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When it comes to breastfeeding, you might wonder what you can do to support your partner and baby. The truth is you can make a huge difference.

Did you know that a mum is more likely to choose to breastfeed if she's sure her partner is positive about it? And if she does decide to breastfeed, she's much more likely to have a good experience and manage any difficulties if her partner supports her decision (Tohotoa, 2009; Rempel, 2011). A partner's emotional support is so important for helping mums to breastfeed for longer too (Tohatoa et al, 2009; Su, 2016).

Why is breastfeeding important?

If your partner is breastfeeding your baby - or planning to - that's fantastic because breastmilk has so many benefits for babies. For instance, breastmilk can help to reduce the risk of your baby getting infections and diseases (NHS, 2017). It also contains hormones that help your baby's development (Victora et al, 2016).

Overall, breastfeeding will have a positive impact on your baby's health. What's more, it can influence their health as an adult too (Victora et al, 2016).

Is breastfeeding hard or will my partner just know what to do?

Many parents see breastfeeding as a natural process but it can take time for mum and baby to learn this new skill together. It might take around six weeks to get the hang of it fully (NHS, 2016).

The good news is that with the right support, your partner can overcome any challenges and continue breastfeeding if she wants to. If you think your partner needs more information, support or just someone to talk to, why not give one of our trained breastfeeding counsellors a call on our support line: 0300 330 0700. The line is open every day from 8am to midnight, including bank holidays.

You might find it helpful to read up about breastfeeding and attend a breastfeeding session before your baby is born. This can help you know what to expect and perhaps give you a little more confidence. It can also help you both talk about feeding your baby and raise any questions or worries you might have.

What do I need to know about breastfeeding?

You might find it helpful to know how breastfeeding works and what normal behaviour is for breastfed babies. Here are a few quick and handy facts:

Babies are happier if they're fed as soon as they show signs of being hungry.

Babies usually feed frequently (anything from eight to 12 times or more in 24 hours) in the early weeks, especially during the evenings.

Some babies are slow feeders at first, but they get quicker as they get older.

The more a baby feeds, the more milk their mum makes because it's the removal of milk that drives the production of it.

The Department of Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least your baby's first six months. Breastfeeding is also beneficial for toddlers because it gives them a health boost every time they feed. So your partner can breastfeed your baby for as long as they both want to.

Nipple soreness or pain during feeding might be a sign that a baby needs some adjustment to their attachment at the breast. If there is soreness or pain when breastfeeding, talking to a healthcare professional or breastfeeding counsellor can help.

Women enjoy feeding more when they are comfortable and relaxed.

(Department of Health, 2011; La Leche League, 2016; NHS, 2016)

What can I do to help support my partner with breastfeeding?

There are lots of things you can do to support and encourage breastfeeding.

Here are 10 tips:

1. Boost your partner's confidence by encouraging her and being positive about her progress. As with learning any new skill, reassurance and praise are a massive help.

2. Listen and talk honestly about how you each feel about finding your way with your new baby.

3. Be involved with your baby in other ways so that the caring is shared (see below).

4. Help to reduce the household chores so your partner can feed your baby for as long and as often as they need.

5. Try to help your partner to relax by giving them a massage.

6. Women don't need to eat anything special while breastfeeding, but it's a good idea to encourage your partner to eat and drink regularly.

7. Help her get specialist support if she's struggling with breastfeeding. As mentioned above, you can both talk to one of our breastfeeding counsellors on 0300 330 0700.

8. Help out by bottle feeding your baby expressed milk once your partner and baby have got the hang of breastfeeding (see below).

9. Accept your partner's decision on when to stop breastfeeding.

10. Try to remember that with your support, breastfeeding can quickly become just another part of your family life.

(Rempel et al, 2010)

What practical support can I give to my baby if my partner is breastfeeding?

