# data[].attributes.body
The importance of Skin to Skin and how to do this safely

# data[].attributes.body
The Infant Feeding Team run free 2 hour sessions - you are welcome to bring a partner, friend or family member with you.

# data[].attributes.body
Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby. If you decide not to breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding, it is possible to restart. Giving infant formula to a breastfed baby will reduce your milk supply.

# data[].attributes.body
Find an antenatal breastfeeding workshop

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What’s on for expectant parents – Bolton Council

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Antenatal appointments, birth registration, support for mums and dads to be

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Skin-to-skin contact - Baby Friendly Initiative

# data[].attributes.body
Whether you intend to breast or bottle feed, skin to skin benefits all babies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Skin-to-skin contact - Baby Friendly Initiative

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Skin-to-skin contact is important for babies and mothers to develop close, loving parent-infant relationships and to initiate breastfeeding.

# data[].attributes.body
Some good reasons to breastfeed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
About breastmilk and breastfeeding | NCT

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Breastfeeding is the way mammals, including humans, have evolved to feed and bond with their babies. However, learning how to do it can feel tricky in the early days. Read our article on how breastfeeding works, and how to cope with common problems.

# data[].attributes.body
Learn about the unique make-up of your breastmilk and how it benefits your baby and you

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Breastmilk has everything a growing baby needs in exactly the right amounts and is easy to digest. Research shows that a baby who is not breastfed is more likely to suffer from health problems, both as a child and throughout adulthood.

Can anyone breastfeed?

Breastfeeding is the normal, natural way to feed and care for a baby and babies are born expecting to breastfeed. Women all over the world, regardless of their diet, produce the right type and amount of milk to nourish their growing babies, whether it's one or more!

Women who are not able to exclusively breastfeed can choose to partially breastfeed, using supplements as needed so their baby still benefits from breastmilk. For those facing breastfeeding challenges, skilled help is available from LLL Leaders.

Breastmilk contains:

Stem cells which are used by the baby. Stem cells create and repair the body, and they are a key part of treatments for many illnesses and diseases. [1]

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) - sugars which are indigestible to the baby but feed friendly bacteria lactobacilli and bifidobacteria (among others). These are crucial to the development of a healthy gut microbiome, which kickstarts the immune system, promotes good digestion, and reduces the growth of unfriendly bacteria. An imbalanced microbiome could affect lifetime health and increase the risk of all non-infectious diseases. [2]

Antibodies which are specifically tailored to bacteria and viruses found in your environment. Just 20 mins after being exposed to an infectious agent a mother is producing the right antibody in her milk. [1, 3]

Immune cells, cytokines and antimicrobial factors which all help support the baby while his immune system is still developing (approx. 6 yrs). [2]

Oxytocin - a hormone which reduces stress and promotes feelings of well-being in mum and baby. [1]

Alpha-lactalbumin - a protein with pain relief properties. [1]

Extra melatonin at night which helps mum and baby go back to sleep quickly. [4]

Healthier for life

Studies show your baby will be healthier throughout their life if they are breastfed. Infant formula increases a child's risk of:

SIDS, Cancer, Obesity, Diabetes, and Allergies. [5]

In addition to an increased risk of:

Asthma, Autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis and coeliac disease, Cardiovascular disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Dental caries, Diarrhoea, Ear infections, Epilepsy, Gastroenteritis, High blood pressure and high cholesterol, Hypersensitivity and inflammation, Liver disease, Mental health issues, Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), Respiratory infections including bronchiolitis, and Urinary tract infections. [5, 6]

Babies have tiny tummies and breastmilk is digested quickly so a newborn baby breastfeeds at least 8-12 times in a 24 hour period. The first time a newborn baby feeds he only takes about a teaspoon of milk (colostrum) but this provides his first immunity boost and lines and protects his intestines.

Infant Formula:

Is a breastmilk substitute

Infant formula is a highly processed food: a base of cow's milk, goat's milk or soy, with vegetable oils and other additives. Breastmilk is a complete and perfect food for your baby - nature has been refining your breastmilk for hundreds of millions of years. [1]

Can never accurately replicate human milk

Breastmilk is a living tissue, just like blood. It changes throughout feeds and from feed to feed to match your baby's needs. We can't accurately synthesise artificial breastmilk. Many breastmilk components have unique structures that can't be made in a factory.

Cow's milk for calves, breastmilk for human babies

Cow's milk is designed to help calves grow fast and put on lots of muscle. Human breastmilk builds intelligent human brains with gradual physical growth.

Reasons to breastfeed

Good for Mum

Breastfeeding:

Helps the uterus return to normal size after giving birth.

Is the natural way to be close to your baby and encourages a strong mother-baby bond. The mothering hormones prolactin and oxytocin help you care for your baby by lowering your blood pressure and helping you to relax physically.

Aids in natural child spacing by delaying the return of periods.

Breastfeeding reduces your risk of: [5]

Breast and ovarian cancer;

High blood pressure and diabetes;

Cardiovascular disease;

Autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis;

Stroke;

Endometriosis and endometrial cancer;

Osteoporosis.

Nice for dads and partners

Breastfeeding is free; no need for tins of formula, bottles or sterilising equipment.

Your breastfed baby is likely to stay healthier, so fewer trips to the doctor or hospital.

Nice smells! A breastfed baby's nappy hardly smells.

No need to prepare bottles over night.

While mum is breastfeeding you can bond with your baby in other fun ways: cuddles, baths, nappy changes, walks, playtimes and carrying your baby in a sling.

Perfect for baby

Breastmilk is important for brain and nervous system development. [5]

Breastmilk kills cancer cells in the lab. [1]

Breastfeeding has been shown as effective pain relief during painful procedures. [5]

Breastfeeding is convenient

Breastmilk is always ready at the right temperature - anytime, any place, anywhere. Your baby can feed whenever he's hungry and get just what he needs. No sterilising, no making up bottles, no washing up! Keeping your baby close at night makes night-feeding easier too.

Breastfeeding is eco-friendly

Breastmilk is the most environmentally friendly baby food imaginable! Bottle feeding produces pollution and waste disposal problems due to the manufacture, packaging, transport and preparation of the formula and bottles.

Position is important

Getting a baby positioned and latched on comfortably at the breast is the key to enjoyable feeds and making enough milk. Breastfeeding is normal and natural, but it's an art that can take both mum and baby a bit of time and practice to learn. One of the best ways to find out about breastfeeding is to watch and learn from other breastfeeding mothers.

You can breastfeed anywhere

Babies often want to breastfeed when people around them are eating and drinking - and why not? Breastfeeding mothers are protected under UK equality law. Some women may feel unsure about breastfeeding in front of others initially, but soon become more confident. If you wish, it's very easy to be discreet while breastfeeding - there are lots of clothes designed especially for breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding doesn't ruin your figure

A woman's body changes naturally during pregnancy. The shape of her breasts change regardless of whether she breastfeeds or not. Breastfeeding helps mums lose weight quickly after the birth.

Breastfeeding can carry on...

Breastmilk is still a nutritious food as your baby grows into toddlerhood. Mum and baby can continue breastfeeding for as long as they want.
Revised and updated by Bronwyn Davies 2019. Adapted from an original version written by Philippa Pearson-Glaze and mothers of La Leche League.
Further Information
Positioning & attachment Comfortable Breastfeeding
Safer Sleep and The Breastfed Baby
Supporting a Breastfeeding Mother
Birth and breastfeeding
Diabetes and breastfeeding
Smoking and breastfeeding

Books
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. LLLI. London: Pinter & Martin, 2010.
Mother-Baby Experiences of Nurturing, Colson, S. 2000.
References

1. https://www.human-milk.com/science.html

2. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/8/1038/htm

3. Wendy Jones, BSc, MSc, PhD, MRPharmS, Breastfeeding Network

4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501863/

5. https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/news-and-research/baby-friendly-research/

6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8275215

Copyright LLLGB 2019

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Breastmilk has everything a growing baby needs in exactly the right amounts and is easy to digest. Research shows that a baby who is not breastfed is more likely to suffer from health problems, both as a child and throughout adulthood. Can anyone breastfeed? Breastfeeding is the normal, natural way to feed and care [...]

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Drugs Factsheets - The Breastfeeding Network

# data[].attributes.body
Breastfeeding is still possible when you are taking most medications. Use these factsheets to read about common medicines and whether they are safe with breastfeeding

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Drugs in Breastmilk factsheets - The Breastfeeding Network

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
These factsheets have been compiled by our Drugs in Breastmilk information service team of pharmacists. If you are unable to find the information you are looking for below, or you still have questions, you can contact the team by sending a private message via our Facebook page or via email. Please provide as much information as possible (age […]

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
How milk production works - La Leche League GB

# data[].attributes.body
Read about how your body produces milk for your baby, and how you can build a good milk supply

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Mothers have successfully fed their children for thousands of years of human history without understanding how it works. It's a bit like driving a car - as long as it's working well, you don't need to know what is going on under the bonnet!

If you are having breastfeeding problems, such as low milk supply or too much milk, or are wondering why your baby's feeding pattern is different from what you expected, it can help to understand more about the science of lactation (producing milk).

