.8044
Fax: 508.888.8050

The First Hour After Birth: A Baby's 9 Instinctive Stages

The first hours after birth are a developmentally distinct time for a baby and there are well documented short and long term physical and psychological advantages when a baby is held skin to skin during this time.

When a baby is in skin to skin contact after birth there are nine observable newborn stages, happening in a specific order, that are innate and instinctive for the baby. Within each of these stages, there are a variety of actions the baby may demonstrate.

Stage 1: The Birth Cry
The first stage is the birth cry. This distinctive cry occurs immediately after birth as the baby's lungs expand.

Stage 2: Relaxation
The second stage is the relaxation stage. During the relaxation stage, the newborn exhibits no mouth movements and the hands are relaxed. This stage usually begins when the birth cry has stopped. The baby is skin to skin with the mother and covered with a warm, dry towel or blanket.
Stage 3: Awakening The third stage is the awakening stage. During this stage the newborn exhibits small thrusts of movement in the head and shoulders. This stage usually begins about 3 minutes after birth. The newborn in the awakening stage may exhibit head movements, open his eyes, show some mouth activity and might move his shoulders.

Stage 4: Activity
The fourth stage is the activity stage. During this stage, the newborn begins to make increased mouthing and sucking movements as the rooting reflex becomes more obvious. This stage usually begins about 8 minutes after birth.

Stage 5: Rest
At any point, the baby may rest. The baby may have periods of resting between periods of activity throughout the first hour or so after birth.

Stage 6: Crawling
The sixth stage is the crawling stage. The baby approaches the breast during this stage with short periods of action that result in reaching the breast and nipple. This stage usually begins about 35 minutes after birth.

Stage 7: Familiarization
The seventh stage is called familiarization. During this stage, the newborn becomes acquainted with the mother by licking the nipple and touching and massaging her breast. This stage usually begins around 45 minutes after birth and could last for 20 minutes or more.

Stage 8: Suckling
The eighth stage is suckling. During this stage, the newborn takes the nipple, self attaches and suckles. This early experience of learning to breastfeed usually begins about an hour after birth. If the mother has had analgesia/anesthesia during labor, it may take more time with skin to skin for the baby to complete the stages and begin suckling.

Stage 9: Sleep
The final stage is sleep. The baby and sometimes the mother fall into a restful sleep. Babies usually fall asleep about 1½ to 2 hours after birth.

Benefits for Babies:
Regardless of how you are feeding your baby, your baby can benefit from skin to skin contact.

Babies are warmer.

Babies are calmer.

Babies can hear their mother's heartbeat.

Heart and breathing rates are normalized.

Milk supply may be improved.

Other family members can hold and bond with babies through skin to skin holding too!

What To Do in the First Hour with Mother

You and your baby are covered with a blanket. The baby's head stays out. The baby is naked and not wrapped. You and your baby will rest skin to skin for an hour or two after birth. This is a special time for you and your baby. Necessary procedures and checks are done with the mother and baby skin to skin.

If there are medical reasons that keep you and your baby from skin to skin holding right after birth, start as soon as possible.

If you are on medications or anything that might impair your strength or ability to stay awake when holding the baby, be sure someone else can help you care for the baby and hold the baby skin to skin.

Kajsa Brimdyr, PhD, CLC
Healthy Children Project
159 Long Pond Drive
Harwich, MA 02645, (508) 888 8044

© Health Education Associates, Inc. Based on the research of Widström, et al.

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Healthy Children Project 159 Long Pond Drive Harwich, MA 02645 Ph: 508.888.8044 Fax: 508.888.8050 The First Hour After Birth: A Baby's 9 Instinctive Stages The first hours after birth are a developmentally distinct time for a baby and there are well documented short and long term physical and psychological advantages when a baby is held skin to skin during this time.