You might expect to feel like a bit of a spare part with feeding but it's good to remember that each parent plays a different and vital role. The decision on how you feed your baby is certainly a joint one (deMontigny et al, 2018). It might take a while to get used to the different parts you play though.

Whatever you decide to do, you might actually find feeding is less important to you than you expected anyway. Especially if you're hands-on with your baby in different and rewarding ways.

Tips for being a hands-on partner with your baby

Changing nappies and generally caring for your baby - it's great if you can spend time with your baby and interact (see below) with them while you're looking after them.

Bathing your baby - you could bath your baby or even have a bath with your baby. You'll both enjoy the bonding benefits of skin-to-skin contact and one-to-one time together (NHS, 2018).

Talking and playing - babies enjoy hearing gentle sounds. They even recognise the muffled tones of people talking from their time in the womb and they'll be aware of familiar voices like yours (Lee and Kisilevsky, 2013). So a chat with your baby might be a little one-sided but rest assured, they know it's you. Socially interacting with your baby through their senses helps to stimulate their brain development; for example, you could pull some different expressions (Boucenna et al, 2010).

Baby carrying - this means taking your baby out and about in a sling. It can be a rewarding and comforting experience for both you and your baby (Miller, 2019).

For more ideas on being a hands-on parent, see our article about bonding with and getting to know your baby.

How can I share feeding our baby?

If you're keen to feed your baby, you could give them expressed breastmilk from a spoon, syringe, cup or a bottle. But only introduce your baby to a bottle once breastfeeding is going well. For more on expressing, see our 10 bottle feeding tips for breastfed babies article.

And once your baby's moved on to solid food, there are so many ways you can get involved with that...chopping, mashing, cleaning up all the food that ends up on the floor...

I want to support breastfeeding but will it affect our sex life?

Possibly, but tiredness - and your partner's birth experience and recovery - is more likely to affect their sex drive rather than breastfeeding (Rowland et al, 2005). See our article about breastfeeding and sex for more details.

What if I feel uncomfortable about my partner breastfeeding in public?

If you're feeling uncomfortable or nervous about your partner breastfeeding in public, have a chat with her so you can talk it through. Maybe you're worried about your partner showing her breasts in public? Yet in reality, very little breast actually shows when a baby is feeding. You might have even seen a mum breastfeeding before without realising it.

It might also help to talk to other families where the mum is breastfeeding and find out about both partners' experiences of it. The chances are, you'll change your mind as you get used to seeing breastfeeding.

It's good to know that breastfeeding in public is protected by the law under the Equality Act 2010. That means providers of any services or facilities open for the public are not allowed to discriminate against women who are breastfeeding (Maternity Action, 2019).

Many places now welcome breastfeeding and have special facilities for mums if they'd prefer to feed in private.

Some mums might feel uncertain themselves about feeding in public at first and may appreciate the reassurance of having their partner with them.

At the end of the day...

Don't underestimate the huge difference you can make if your partner is breastfeeding. With you both on board, breastfeeding can quickly become an everyday part of your lives (Rempel, 2011).
This page was last reviewed in October 2017.
Further information

NCT supports all parents, however they feed their baby. If you have questions, concerns or need support, you can speak to a breastfeeding counsellor by calling our helpline on 0300 330 0700, whether you are exclusively breastfeeding or using formula milk. Breastfeeding counsellors have had extensive training, will listen without judging or criticising and will offer relevant information and suggestions. You can also find more useful articles here.

You might find attending one of our NCT New Baby courses helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities are happening nearby.

Visit our breastfeeding support contacts page.

NHS Choices breastfeeding information.

National Breastfeeding Line (government funded): 0300 100 021.

Health Talk has some interesting videos about different people's experiences of breastfeeding, click here to view them.