Most of the research that has ever been done on breastfeeding and human milk has been done in the last few years. It is a very exciting time for lactation science. Lots of things that experienced mothers have always known turn out to have a clear basis in the anatomy of the breast and the science of milk production, for example:

Each baby and mother pair is different

Healthy babies are the best judges of when and how to feed

The way to make more milk is to remove more milk

Getting ready - the developing breast

Breast development starts around the age of 10-12 years. From puberty, the breast grows a little with each menstrual cycle. Inside the breast, the branches and buds that will become milk ducts and alveoli (milk storage sacs) start to develop. Radiation or trauma to the chest at this stage can have an impact on later breast development.

Lactation begins - pregnancy

For many women, tender breasts are an early sign of pregnancy. The breast completes its development during pregnancy, and milk production begins in the middle trimester. If a pregnancy ends after 15-16 weeks, colostrum (early milk) will be present. Some women choose to express colostrum in the last few weeks of pregnancy. This is recommended for women with diabetes, whose milk may be a bit slower to increase and whose babies may have low blood sugar after birth. Colostrum expressed before birth can be stored, to be given to the baby if they need extra milk. Mothers with high-risk pregnancies, or who are concerned about having enough milk, may also choose to express colostrum in the last weeks of pregnancy. It is usually recommended not to start before 36 weeks, unless premature birth is imminent. The amount of colostrum you can express before birth does not predict your ability to make enough milk afterwards.

After birth (day 1-3)- lactation takes off!

During pregnancy, milk production is held in check by the hormone progesterone, produced by the placenta. Once the baby is born and the placenta is delivered, levels of progesterone drop rapidly; this, coupled with high levels of prolactin, allows lactation to begin fully.

Retained placental fragments can reduce or even stop milk production. If you have unexplained low milk production and are still bleeding heavily or irregularly after you would expect to have stopped, check with your midwifery team or doctor. Removal of the last fragments of placenta will usually allow milk production to resume normally.

Mothers typically start to notice the signs of " onset of copious milk production " (also known as milk "coming in") two or three days after birth. For a day or two you might experience:

The discomfort you feel is primarily due to tissue swelling, in response to the sudden increase in milk volumes. Don't panic - your breasts won't feel like this for long! As your breasts adjust to making the amount of milk your baby needs, the swelling will settle down. If feeding your baby or expressing milk doesn't quickly help you feel more comfortable, there are other steps you can take to deal with engorgement.

Onset of copious milk production can happen a bit more slowly:

For first-time mothers

After a more difficult birth

You may have read that being overweight or obese (having a higher BMI, especially over 30) can lead to breastfeeding problems. It is not clear whether having a higher BMI, by itself, is a problem for breastfeeding and many women with high BMI breastfeed easily. We do know that some conditions associated with higher BMI, such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome, may delay your milk "coming in" (increasing in volume) in the early days after birth. This can make breastfeeding more challenging.

To make milk, remove milk (day 3-4 onwards)

Until day 3-4, milk production is controlled entirely by hormones and will happen automatically, whether or not you go on to breastfeed. After day 3-4, another mechanism comes into play. Milk will only continue to be made if milk is removed from the breasts. The more milk that is removed, the more milk will be made. This enables your body to adapt to the number of babies you have. With enough milk removal, it is possible to exclusively breastfeed twins or triplets! If you do not breastfeed or express milk at all, your milk production will shut down within about two weeks after birth.

Remove milk early

The amount of milk that is removed in the period immediately after birth is important for later milk production. Research on lactation after premature birth has shown that starting to express milk within an hour of birth, compared with starting at six hours, is associated with more milk six weeks later.

If your baby has any risk factors for not being able to feed effectively at first, such as being:

then early, frequent milk expression will help to ensure plenty of milk to meet their needs, now and later. You can see a useful video about this here:

Parents who have risk factors for low milk supply can give their milk production the best possible start by removing milk early and frequently after birth.

Risk factors include:

Previous history of low milk production

Previous breast radiation or surgery

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Thyroid problems (hypo- or hyper-)

A history of infertility with hormonal cause

Unevenly sized, widely spaced breasts, with little or no changes during or after pregnancy

Obesity (BMI over 30)

People with these risk factors may be able to make a full or partial milk supply - you never know what you can do until you try! If you are not producing all the milk your baby needs, you can still enjoy a close, happy feeding relationship with your baby. You can read more about how to use donor breastmilk or formula milk to support breastfeeding here.

Some mothers who need to supplement their own supply with donor milk or formula milk in the early months are able to reduce or eliminate the supplementary milk after their baby starts complementary foods, at around six months, going on to happily breastfeed alongside solids.

Remove milk often

After their first feed and a few hours of sleep, full-term, healthy newborn babies feed frequently, around the clock. Most babies need to feed at least 8-12 times in 24 hours in the early weeks, suckling and swallowing actively at each feed, to get enough milk and stimulate their mother's milk production. If your baby is not feeding as often or energetically as this yet, it is important to express your milk, if your goal is a full milk supply.

As milk builds up in the breast, a protein in the milk, known as the "Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation" (FIL), begins to slow down milk production. Breasts that are full make milk slowly, and eventually not at all. Breasts that are well drained make milk quickly. This is why, if you are trying to maximise milk production, it is important not to wait until your breasts feel full before feeding or expressing. Over time, this will reduce milk production.

Different breasts, different feeding patterns

Storage capacity is quite a new concept in breastfeeding, and it explains a lot of things that mothers instinctively knew, but were not in the textbooks!

A mother's storage capacity is the amount of milk that her breasts can hold between feeds. It is not related to breast size and it is not related to the total amount of milk that a mother can make each day.

To understand storage capacity, let's assume that:
Alisha and Beth both have 3 month old babies and well established milk supplies. Alisha's breasts can hold 75ml of milk and Beth's breasts can hold 150ml of milk.
Both their babies need about 750ml of milk per day (this is an average amount. Some babies might take as much as 1200ml per day).
Alisha's baby needs to feed at least 10 times in 24 hours to get this amount of milk, while Beth's baby could get the same amount of milk in only five or six feeds. [Feeding this infrequently is not common - it is at one end of a wide spectrum of feeding patterns!]
Both babies are getting as much milk as they need and growing well, but they have very different feeding patterns. What happens if Alisha and Beth are told that their babies "should" both be feeding eight times in 24 hours?
Alisha's baby is hungry and miserable. She is no longer getting enough milk and if this continues, Alisha's milk production will slow down due to the action of FIL in the full breast. It might be hard to increase milk production again, after the early weeks, when milk supply settles at a stable level. Beth's baby is irritable because his mother keeps trying to feed him again when he doesn't want any more milk!
Both Alisha and Beth can successfully breastfeed their babies as long as their feeding pattern works for their milk storage capacity.
Beth, with her larger storage capacity, has more flexibility in her feeding patterns. Her baby is likely to have fewer feeds per day than Alisha's, is more likely only to take one breast per feed and may start sleeping for longer stretches earlier. She could choose to feed more often, if her baby wanted to. Alisha has less flexibility in her feeding patterns because if she doesn't feed often enough, her breasts fill up and she doesn't have room to make more milk. Her baby is likely to feed frequently day and night during the exclusive breastfeeding period and may need to feed on both breasts at most feeds.
Most babies need to feed at least 8-12 times in 24 hours and it is important to ensure frequent feeding during the early weeks, when milk production is becoming established. After the early weeks, most babies spend less total time feeding, as efficiency improves. Some babies will also significantly reduce the frequency of feeds.

Most mothers never need to worry or even think about their breast storage capacity, because their babies are brilliant at working it out for them! Full-term, healthy, thriving babies are able to choose their own feeding pattern that works with their mother's breasts and their own needs as they grow. . If your baby is growing well and seems contented, their feeding pattern is working well for them.

Fat in milk

This is a topic that often worries parents, because of poorly understood information circulating among families about the differences between "foremilk" and "hindmilk".

We know from research that:

The breast makes milk fat at a stable level. The types of fat in milk are somewhat related to the types of fat in the mother's diet, but the amount of fat is not related to her diet.

The milk available at the start of a feed (often referred to as foremilk) has a lower level of fat than the milk at the end of the feed (often referred to as hindmilk). As the breast is drained, fat levels in milk increase as more fat droplets are "squeezed" to the front of the breast and out through the nipple.

The level of the fat at the start of one feed depends on how long it has been since the last feed. The longer the interval between feeds, the lower the level of fat at the start of the next feed.

Parents often worry, or are told, that their baby might not get enough fat (this is often described as "getting too much foremilk")

Research shows that full-term, healthy, thriving babies are brilliant at balancing their own diets. They will stop feeding when they have had enough calories. When fat levels in milk are higher, they will take less milk. When fat levels are lower, they will take more. The varying amount of fat in milk is not a problem - all the milk is good! It enables babies to quench their thirst at the start of a feed and finish with a creamy "dessert", if they want to.

The balance of fat in milk can be a problem for a small number of babies, if:

The baby is taken off the breast before they have had as much milk as they wanted; or

There is an overwhelming amount of milk. In this case, the baby may be growing very fast (their growth curve crosses centiles upwards on the growth chart) and may struggle with the speed of milk flow, coming off the breast gagging, spluttering and upset. You can find practical tips to help your baby manage fast milk flow here.

In either of these two situations, the baby may not get enough fat to slow down the transit of milk through their gut. Milk may rush through the gut faster than the baby can digest the milk sugar (lactose). The sugar ferments in the gut, producing green, frothy, explosive poo, flatulence (farting) and severe discomfort.

A baby who does yellow poo and is comfortable does not have any problem with the balance of fat in their diet. A baby who is growing more slowly than expected needs more milk overall, not just more fat. These babies should be seen by a doctor to rule out an underlying health problem.

You can read more about fat levels in milk here.

How much milk?

In the first 24 hours after birth, volumes of colostrum are small, but enough for your baby. The average amount per feed is about 7ml (1 ½ teaspoons). This is because full-term babies are not hungry - they are born with food stores in their body. They don't need fluid - they shed extra fluid in the first few days (this is why most babies lose a little weight). Colostrum is primarily immune protection, rather than food. It coats the inside of the baby's gut to keep pathogens out, stimulates the baby's immune system, and provides the baby with a powerful, tailor-made dose of growth factors, hormones, live immune cells and other components that no manufactured milk can begin to match.

The small quantity and thick texture of colostrum give the baby a chance to practice feeding before they have to manage larger volumes. The amount of colostrum increases quickly, more or less doubling every day in the first few days. If you need to express on the first day after birth, you might use a syringe to catch drops. A syringe quickly becomes too small for the increasing volumes. By the 5 th day after birth a baby might be taking 60ml (2oz) or more per feed.

If you are expressing your milk, for example because your baby was born early, it can help to know how much to aim for:

500ml in 24 hours by the end of the first week after birth

750ml in 24 hours by the end of the second or third week after birth

Your baby might not need this much milk yet, but aiming for a full supply now means you will have enough to satisfy them for the rest of their breastfeeding time.

Milk production remains stable, within a range of about 600ml - 1200ml per 24 hours, from about one month after birth to six months. After the baby starts eating complementary foods, milk production starts to decrease, as milk is gradually replaced by other foods in the baby's diet. If you are making as much milk as your baby needs at one month, you are likely to keep on doing so, as long as your baby keeps on removing enough milk and you don't get pregnant or use one of a small number of medications that can affect milk production. Birth control methods that contain progesterone may reduce milk production in some women.

How milk changes

If you are expressing your milk, you will be able to see the change from sticky, transparent, yellow or orange colostrum to thinner, white or blue-ish "transitional milk" by about the fourth day after birth. The composition of your milk is changing to adapt to your baby's need for more energy. Your milk changes from day to day for as long as you breastfeed or express, responding to your baby's stage of development, any illnesses you or your baby are in contact with, and even the time of day or night it was made. The milk of mothers who give birth prematurely is initially different from the milk of mothers who give birth at full term, to meet the extra needs of their babies.

Getting back on track after a difficult start

Milk production peaks by about a month after birth, with most of the increase happening in the first two weeks. Many mothers find it becomes more difficult - in some cases impossible - to increase the amount of milk they are making, after the early weeks. This is why it is important to get good feeding support early, if there are any signs that there might be a problem with your baby getting enough milk, for example, if your baby:

Does not poo every day (in the first 4-6 weeks)

Has pink crystals (urates) in their nappy after the third day

Is not doing yellow poo by the end of the fourth day

Loses more than 7% of their birth weight by the fifth day

Loses weight after the fifth day

Does not regain their birth weight by 10-14 days

An LLL Leader or infant feeding specialist can help you work out whether there is likely to be a problem with milk production or whether (more commonly) your baby is not yet feeding effectively. If not enough milk is being removed, the risk is that your milk production will not increase to the level your baby needs. Expressing your milk gives you time to work on any feeding issues.

If the problem is with milk production, your breastfeeding supporter can help you make a plan to keep your baby safely fed while you work to maximise your milk supply. You will need to work closely with your baby's healthcare providers to monitor their growth and wellbeing.

Lactation beyond the early months

Parents are sometimes told that their milk has no value to their baby after 6 months, or 12 months. This is not the case. Milk is the baby's main source of protein and calories until about a year of age, and continues to contribute to the child's health and nutrition through the second year and beyond.

Your milk adapts to meet your baby's needs as they grow. For example:

From about six months, the digestive enzyme amylase starts to be present in milk, helping your baby digest starchy foods.

From about six months, levels of the antibacterial enzyme lysozyme increase in milk, protecting your baby as they put foods and other objects in their mouth.

As the total amount of milk begins to decrease gradually, from about six months, levels of key immune factors such as immunoglobulins increase, so that the child receives about the same amount per day, even though they take less milk.

Levels of fat, protein and energy in milk are higher in the second year than in the first year of lactation.

Lactation ends - involution

Milk will continue to be made in the breast for as long as milk is removed from the breast. In the early days of lactation, milk supply is relatively fragile - the mother's body quickly shuts down production if milk removal stops. In later lactation, milk production is much more robust. Mothers returning to work after six months, for example, can be confident that their milk supply will withstand variations in their schedule from day to day and week to week. In later lactation it is possible to breastfeed part-time, even if you work shifts or need to travel away overnight. Many breastfeeding toddlers and older children spend time away overnight with a non-resident parent, grandparents, etc. and continue breastfeeding when they are with their mother.

It takes at least 40 days for the breast to reach complete "involution" (a non-lactating state) after the end of breastfeeding or milk expression. Some mothers find that they leak or can express drops of milk months or even years after their last feed. If the amount of milk is large, or you start making milk again after a gap even though you are not pregnant, check with your doctor. Spontaneous milk secretion (galactorrhoea) can be a side effect of some medications, or a sign of hormonal dysfunction.

When children are able to wean from the breast at their own pace, weaning often takes place over a period of months and years. The most common time for children to choose to stop breastfeeding is between their second and third birthdays. Milk production reduces gradually and, by the time the child has their final feed, may have dwindled to almost nothing. Some of the immune components of milk become more concentrated as milk volumes decrease, so the child continues to benefit to the last drop of breastmilk.

Written by Jayne Joyce, LLL Oxfordshire and Karla Napier, LLL Edinburgh - February 2021
Endnotes:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How milk production works - La Leche League GB

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mothers have successfully fed their children for thousands of years of human history without understanding how it works. It's a bit like driving a car - as long as it's working well, you don't need to know what is going on under the bonnet! If you are having breastfeeding problems, such as low milk supply [...]

# data[].attributes.headline
Collecting Colostrum for your Baby during Pregnancy

# data[].attributes.subject
Collecting Colostrum for your Baby during Pregnancy

# data[].attributes.body
You can collect colostrum for your baby before the birth. Anyone can do this, but it's particularly helpful for babies with cleft lip/palate, or mothers with diabetes or high blood pressure. You can obtain equipment to do this from the Infant Feeding Team on 01204 390423

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Antenatal Expressing leaflet 2024 English

# data[].attributes.body
Building a relationship with your unborn baby helps their brain development

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The early relationship you, your partner and family have with your baby's really important. How you meet their needs and care for them, shapes how their brain develops. This is as true before they're born as when they arrive.

Attachment

The way your baby builds these close relationships is called attachment. It lays the foundations for them to feel safe and secure.

Babies are totally dependent on those who care for them to keep them safe.

When you give your baby responsive care and lots of attention, it will help them manage their feelings and have safe and healthy relationships in the future.

Babies need their carers close at all times. Staying close to your baby will help you notice when they're trying to communicate with you.

Your baby's needs are met by forming a close relationship with you. It's usual for babies to form attachment with any adult in the family group who provides consistent care.

Bonding before birth

Your baby can hear you from at least 16 weeks, and perhaps earlier.

Babies hear their mother's voices most clearly, but anyone can talk and sing to them - your baby will love to hear from anyone.

This helps your baby:

to get to know voices, which will help them feel safe and secure

tune up their hearing and get ready for when they will eventually talk

Talking and singing to your baby is also good for their development.

Talk or sing to your baby

Find a quiet time when you and your baby can focus on each other and use a tuneful, sing-song voice.

It doesn't matter what music or song - if you like it, so will your baby. Never put headphones on mum's tummy though, as it's too loud for your baby.

If you feel a bit silly talking to the bump, don't worry - lots of people do. If you can't think of anything to say, just chat about the day or share a story.
For tips about reading and singing to your baby before birth, visit the Scottish Book Trust Read more about building a relationship with your baby after they're born
Bonding takes time

Parents don't always feel a great rush of love and bonding straight away. It comes in time.

Many parents have other feelings such as fear along with love, especially if it's a first baby. It's what you do that counts.

Attachment and love aren't the same thing. Some parents love their children but can't keep them consistently cared for and safe and if that happens it can cause attachment issues. If you're worried about your safety or your baby's, tell someone you trust and ask for help.

Further information and other languages and formats

Translations and alternative formats of this information are available from Public Health Scotland.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How your baby's development is helped by building a relationship with them early in your pregnancy

# data[].attributes.body
Supporting your baby during skin to skin

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Parenting when your partner breastfeeds - La Leche League GB

# data[].attributes.body
There are lots of ways that you can bond with and take care of your baby when you are not feeding.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
All parents have a unique relationship with their baby, which grows and develops as their baby does. A breastfeeding mother builds a special relationship with her baby through the act of breastfeeding. But children build important relationships with other adults in their lives, beginning with those they see most often. This may be the baby's biological father, but it can be anyone else who lives with mother and baby and who is a constant presence in their lives. LLL recognises that families come in many different shapes and sizes. In most relationships there will be a non-breastfeeding partner although sometimes both partners may breastfeed. An LLL Leader can give you more information about this option.