Boucenna S, Gaussier P, Andry P, Hafemeister L. (2010) Imitation as a communication tool for online facial expression learning and recognition. 2010 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Taipei: 5323-5328. Available at: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5650357 (Accessed 1st July 2018)

deMontigny F, Gervais C, Larivière-Bastien D, St-Arneault K. (2018) The role of fathers during breastfeeding. Midwifery. 58:6-12. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29272696 (Accessed 1st July 2018)

Department of Health. (2011) Breastfeeding. Available at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Nutrition/Nutritionpregnancyearlyyears/DH_127625 (Accessed 1st July 2018)

La Leche League. (2016) Still nursing? Available at: https://www.laleche.org.uk/still-nursing/ (Accessed 1st July 2018)

Lee GY, Kisilevsky BS. (2013) Fetuses respond to father's voice but prefer mother's voice after birth. Dev Psychobiol. 2014 Jan;56(1):1-11. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23817883 (Accessed 1st July 2018)

Miller R. (2019). Babywearing education in the neonatal intensive care unit. The International journal of childbirth education: the official publication of the International Childbirth Education Association. 34. 43-47. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334151320_Babywearing_Education_in_the_Neonatal_Intensive_Care_Unit (Accessed 1st July 2018)

NHS. (2016) How to combine breast and bottle feeding. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/combining-breast-and-bottle/ (Accessed 1st July 2018)

NHS. (2017) Benefits of breastfeeding. Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/benefits-breastfeeding.aspx (Accessed 1st July 2018)

NHS. (2018) Washing and bathing your baby. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/washing-your-baby/ (Accessed 1st July 2018)

Rempel LA, Rempel JK. (2010) The breastfeeding team: the role of involved fathers in the breastfeeding family. J Hum Lact. (2):115-21. Available at: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0890334410390045 (Accessed 1st July 2018)

Rowland M, Foxcroft L, Hopman WM, Patel R. (2005) Breastfeeding and sexuality immediately post partum. Can Fam Physician. 2005 Oct;51:1366-7. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1479788/ (Accessed 1st July 2018)

Su M, Ouyang YQ. (2016) Father's role in breastfeeding promotion: lessons from a quasi-experimental trial in China. Breastfeed Med. 11:144-9. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26836960 (Accessed 1st July 2018)

Tohotoa J, Maycock B, Hauck Y, Howat P, Burns S, Binns C. (2009) Dads make a difference: an exploratory study of paternal support for breastfeeding in Perth, Western Australia. Int Breastfeed J. 4:15. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2788531/ (Accessed 1st July 2018)

Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJ, França GV, Horton S, Krasevec J, Murch S, Sankar MJ, Walker N, Rollins NC; Lancet Breastfeeding Series Group. (2016) Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. 387(10017):475-90. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26869575 (Accessed 1st July 2018)

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How can dads and partners support breastfeeding? | Baby & toddler, Feeding articles & support | NCT

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This article looks at how dads and partners can help support a new mum who is breastfeeding in the early days.

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When should I feed my baby?

As a rough guide, your baby will feed at least eight to 12 times (sometimes more) over 24 hours during the first few weeks (NHS, 2016a; UNICEF, 2010). That means they'll probably need to feed every two to three hours.

Watch our video for tips on how often and how long to breastfeed your baby for.

Breastfed babies tend to feed more frequently than bottle-fed babies, or those combining breast and bottle (Casiday, 2004). This is because formula milk takes longer to digest (Martin, 2016).

It's best to feed your baby on demand rather than sticking to a feeding schedule. This is also known as responsive or baby-led feeding (WHO, 2009; Crowther et al, 2009; Entwistle, 2013; Fallon et al, 2016). Letting your baby feed when they want will help them get the milk they need. It will also stimulate your milk supply (Infant and Young Child Feeding, 2009).

What if I'm struggling or worried about the number of feeds?

We know from the experiences of new mums that breastfeeding responsively can be emotionally and physically challenging for different reasons (Fallon et al, 2016).

A baby that breastfeeds frequently can give parents a sense of reassurance but it can also cause worry. Sometimes, a baby feeding frequently can be seen as a sign that mum has insufficient milk or that baby isn't getting enough breastmilk during feeds. This sometimes leads to women supplementing feeds with formula milk or deciding to stop breastfeeding (Hoddinott et al, 2012).