A different person

You are different from your breastfeeding partner, with a different feel, a different sound and a different smell. At the end of a long day a new and different person with a fresh pair of arms may be just what is needed to settle your tired and fractious baby.

Carrying and comforting

The love hormone oxytocin, released when a mother breastfeeds, promotes a feeling of closeness and connection with her baby. But oxytocin isn't limited to just nursing mothers. It works in a similar way when you hold, cuddle and care for your baby. A great way to experience continuous close contact with your baby is to use a carrier or sling. Babies usually love them and it's a handy way to settle a baby. At times when your baby is fussy or uncomfortable and nothing else works, you might also try the colic hold (see picture overleaf).

Breastfeeding-the obvious choice

Breastfeeding is the normal way to feed and comfort a baby. It is protective against asthma, coeliac disease, cot death, diabetes, diarrhoea and tummy upsets, ear infections and heart disease, to name but a few. What is more, the practical everyday benefits include:

No getting up to prepare bottles during the night.

Sweet smelling nappies.

No feeding equipment and expensive formula to buy for your baby.

Less to take with you when you go out as a family.

Early Days

In the early days, your baby will probably want to breastfeed a lot of the time he's awake. At this stage, your partner may only be managing to eat, sleep and nurse the baby. This is normal. At first his mum and nursing will be the centre of your baby's world. A baby's bond with his mother is the basis for all other relationships. Encouraging that bond will strengthen his love for you later.

As life settles down

You and your partner will probably both need time to adjust to your new roles. Many couples say they didn't feel prepared for the emotional upheaval they experienced on becoming parents. A breastfeeding mother usually feels an intense connection with her baby, both emotionally and physically, due to breastfeeding hormones and the practical need to stay close to feed the baby. It can be easy to feel a bit left out of this. Getting involved in practical ways such as nappy changes, baths, walks and playtimes will help you bond with your baby. Caring for your baby teaches him that love comes from interacting with people as well as from food. Your partner will love you for it and so will your baby.

Maintaining your closeness as a couple

Almost every sexual relationship changes with the birth of a baby. Daily life can be exhausting and your partner may need time to recover physically. Resuming your sex life together may take time, but simple gestures like kissing, holding hands and sitting alongside her as she nurses your baby can keep you connected and remind you of your love for one another.

Support for you

Sometimes there is so much focus on the health and well-being of mum and baby that partners may be overlooked. Post-natal depression can affect either person in a couple, especially after a difficult birth. Tell your partner and seek help from your GP if you are in this situation

What partners can do
Your partner needs practical help and emotional support while recovering from the birth. Mum and baby need to establish a strong bond, plentiful milk production and an enjoyable breastfeeding relationship. You can help this happen with your attitude, actions and words:

Support mother-baby bonding. The most important thing you can do for your baby's future health and well-being is to be a breastfeeding advocate.

Make the most of your parental leave. Take as long as you can manage. Take it when the new mum and baby would otherwise be at home alone. Concentrate just on the needs of your partner, baby and any other children. Let everything else wait.

Fix it so the household 'ticks over'. Take charge and welcome help from others. You could also buy in help: a cleaner, supermarket delivery, mother's help.

Guard against too many visitors. Let others know when your new little family needs to be alone. Protect mum and baby from over-enthusiastic visitors and callers, and try to ensure you all have some peaceful uninterrupted time together. Turn off the phone and put a 'do not disturb' sign on the front door.

Look after your other children. Provide fun activities and opportunity for exercise. Try to meet their needs for attention, sleep and healthy food.

Protect your partner from well meaning but unhelpful advice that undermines breastfeeding-even if it comes from your own mum!

Seek skilled help if any breastfeeding problems crop up. Problems are more easily solved if you call for help straight away. Problems with soreness or not enough milk can usually be fixed easily if you track down the right help early on. So keep looking until you find that help. New mums are often given a contact number for a breastfeeding counsellor or peer supporter. Encourage your partner to give her a call.

Respect your partner's instincts. Nature isn't daft and maternal instincts have ensured the survival of our species for millions of years. A new mum's hormones motivate her to mother her baby through breastfeeding.

Fight off any pressure to separate mum and baby. Help mum and baby spend lots of time snuggling together in the hours and days after birth.

Search for details of local mums' breastfeeding groups. Encourage your partner to attend before and after birth so she gets this vital mother-to mother contact. She will get ongoing support to carry on breastfeeding as long as she and baby want. It can make all the difference.

Admire and praise your baby's mother. Your love and encouragement will work wonders.

Firmly resist pressures to feed baby anything other than mum's own milk before he is six months old. Your baby doesn't need other foods until he can sit up and begin to feed himself. Even then, breastmilk carries on being an important food for older babies and toddlers.

Meet your baby's need for you. Spend time with your baby and enjoy building your own unique relationship.

Getting help

LLL Leaders are skilled at helping new mothers. You or your partner can call our helpline. for information and support. Local LLL groups are a source of support and encouragement that can make all the difference. Some groups also run meetings for couples. Visit here for further information.

Further Reading

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. LLLI. London: Pinter & Martin, 2010.

WHY PERINATAL DEPRESSION MATTERS, Scotland, M. London: Pinter & Martin, 2016.
LLL Information Sheets and Leaflets Amazing Milk Birth and Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Basics Dummies & Breastfeeding Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk Out and About With Your Breastfed Baby Rhythms & Routines Safe Sleep and the Breastfed Baby Smoking & Breastfeeding Supporting a Breastfeeding Mother
This leaflet and those above are available from La Leche League GB SHOP,

This information sheet is dedicated to the partners and families of LLL Leaders. Their support and encouragement enables Leaders to volunteer their time to give breastfeeding help to many other families.
If you wish to fund an LLLGB leaflet dedicated to a loved one, please contact us at the address below. Written by Sue Upstone, Deborah Robertson & mothers of La Leche League Great Britain.
La Leche League Great Britain 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parenting when your partner breastfeeds - La Leche League GB

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
All parents have a unique relationship with their baby, which grows and develops as their baby does. A breastfeeding mother builds a special relationship with her baby through the act of breastfeeding. But children build important relationships with other adults in their lives, beginning with those they see most often.

# data[].attributes.headline
Search your language - breastfeeding videos

# data[].attributes.subject
Search your language - breastfeeding videos

# data[].attributes.body
You can find information on breastfeeding in many languages here

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Breastfeeding Videos - Global Health Media Project

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
© 2023 Global Health Media Project | a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

# data[].attributes.body
The Lullaby Trust's website contains lots of information about safe sleep

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The safest cot is a clear cot

The safest cot for a baby is a clear cot. That means removing anything that isn't essential. Babies need just two items in their cot:

It's important to remove anything that isn't essential because items such as toys, blankets and bumpers could cover their face and obstruct their breathing.

When preparing your baby's sleep space, remember:

No pillows or duvets

No cot bumpers

No soft toys or comforters

No weighted or bulky bedding

No products designed to keep your baby in one sleeping position, such as wedges or straps

No pods or nests, rolled up towels or anything soft placed on top of the mattress.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Safer sleep overview - The Lullaby Trust

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An easy guide to practicing safer sleep for your baby and reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, or cot death).

# data[].attributes.body
Information about caring for your baby at night, including feeding and sleeping safely

# data[].attributes.headline
How to support a Partner who is Breastfeeding

# data[].attributes.subject
How to support a Partner who is Breastfeeding

# data[].attributes.body
Support and encouragement for your partner when breastfeeding is vital.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By choosing to make your baby a breastfed baby, you and your partner are giving your baby the very best start. USeful information for partners.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Foreign language resources - Baby Friendly Initiative

# data[].attributes.headline
Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding Information in other languages

# data[].attributes.subject
Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding Information in other languages

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Using straightforward language and simple illustrations to aid understanding, these infosheets on breastfeeding and bottle feeding are available in multiple languages and can be used to support parents with the basics of feeding and responding to their baby.

The infosheets are free to download and print, and are currently available in:
Please note: Following feedback, these translations were updated in 2019 to ensure the language used was as straightforward as possible.
The English versions of these resources are available below for reference:

Breastfeeding guidance: English (for reference)

Bottle feeding guidance: English (for reference)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Foreign language resources - Baby Friendly Initiative

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
These infosheets are available in multiple languages and can be used to support parents with feeding and responding to their baby.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Alcohol and Breastfeeding - The Breastfeeding Network

# data[].attributes.body
Use this information to ensure that continuing to breastfeed when you have drunk alcohol is safe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This information can also be viewed as a PDF by clicking here.
Breastfeeding mothers can have occasional, small amounts of alcohol but should not drink regularly or heavily (e.g. binge drinking) without considering how to limit the baby's exposure. If you drink any alcohol DO NOT bed share with your baby or fall asleep in the sofa/chair. If you do binge drink, your baby should be cared for by an adult who has not had any alcohol. It is not necessary to express breastmilk to clear it of alcohol.

Never share a bed or sofa with your baby if you have drunk any alcohol. Doing this has an increased association with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Alcohol passes freely into breastmilk reaching approximately maternal levels BUT maternal blood levels have to reach 300mg/100ml before mild sedation is reached in the baby (this compares with a level of 80mg/100ml needed to fail the police breath test in England, Wales and N. Ireland; 50mg/100ml Scotland.

To reduce exposure of the baby to alcohol, avoid breastfeeding for 2-3 hours after drinking.

Peak levels in the milk appear after 30-90 minutes but this does not mean that social drinking of small amounts of alcohol mean that you cannot breastfeed.

Excess levels of alcohol in milk may lead to drowsiness, deep sleep, weakness and decreased growth in the infant. Reduction of let-down is reported when the mother drinks heavily. Alcohol may reduce the baby's sucking time at the breast but not the volume of milk consumed.

It is not necessary to express breastmilk to clear it of alcohol; as the mother's blood levels fall, the level of alcohol in the breastmilk will decrease.

Binge drinking (more than 6 units of alcohol in one period), may make you less aware of your baby's needs. If you have drunk enough alcohol to make you feel disorientated or cause vomiting you should not be caring for your baby without supervision from a sober adult. You should ideally express for comfort and to maintain your supply - although this may be the last thing on your mind!

Chronic consumption of alcohol is more likely to cause harm than occasional social drinking.

NB It is vital that mothers who have been drinking alcohol should never let themselves be in a situation where they might fall asleep with the baby; on a bed, chair or settee (this would also apply to other carers who have been drinking alcohol). The place of sleep is a bigger risk than the fact that the mother has been drinking unless her consumption has been very high.

Drinking alcohol reduces the ability of the mother to be aware of her baby's needs, whether she is breastfeeding or not. It is safest to ask someone else to care for the baby.

Other websites

NHS Breastfeeding and drinking alcohol. - Your pregnancy and baby guide www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/breastfeeding-alcohol/

Guidelines from the NHS

Anything you eat or drink while you're breastfeeding can find its way into your breast milk, and that includes alcohol.

If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it's best to spread your drinking evenly over 3 or more days.

If you wish to cut down the amount you drink, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink-free days each week.

Fourteen units is equivalent to: 6 pints of average-strength beer, 10 small glasses of low-strength wine

Use Alcohol Change's alcohol calculator to check your units: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/interactive-tools/unit-calculator
©Dr Wendy Jones MBE, MRPharmS and the Breastfeeding Network March 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Alcohol and Breastfeeding - The Breastfeeding Network

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This information can also be viewed as a PDF by clicking here. Breastfeeding mothers can have occasional, small amounts of alcohol but should not drink regularly or heavily (e.g. binge drinking) without considering how to limit the baby's exposure. If you drink any alcohol DO NOT bed share with your baby or fall asleep in [...]

# data[].attributes.body
Your baby can crawl to the breast and latch as soon as they are born

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Breastfeeding in the First Hours - Video - Global Health Media Project

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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

# data[].attributes.body
More information about collecting colostrum whilst you are pregnant from the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Attaching Your Baby at the Breast - Video - Global Health Media Project

# data[].attributes.body
If you are breastfeeding it's important that your baby attaches well to the breast. Your midwife will help you with this.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Attaching Your Baby at the Breast - Video - Global Health Media Project

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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

# data[].attributes.body
This leaflet gives important information about sleep safety.

# data[].attributes.body
More information to help you prepare for breastfeeding in the early days

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out what to expect from breastfeeding in the first few days after birth, including what colostrum is, what happens when your milk ‘comes in’ and what the let-down reflex feels like.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Co-sleeping with your baby: advice from The Lullaby Trust

# data[].attributes.headline
How to Co-sleep Safely and When not to Co-sleep

# data[].attributes.subject
How to Co-sleep Safely and When not to Co-sleep

# data[].attributes.body
Many parents find themselves co-sleeping whether they mean to or not. Wherever you’re planning for your baby to sleep we recommend making your bed a safer place for baby.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
To reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) the safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear, flat, separate sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket. However, we know that many parents find themselves co-sleeping whether they mean to or not. Wherever you're planning for your baby to sleep we recommend making your bed a safer place for baby. Our advice on co-sleeping with your baby will tell you how.

When not to co-sleep

Whether you choose to co-sleep or it is unplanned, there are some key risks you should avoid.
Co-sleeping with your baby is very dangerous if:
In these scenarios, it is always best to put baby in their own safe sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket. Keeping the cot or Moses basket next to your bed might make this easier.
Never fall asleep on a sofa or armchair with your baby. The risk of SIDS is 50 times higher for babies when they sleep on a sofa or armchair with an adult. They are also at risk of accidental death as they can easily slip into a position where they are trapped and can't breathe.
Co-sleeping more safely

Keep pillows and adult bedding away from your baby or any other items that could cover their head or cause them to overheat. A high proportion of babies who die as a result of SIDS are found with their head covered by loose bedding.

Follow all The Lullaby Trust's other safer sleep advice to reduce the risk of SIDS such as sleeping baby on their back

To reduce the risk of accidents, do not bring other children or pets into bed with you.

Try to make sure or check that baby cannot be trapped, wedged or fall out of bed or get trapped between the mattress and the wall

Never leave your baby unattended in an adult bed

For more info on co-sleeping and safer sleep read our guide for parents
If you are bedsharing with your baby you should consider any risks before every sleep. It is easy for your situation to change if you are unwell or have drunk any alcohol, which means your baby will be safest in a separate sleep space such as a cot or Moses basket on that occasion.

Co-sleeping with your baby: FAQs

I am worried I might fall asleep while I breastfeed my baby at night, is this ok?

Click here to open this question

Breastfeeding reduces the chance of SIDS. If you feel you might fall asleep we would recommend you prepare the bed as described above so it is safer for baby if this happens.

Make sure you know the advice on when never to co-sleep so you know when to take particular care. It is really important that you do not accidentally fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. If you think you might fall asleep on a sofa or armchair, put the baby down in a safe place to sleep.

Should I co-sleep with my baby?

Click here to open this question

The safest place for a baby is their own separate sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket. We would just advise you to read all the information on co-sleeping and how to reduce the risks, so you can make an informed decision for you and your baby.

However, there are some circumstances where we would strongly recommend against co-sleeping such as on a sofa or armchair, if anyone in the bed smokes or has drunk alcohol or your baby was premature or a low birth weight.

Can I co-sleep with twins or multiples?

Click here to open this question

If you choose to bedshare with twins or multiples we would advise not to bedshare with more than one baby at a time due to risk of accidents associated with bedsharing with more than one baby or child.

Is it safer to co-sleep using a nest or pod than with a baby just lying on the adult bed?

Click here to open this question

No. We do not recommend that babies sleep on soft surfaces such as pods or nests. If you choose to co-sleep with your baby the safest place is a clear space on a firm flat mattress the same as we would advise with a cot.

Why do you advise against co-sleeping in certain scenarios?

Click here to open this question

It is estimated that around half of SIDS deaths occur whilst co-sleeping, and that most of these are in high risk situations. We do not know the cause of SIDS and why these deaths happen but we do know what some of the risk factors are and that removing those risks greatly lowers the chance of SIDS occurring.

For that reason we strongly advise against co-sleeping when there are risk factors such as a baby being premature or a parent having drunk alcohol.

What bedding should I use for my baby when we co-sleep?
The Lullaby Trust has worked with Public Heath England, Unicef UK Baby Friendly and Basis on two publications to support families with safer sleep advice and advice on co-sleeping more safely. We have also collaborated on a guide for health professionals to have more open and productive discussions with families about safer sleep and co-sleeping. These can be downloaded below.

Click here to open this question

Adult bedding should be kept well away from your baby along with any belts or cords from clothing. Keep adult bedding at your waist height and add an extra layer of clothing if you are cold

A baby sleeping bag is a good way of giving your baby their own bedding when bedsharing.

Baby sleeping bags should be well fitted, so the baby can't wriggle down inside. Most sleeping bags are fitted according to a baby's weight, rather than age.

You might also be interested in reading the two Unicef Baby Friendly publications, which are both endorsed by The Lullaby Trust:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Some parents choose to share a bed (known as co-sleeping) with their babies. Read our advice on how to co-sleep more safely.

# data[].attributes.body
Information for parents who are expecting twins or more

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Mums expecting twins aren't always encouraged to consider breastfeeding; but twins, and even triplets, can be breastfed exclusively. Only a few women won't have enough milk for their babies. Milk supply works on the principle of supply and demand. Breastfeeding tells a mother's body to produce more milk in response to her baby's (or babies') needs. With two babies, more milk is removed from the breasts, so more milk is made. The best way to make sure you establish a good supply is to feed your babies often in the early weeks and to ask someone knowledgeable to help you check that they are attached and breastfeeding correctly.

During the first few days and weeks, babies send signals to your milk supply and may sometimes feed more frequently. This frequent feeding is sometimes perceived as a sign of a lack of milk but, if feeds happen responsively, milk supply will swiftly increase, and feeding will settle into a pattern again. Your babies' weight gain and their nappies will reassure you that they are getting the milk they need.

"I found out at an antenatal scan that I was expecting twins. I asked if I could breastfeed them and was told that I would have to give bottles as well. This upset me as I'd really enjoyed breastfeeding my other two children. The twins were born at 36 weeks (though I nearly had them earlier than that). They never had bottles. I'm glad I found out in advance that it's possible to breastfeed twins."
How can I breastfeed two babies?
Confidence and the belief that it can be done are important. Attend a breastfeeding support group or workshop while you're pregnant to increase your confidence and find out where to get support locally. If you have any questions after your babies are born, you'll know who to ask. Perhaps you can be put in touch with someone who has breastfed twins (or see the Facebook group mentioned below).