Try and keep in mind that a newborn's stomach is really small. They need to feed little and often (NHS, 2017). It's really common for babies to have a good feed and then be hungry again quite quickly. This doesn't mean something is wrong or that they're not getting enough milk. It's just the way newborn babies feed.

If you're worried, it can really help to talk through your concerns with a breastfeeding counsellor. So call our Infant Feeding Support line on 0300 330 0700.

Will I produce enough milk?

The more you breastfeed your baby, the more milk you will produce (Jonas and Woodside, 2016). If your baby is attached properly, and you're both comfortable and feeding them when they ask for it, you will make enough milk for them (Infant and Young Child Feeding, 2009; Kent et al, 2012).

How do I know when to feed my baby?

When your baby is hungry they may give you little signals, known as early feeding cues (NHS, 2016a,b). They might:

* get restless

* suck their fist or fingers

* make murmuring sounds

* turn their head and open their mouth (rooting).

Looking out for and responding to these cues is important. It can help prevent your baby from becoming upset and frustrated, which will make it more difficult to feed them (Infant and Young Child Feeding, 2009).

How long should each feed last?

Every baby is different and they will go through different patterns of feeding as they grow (Kent et al, 2012). How much milk a baby needs per breastfeeding session will vary. It's best to be guided by your child (Kent et al, 2012).

As a general rule, babies who are feeding well will feed for between five and 40 minutes at each feed (UNICEF, 2010). Your baby will let you know when they've had enough milk. They will usually come off the breast themselves, look sleepy or calm, and look around (UNICEF, 2010).

During each breastfeed, your milk changes slightly. So the milk at the end of the feed (when the breast is emptier) is more creamy and filling than the milk at the beginning of the feed (Ballard and Morrow, 2013). Offer one breast and let your baby feed until they have emptied that breast fully. If they still appear hungry, offer the second breast - they may drink all or some of it (NICE, 2015). Start with this breast first next time.

Should I wake my baby up to feed?

In most cases, healthy, thriving newborns will wake up for feeds and get all the milk they need (Australian Breastfeeding Association, 2017). But there might be reasons why a newborn might be more sleepy and therefore need to be woken up for feeds.

This includes medical reasons, such as jaundice, infection or a heart problem, or perhaps because the pain relief used during birth is still affecting them (Australian Breastfeeding Association, 2017). If you're worried your baby might be sleeping too much and this is affecting their feeding, talk to your health visitor or call our Infant Feeding Support line on 0300 330 0700.

Further information

We support all parents, however they feed their child. If you have questions, concerns or need support, you can speak to a breastfeeding counsellor by calling our helpline on 0300 330 0700, whether you are exclusively breastfeeding or using formula milk. Breastfeeding counsellors have had extensive training, will listen without judging or criticising and will offer relevant information and suggestions. You can also find more useful articles here.

National Breastfeeding Line (government funded): 0300 100 0212.

Australian Breastfeeding Association. (2017) Do I need to wake my baby for feeds? Available at: https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/do-i-need-wake-my-baby-feeds [Accessed 1st October 2017].

Ballard O, Morrow AL. (2013) Human milk composition: nutrients and bioactive factors. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 60(1):49-74. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3586783/ [Accessed 1st October 2017].

Crowther SM, Reynolds LA, Tansey EM (2009). The resurgence of breastfeeding, 1975-2000. Wellcome Witnesses to Twentieth Century Medicine. London: Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL. Available at: http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/15855/1/15855.pdf [Accessed 1st October 2017].

Entwistle FM. (2013) The evidence and rationale for the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative standards. UNICEF UK. Available at: https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/about/evidence-and-rationale-for-the-baby-friendly-standards/ [Accessed 1st October 2017].