"The twins were our first children and I thought I'd like to try to breastfeed. I read a little and a friend invited me to watch her breastfeed her baby. Most of the mums I met at a twins' club hadn't tried, but I decided to give it a go. Our babies were born at 37 weeks after a straightforward labour and the hospital staff were generally encouraging. I wish I'd known a bit more about growth spurts though and how to let the babies increase my milk supply at these times. I also wish I had known about antenatal hand expressing."

Twins can be fed separately or together. Many mums find that they do both in different situations and when their twins are at different stages of development. Feeding babies together can be a good way to establish a plentiful milk supply quickly and can save time. While mum and each baby are still learning about breastfeeding, it may be easier to spend some time feeding separately. As the babies grow and their head control develops, it will be easier to breastfeed them together. Later still, the babies will be able to position themselves. Decisions like when to swap breasts and which positions work best, will vary from family to family.

"Don't be afraid to ask for help positioning the second twin in the early days, so you can have a go at feeding two babies together."

Rugby hold, Parallel and Crossover holds
Breastfeeding cushions designed with twins in mind are more likely to enable a mum to tandem feed and even feed hands-free. However, some mums find they prefer to use V-shaped or normal pillows or cushions or use positions where no cushions are needed. If you have someone to assist you in the early days, they can help you position a second baby after the first one has started feeding.

"After a couple of weeks, I got the hang of feeding lying down and that made things a lot easier at night. When they were a little older, I managed to find a way of feeding both lying down. You get inventive about using different positions and doing things like answering the phone while breastfeeding."

"Our girls are now 17 months old and I'm still enjoying breastfeeding them. Now they are toddlers, I tend to feed them separately, but I used to do a mixture of breastfeeding separately and together."

What if my babies are born early?
Twins are more likely to be born early than single babies. If babies are born early, their mother's milk will be different to full-term milk and have specific advantages for pre-term babies. Breastmilk reduces a baby's chances of becoming ill and some conditions can be particularly serious in a pre-term baby. If twins are born very early, they may need to be fed by tube or special cup until they are able to breastfeed. Expressing breastmilk for premature babies will mean a mother is making a valuable contribution to her children's welfare, especially as hospital staff are responsible for other aspects of their care. Donor milk can also be an option.
Won't I be too tired to breastfeed?
Tiredness is sometimes given as a reason not to breastfeed twins, but there's no evidence that breastfeeding in itself is tiring. In fact, breastfeeding mums can make the most of opportunities to sit or lie down. It's important to eat a balanced diet and to rest when your babies sleep.

Once breastfeeding is established, it gets easier to go out or travel with twins, because breastmilk is available immediately and at the right temperature. Imagine the sheer number of bottles to be washed, sterilised, made up with hot water then cooled down for bottle-fed twins, and the cost of formula.

Breastfeeding involves the release of specific hormones that help a mother to feel relaxed. This is particularly beneficial for mums of twins who are likely to have an even busier time than other mothers. Also breastfeeding will help your uterus (particularly enlarged after having twins) to contract back to its pre-pregnancy shape and size and will help you lose weight more quickly.

If families feed their babies at the same time, they may choose to wake the other twin at night to minimise the number of night feeds. Breastfeeding at night can be done lying down and can help to establish a good supply of milk.
But my family and friends want to help
Grandparents or others might ask if they can help by giving a baby a bottle, but if bottles are introduced early on, this may make breastfeeding more difficult to establish and reduce a mother's milk supply. Dummies may also mean the demand on your milk is reduced so the supply reduces. However, some mothers of twins do find that expressing breastmilk can be useful and allows someone else to feed the babies occasionally.

There are lots of other things that family and friends can offer to do to help parents of newborn twins e.g. cuddling a baby, changing a nappy, offering mum a drink or sandwich, helping at bath time if needed, or hanging out washing. The support and encouragement of friends and family is an important aspect to breastfeeding twins successfully.
More information:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many new mums worry about whether they will have enough milk, but in fact there are very few women who don't have enough.

# data[].attributes.body
A series of videos on how to reduce the risk of SIDS when caring for your baby.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Safer Sleep for babies online presentations

To access the presentations simply click the link and enter your name and email address to register. You will then be able to view the presentation
Safer sleep for babies - Sleep position, sleep environment and bedding
Find out more about the safest way to put your baby down to sleep for both daytime naps and at night.
https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/99838260930278401 Safer sleep for babies - Overheating, temperature and overwrapping
Find out more about the safest room temperature for your baby and the risk associated with overheating and overwrapping your baby.
https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/4732765744628309762 Safer sleep for babies - Baby ill-health, Baby Check app and vaccination
Find out more information about checking for signs that your baby maybe unwell, how to use the Baby Check app and the importance of vaccinating your baby.
https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/3914196930066085890 Safer sleep for babies - Breastfeeding
Find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding.
https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/6540597056868292609 Safer sleep for babies - Smoking and e-cigarettes
Find out more about the benefits of not smoking before and after your baby is born.
https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/5716067789797323522

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
To access the presentations simply click the link and enter your name and email address to register. You will then be able to view the presentation Safer sleep for babies - Sleep position, sleep environment and bedding Find out more about the safest way to put your baby down to sleep for both daytime naps and at night.

# data[].attributes.body
You can continue to breastfeed your older child when you are pregnant

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pregnant and Breastfeeding - La Leche League GB

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you’re expecting a baby and are continuing to breastfeed your older child, many questions may be going through your mind. Mothers can breastfeed while pregnant; some go on to nurse both their new baby and their older child after the birth. This is known as ‘tandem nursing’. Breastfeeding during…

# data[].attributes.body
Most Antidepressants are safe to take with breastfeeding, and it's important that you continue with these if they are prescribed, If the medication you take is not safe with breastfeeding talk to your GP or Obstetrician about a suitable alternative

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This information can also be viewed as a PDF by clicking here.
The information provided is taken from various reference sources. It is provided as a guideline. No responsibility can be taken by the author or the Breastfeeding Network for the way in which the information is used. Clinical decisions remain the responsibility of medical and breastfeeding practitioners. The data presented here is intended to provide some immediate information but cannot replace input from professionals.

Sertraline has the lowest passage of SSRI drugs into breastmilk. Citalopram also passes into breastmilk in low levels. If a breastfeeding mother has found an antidepressant previously prescribed of benefit, that may influence the choice of drug prescribed

It is important that post-natal depression is recognised and treated effectively as it may impair bonding between mother and child and enjoyment of an important period in the relationship. Approximately 80% of women experience post-natal blues but some 10-15% experience more severe symptoms and need medication and or counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy. Some mothers may not immediately recognise or accept that they are depressed. Some fathers may recognise the difference in their partners. Others will deny the possibility.

The symptoms of post-natal depression may include obsessive thoughts often concerning harm to the baby, hyperactivity or lethargy, weight loss, volatility of behaviour and restlessness. Some women will express suicidal tendencies. But many symptoms are non-specific e.g. feeling of tiredness and not wanting to get up, not being able to cope as the day goes on and needing to go to bed early - could describe the natural effects of caring for a new baby 24 hours a day. Some women, particularly those who are normally natural leaders, may express concern over loss of confidence.

Most anti-depressants take three to four weeks to exert maximal efficacy and it is important that the woman is informed of this. Many patients stop taking anti-depressant medication within the first four weeks having found no benefit. Initially some medicines may also make symptoms appear worse and patients need to be aware of this to ensure concordance with the drug regime.

For information on anxiety and breastfeeding see www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/anxiety/

For information on OCD and breastfeeding see www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/ocd/

The treatment for depression usually involves SSRIs which act by inhibiting re-uptake of serotonin into neurones in the central nervous system. The majority of manufacturers have not conducted clinical trials on the use in lactation and in the Summary of Product characteristics recommend that they are not used by breastfeeding mothers. Their use is therefore off-licence and at the discretion and responsibility of the prescribing physician.

Side effects include nausea which may be particularly marked in the early weeks of therapy, diarrhoea, headache, insomnia and agitation. It may be difficult to differentiate the side effects of the drugs from the symptoms of depression so it may seem that the drugs are not being effective in the early weeks of therapy.

Sertraline (Lustral®) - has a shorter half-life. The long half-life metabolite is only marginally active, unlike that in fluoxetine and hence is unlikely to cause accumulation in the baby. There are published studies on more than 30 infants with no untoward effects noted. In almost all cases none of the drug has been detected in the infant plasma. Reported but anecdotal, evaluation of an infant exposed to 100milligrammes daily was that the child reached normal developmental milestones and weight at 3 months. There is one report of an infant developing benign neonatal sleep at 4 months, which resolved at 6 months, it is unclear whether this bears any relationship with the maternal use of sertraline. It is normally seen as the SSRI of choice for a breastfeeding mother if she has not had a previous antidepressant which was effective for her - this would then be the drug of choice.

Citalopram (Cipramil®) - There is one report of an infant exhibiting "uneasy" sleep patterns on a maternal dose of 40milligrammes/day. This resolved when the mother's dose was reduced. There are also two reports of excessive somnolence, decreased feeding and weight loss in breastfed infants. In studies no adverse effects on the babies were noted. If the baby shows less than expected weight gain it might be prudent to discontinue the drug and change to another SSRI. It should not be given concomitantly with erythromycin or fluconazole. However, the majority of breastfed babies tolerate it well.

The milk plasma ratio has been estimated to be 1.16-3, suggesting that the drug concentrates in milk. The metabolite enters breastmilk in low levels and at a normal daily intake would produce 14.6 microgrammes/Kg/day (0.7-5.9% of the maternal dose) a very low level.

Paroxetine (Seroxat®) - One case reports levels in breast milk below the level of detection in 16 infants exposed to levels up to 50milligrammes per day (dose normally 20-30milligrammes daily) through their mother's breastmilk. There are reports of neonatal withdrawal syndrome in newborns exposed to paroxetine in utero. Symptoms include jitteriness, vomiting, irritability and hypoglycaemia. Paroxetine may be difficult to stop due to discontinuation syndrome.

Fluoxetine (Prozac®) - has a very long half-life which may in theory, lead to accumulation and high levels in the infant. It has an active metabolite. Adverse effects including increased irritability and colic have been reported. One anecdotal report linking severe colic with the use of fluoxetine has been published. Hale reports personal communications, indicating that it can cause excessive sedation if used throughout pregnancy and then in subsequent lactation. It has been recommended in the past 10 years that if it is used in pregnancy that the mother is changed onto another SSRI in the 2 weeks before expected delivery. However, this is a time when women are very vulnerable and to suggest that they change a medication which is effective drug for them at this time may not be in their best interest. If it has been taken during pregnancy the baby may be very sleepy for several days and need help to obtain full milk volumes (syringe feeding, antenatal expression of colostrum etc). Symptoms seem to resolve within 5 days (Hale). If it has been shown to be effective for a mother in the past it would be the drug of choice for her regardless of the slightly higher passage into milk (Jones 2018). It is suggested that initiation in mothers of babies more than 4 months old would appear to be compatible with breastfeeding particularly if it has been shown to be effective for that woman in the past.

Venlafaxine (Efexor®) - The dose transferred to the infant is relatively high although no adverse reports have been reported. As the drug is associated with discontinuation syndrome it would be difficult for the mother to stop abruptly. In neonates, monitoring for excessive sedation and lower than expected weight gain is advisable.

The mean total drug dose reported in the infant is 7.6% of the maternal weight adjusted dose. Metabolites have been detected at low levels but infants have shown no adverse effects and would appear able to metabolise the drug. The action is similar to that of fluoxetine but with fewer anti-cholinergic effects.

Mirtazapine (Zispin®) - Mirtazapine maybe initiated if other antidepressants have proved ineffective or not been tolerated. It may also be invaluable when poor sleep is the major symptom of depression. Mirtazapine produces fewer symptoms of sexual dysfunction that have been reported in SSRIs. It can initially cause drowsiness and abnormal dreams. Care should be taken with co sleeping as natural reactions will be lessened. In a study of 8 babies whose mothers were taking up to 120mg at night. Levels of mirtazapine were only identified at a low level in one baby and were undetectable after 12 hours.

Tricyclic antidepressants have been around for a considerable period and much is known of their metabolism, safety and side effects. However. the latter can be intolerable for some patients, particularly nursing mothers. Side effects include sleepiness, dry mouth, urine retention and constipation. Care should be taken with co sleeping due to the possibility of drowsiness.

Amitriptyline - The levels measured in breastmilk are low because the drug is 94.8% bound to plasma proteins. There have been no reports of adverse effects on the baby and in one study where the mother took 150milligrammes there was no detectable drug in the infant's serum.

Clomipramine (Anafranil®) - is particularly useful for panic attacks and obsessive, compulsive disorders. In one study of 4 women taking 75-125milligrammes daily, plasma levels of clomipramine in the infants were below the level of detection. No untoward effects were noted in any of the infants.

Imipramine - has an active metabolite, desipramine. At therapeutic doses it is estimated that the baby would receive 20-200microgrammes / day and no adverse effects have been noted. It would be prudent to observe the baby for sedation and dry mouth.

Lofepramine (Gamanil®) - amount in breastmilk likely to be too small to present risk to breastfed baby. No precise data on transfer is available.

The use of cognitive counselling together with anti-depressant therapy has been shown to be advantageous.
©Dr Wendy Jones MBE, MRPharmS and the Breastfeeding Network May 2022

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Antidepressants and Breastfeeding - The Breastfeeding Network

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This information can also be viewed as a PDF by clicking here. The information provided is taken from various reference sources. It is provided as a guideline. No responsibility can be taken by the author or the Breastfeeding Network for the way in which the information is used.

# data[].attributes.body
Information about breastmilk and breastfeeding to get you started

# data[].attributes.body
If you have had surgery it is a good idea to discuss this with the infant feeding specialist team before your baby is born so that they can give any help and support needed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Evidence suggests that if there has been more than five years, this is a positive factor.

So whether you are pregnant or already starting to breastfeed now, and you have already had breast reduction surgery, regardless of the type of surgery that you had, there are still possibilities to increase your supply.

It is essential, therefore, to seek out skilled help from an IBCLC, a breastfeeding counselor, or your health professional who can get alongside you and give you some added information on boosting supply.

It's essential to learn about how to boost and maintain your milk production by doing regular, daily skin to skin , good positioning at the breast , extra pumping , use of galactagogues , and breast compressions . All of these strategies can help.

If your baby can latch at the breast, it is possible to be able to feed fully at the breast.

However, if your body is struggling to produce all the milk your baby needs, you may need to combine breastfeeding with formula feeding.

In that situation, you may choose to feed your baby at the breast using an at breast supplementer.

I appreciate that some mothers want to have their baby at the breast for all of the suckling needs. Some feel strongly that they don't want to offer bottles.

For some of you, however, giving bottles is the preferred option alongside feeding at the breast. This is really an individual decision.

Babies come to the breast for warmth, comfort, and relationship building .

Lots of skin to skin can be done with your baby, so even if you find that with all of your best efforts, your body is not able to make enough milk or even NO milk, you can still use a nursing supplementer to have your baby fully at the breast, as long as he can latch.

In this particular scenario, you may prefer to bring your baby to the breast just for comfort and also to offer bottles of formula to your baby. There are lots of ways to do things!

If you have had breast reduction surgery, I can appreciate that all of this can sound rather daunting, but the rewards of trying to boost your supply and maximizing your breastmilk can undoubtedly pay off.

You will know that you have given your best efforts, and your relationship with your baby at the breast, with or without a full milk supply, can still carry on regardless if desired.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction - The Breastfeeding Companion

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Evidence suggests that if there has been more than five years, this is a positive factor. So whether you are pregnant or already starting to breastfeed now, and you have already had breast reduction surgery, regardless of the type of surgery that you had, there are still possibilities to increase your supply.

# data[].attributes.body
Breastfeeding is often possible when you have implants - contact your Midwife or the Specialist Infant Feeding Team if you need help or advice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read about breastfeeding and the effects of alcohol, drugs, medication and more. Always talk to your midwife or health visitor if you have any concerns.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read about breastfeeding with breast implants. If you have any concerns, talk to your health visitor or GP.

# data[].attributes.body
Here you can find more detailed Information from Bolton's Infant Feeding Team about breastfeeding

# data[].attributes.headline
Further Information about Bottle Feeding

# data[].attributes.subject
Further Information about Bottle Feeding

# data[].attributes.body
Here you can find more detailed information about bottle feeding from Bolton's Infant Feeding Team

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Building a happy baby: A Guide for Parents Leaflet - Baby Friendly Initiative

# data[].attributes.body
Building a strong relationship with your baby helps with brain development - you can start this before your baby is born

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This leaflet offers advice and information for parents on getting to know their baby and setting up the foundations for a close and loving relationship.

We now know that building a strong relationship between parents and their new baby will give them the best possible start in life and will help them to grow up happy and confident. This leaflet is free to download and helps parents to develop that strong relationship, starting in pregnancy and continuing into the early days, weeks and months of a baby's life.

Health professionals may want to use this leaflet in conjunction with the Baby Friendly guide to antenatal and postnatal conversations and accompanying signature sheets.

Printed copies cost £15 per pack (1-9 packs) or £11 per pack (10 or more packs). There are 50 leaflets per pack and this price includes P&P within UK. Order using the Baby Friendly Resources order form, which you can download from our Resources page.
Please note: Orders for UK delivery only, and include postage and packaging costs. Orders may take up to 7 working days to process. The Baby Friendly Initiative reserve the right to re-print items at any time. If you are looking to order audit tools or e-learning please use our digital resources order form. Our myth buster posters show the key Happy Baby messages in bright and colourful poster form - find out more.

Building a Happy Baby: A Guide for Parents

Baby Friendly standards

Support to build a close and loving relationship is a key element of the Baby Friendly standards. Find out more about embedding our standards in your service.

Find more relationship building resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Building a happy baby: A Guide for Parents Leaflet - Baby Friendly Initiative

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This leaflet helps parents to get to know their baby and to set up the foundations for a close and loving relationship.

# data[].attributes.body
Even before they are born, your baby is listening and getting to know you.

When they hear you speak, they settle and their heartbeat slows. This helps them to recognise you and to begin to learn about relationships and language.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Even before they are born, your baby is listening and getting to know you.

When they hear you speak, they settle and their heartbeat slows. This helps them to recognise you and to begin to learn about relationships and language.

And paying attention to the baby inside the bump helps you to learn about them and notice things about them, such as what they respond to, when they are more active or settled.

Involving other loved ones in speaking, reading or singing to baby can also help them connect.
Watch this short video for some helpful tips and techniques on bonding with your unborn baby:

Video Transcript:

You don't need to wait until your baby is born to bond with them. Pregnancy is the perfect time to start getting to know them, and for them to start getting to know you.

Visualise what they will be like. Will they have curly or straight hair, how will their laugh sound?

At around 18 weeks your baby starts to hear sounds like your tummy rumbling.

At 26 weeks, they may start to recognise and be soothed by the sound of your voice.

This is a really good time for you and other significant people to start talking to your baby or even reading to them. Try telling about your day.

You can sing too! Music that mimics a heartbeat can be calming, which is actually most lullabies.

Babies respond to what they hear. Pay attention to their movement and their rhythms and respond back.

Talking, touching and being musical will help you and those around you to connect with your baby. And your baby will get to know you and the world outside of your tummy.

Further resources:

Further support:

Every mum, dad or co-parent faces the approaching birth of a baby with a mixture of feelings - with excitement and hopes, as well as fears and worries, about what might lie ahead. The birth of a baby stirs up powerful emotions from a parent's own early experiences.

Research tells us that more than 1 in 5 mums and around 1 in 10 dads will experience a mental health problem during pregnancy or in the first years. Many of these difficulties go unseen, undiagnosed, or untreated. It is important to seek help and support if you or your partner is struggling.

You can speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor.

You can also find some additional information, advice and further signposting from these organisations:

Crisis Support:
More Home-Start Tips For Parents

Latest

Related

Most read

It's the little moments that make the biggest difference . Donate to help power those little moments. Donate now because childhood can't wait.

Donate here to support Home-Start UK's work around the country. To support a local Home-Start, you can find their details here. Read more
Donate

If you or someone you care about is in crisis, or feeling suicidal and needs urgent help you can access support in the following ways:

Go to A&E at your local hospital

Phone emergency services on 999

Call Samaritans on 116 123 (free to call and will not appear on your phone bill), or email [email protected]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You don't need to wait until your baby is born to bond with them. Watch Home-Start's video on bonding with your unborn baby. #HomeStartTipsForParents

# data[].attributes.body
It is often possible to combine breastfeeding and working - see the advice for mums and employers here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Breastfeeding exclusively (giving your baby no other food or drink) is recommended for around the first 6 months. After this time, breastfeeding is recommended alongside solid food.

Therefore, it's likely that you'll be breastfeeding when you return to work, training or education.

There are several options. You can:

arrange for childcare close to work or college so that you can breastfeed during breaks, or before and after work - the evening feed can be a wonderful way for you to relax with your baby

express breast milk (taking milk from the breast by hand or using a pump) so that someone else can feed your baby while you're at work

ask your employer or college for flexible working hours arranged around your breastfeeding needs

combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding to fit around your hours

Think about it early. Before you go back to work or college, tell your employer or tutor you're breastfeeding.

You may have an HR department that can help. It can make preparations, such as finding you a private room where you can breastfeed or express your milk.

Organising breastfeeding and work

Before returning to work you can:

label and date expressed breast milk before putting it in the fridge or freezer so your childminder knows which one to use first

have a trial run with childcare before returning to work

store breast milk in a sterilised container or in special breast milk storage bags in the fridge for up to 8 days at 4C or lower (you can buy fridge thermometers online) - if you're not sure of the temperature of your fridge, or it's higher than 4C, use it within 3 days

Information for employers about breastfeeding mothers

Employers have certain legal obligations to breastfeeding mothers. Supporting breastfeeding has business benefits too. These include:

reduced absence due to child sickness (breastfed babies are generally healthier)

increased staff morale and loyalty, and a subsequently higher rate of return to work

lower recruitment and training costs

an extra incentive to offer potential employees

How employers can help breastfeeding mothers

Employers can have a policy to support breastfeeding. This includes:

a break allowance for mothers to express milk

provision of a clean, warm, private room (not the toilet) for expressing

a secure, clean fridge to store expressed milk

flexible working hours for breastfeeding mothers

Let your employees know about your policy before they start their maternity leave.

What the law says about breastfeeding mothers at work

It's up to mothers to decide how long they want to breastfeed. Returning to work doesn't mean a mother has to stop. Before returning to work, she should give her employer written notification that she's breastfeeding. Her employer must then conduct a specific risk assessment.

Workplace regulations require employers to provide suitable facilities where pregnant and breastfeeding mothers can rest.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that it's good practice for employers to provide a private, healthy and safe environment for breastfeeding mothers to express and store milk. The toilets are not a suitable place to express breast milk.

The HSE has more advice about protecting new and expectant mothers at work.

Talk to other breastfeeding mums

If you know any breastfeeding mothers who have already gone back to work, ask them for advice.

You could also visit healthtalk.org to see mothers talking about breastfeeding and working.

Got a breastfeeding question?

Sign into Facebook and message the Start4Life Breastfeeding Friend chatbot for fast, friendly, trusted NHS advice anytime, day or night.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Information for employees and employers on returning to work and breastfeeding, including tips on expressing and storing breast milk.

# data[].attributes.body
How do parents bond with their baby?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What does it mean to bond with a baby, and why is it important? We look at ways parents can recognise their baby’s needs and build a connection with their baby or babies. 

# data[].attributes.body
Antenatal Expressing leaflet - Arabic

# data[].attributes.body
Antenatal Expressing leaflet - Hungarian

# data[].attributes.body
Antenatal Expressing Leaflet - Urdu

# data[].attributes.body
Antenatal Expressing Leaflet - Kurdish Sorani

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Antenatal Expressing leaflet Kurdish Sorani

# data[].attributes.body
Antenatal Expressing Leaflet - Somali

# data[].attributes.body
The benefits of skin to skin and keeping your baby safe - Kurdish Sorani

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What happens on the first feed - Kurdish

# data[].attributes.body
The benefits of skin to skin and keeping your baby safe - Urdu

# data[].attributes.body
The benefits of skin to skin and keeping your baby safe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What happens on the first feed - Hungarian

# data[].attributes.body
The benefits of skin to skin and keeping your baby safe - Arabic

# data[].attributes.body
Welcome to this Padlet - it's full of information to help you when you are thinking about feeding your baby.
Each section is titled so you can easily find what you're looking for.
Scroll across to see all the sections.
Once you have the section you want, scroll down to click on the link that you want to watch or read.
If you have any concerns for yourself or your baby contact your midwife - this Padlet is not intended to replace advice from a Health Professional.
Padlet is not owned by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust - access to any third party website is at your own risk. Padlet may contain terms and privacy policies that are different from the Trust's.

# data[].attributes.body
Where to find support if you live in Bolton

# data[].attributes.body
Ewan McGregor reads 'Baby, I Love You'

# data[].attributes.body
You can attend a free 10 week parenting course to help you understand your baby's behaviour and development if you live in Bolton

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Empowering Families Through Peer Support

Our Parenting Groups are designed for parents who would like a better understanding of responsive and effective parenting techniques.

The Solihull Approach serves as the foundation for this program. For more information on about The Solihull Approach, please click HERE

About the groups

Each Solihull Approach Parenting Group consists of 10 sessions, and lasts for two hours.

Each week we'll cover a different topic and there will be discussion, activities and hopefully some fun as we develop our understanding of parent-infant relationships and gain new ways of thinking, strategies, and skills.

The groups are open to all families living in Bolton with children under the age of 3 years, who would like to have a better understanding of responsive and effective parenting techniques. You do not need to be experiencing difficulties or your child experiencing behavioural problems to attend. The goal of the groups is to establish a framework for understanding parent-child relationships, that can be made into a lifelong skill we can use both now and in the future!

What we'll Cover:

Introduction to Understanding your child's behaviour

How are you and your child feeling?

Tuning in to your child's development

Responding to your child's feelings

Different styles of parenting

Parent-child partnership - having fun together

The rhythm of interaction and sleep

Self regulation and anger

Communication and attunement

Reflecting on and celebrating our progress

You can book your place by clicking HERE or by calling 07514 484157

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our Parenting Groups are designed for parents who would like a better understanding of responsive and effective parenting techniques. The Solihull Approach serves as the foundation for this program. For more information on about The Solihull Approach, please click HERE About the groups https://videopress.com/v/4HQpCMcT?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Each Solihull Approach Parenting Group consists of 10 sessions, and lasts...

# data[].attributes.body
Why Skin to skin is important and how to do this safely

# data[].attributes.body
Why Skin to Skin is important and how to do this safely

# data[].attributes.body
Why Skin to Skin is important and how to do this safely

# data[].attributes.body
Why Skin to Skin is important and how to do this safely

# data[].attributes.body
Why Skin to Skin is important and how to do this safely

# data[].attributes.body
Why Skin to Skin is important and how to do this safely

# data[].attributes.body
Why Skin to Skin is important and how to do this safely

# data[].attributes.body
Why Skin to Skin is important and how to do this safely

# data[].attributes.body
Find your local support group

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Home-Start is one of the UK’s leading family support charities, with over 50 years of experience supporting families through volunteer-led work, rooted in communities. Dad Matters extends this legacy by ensuring dads are not left behind.