Fallon A, Van der Putten D, Dring C, Moylett EH, Fealy G, Devane D. (2016) Baby-led compared with scheduled (or mixed) breastfeeding for successful breastfeeding. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (9):CD009067. Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009067.pub3/full [Accessed 1st October 2017].

Hoddinott P, Craig, LCA, Britten J, McInnes RJ. (2012) A serial qualitative interview study of infant feeding experiences: idealism meets realism. BMJ Open 2:1-14. Available at: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/2/e000504 [Accessed 1st October 2017].

World Health Organization. (2009) Session 2 The physiological basis of breastfeeding. In: Infant and Young Child Feeding. Model Chapter for Textbooks for Medical Students and Allied Health Professionals. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK148970/ [Accessed 1st October 2017].

Jonas W, Woodside B. (2016) Physiological mechanisms, behavioural and psychological factors influencing the transfer of milk from mothers to their young. Hormones and Behaviour. 77:167-181. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26232032 [Accessed 1st October 2017].

Kent JC, Prime DK, Garbin CP. (2012) Principles for maintaining or increasing breast milk production. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing. 41(1):114-121. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2011.01313.x [Accessed 1st October 2017].

Martin CR, Ling PR, Blackburn GL. (2016) Review of infant feeding: key features of breast milk and infant formula. Nutrients, 8(5):279. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/5/279 [Accessed 1st October 2017].

NHS. (2016a) Breastfeeding: the first few days. Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/breastfeeding-first-days.aspx#building [Accessed 1st October 2017].

NHS. (2016b) Breastfeeding: is my baby getting enough milk? Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/breastfeeding-is-baby-getting-enough-milk.aspx [Accessed 1st October 2017].

NHS. (2017) Your breastfeeding questions answered. Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/your-breastfeeding-questions.aspx [Accessed 1st October 2017].

NICE (2015) Postnatal care up to 8 weeks after birth. CG37. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg37 [Accessed 1st October 2017].

NICE. (2017) Faltering growth: recognition and management of faltering growth in children. NG75. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng75/chapter/Recommendations#weight-loss-in-the-early-days-of-life [Accessed 1st October 2017].

UNICEF. (2010) Baby Friendly Initiative. Breastfeeding checklist for mothers - How can I tell that breastfeeding is going well? Available at: https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/10/mothers_breastfeeding_checklist.pdf [Accessed 1st October 2017].

World Health Organization; United Nations Children's Fund (2009). Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative: revised, updated and expanded for integrated care. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23926623 [Accessed 1st October 2017].
Further reading
Leurer MD, Misskey E. (2015) "Be positive as well as realistic": a qualitative description analysis of information gaps experienced by breastfeeding mothers. International Breastfeeding Journal. 10(10):2-11. Available at: https://internationalbreastfeedingjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13006-015-0036-7 [Accessed 1st October 2017].

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As a rough guide, your baby will feed at least eight to 12 times (sometimes more) over 24 hours during the first few weeks (NHS, 2016a; UNICEF, 2010). That means they'll probably need to feed every two to three hours. Watch our video for tips on how often and how long to breastfeed your baby for.

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Bottle Feeding | Breastfeeding | Start4Life

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If you are planning to bottle feed your baby, our guide will provide you with tips and advice and will help you through the process.

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Step by step guide on how to safely prepare formula milks.

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Here we provide tips and information on how to make up a baby's bottle using formula milk including how to mix baby formula.

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Why is it so important?

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Skin-to-skin contact - Baby Friendly Initiative

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Skin-to-skin contact is important for babies and mothers to develop close, loving parent-infant relationships and to initiate breastfeeding.

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How much milk does my newborn baby need?

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How much milk does my newborn baby need?

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video:
approx. 5 minutes

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Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Positioning and attachment

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Your baby will be weighed at birth and at particular stages during their first weeks and months (NHS Choices, 2017a). This is because weight gain can be an important indicator of how healthy and well they are.

Your baby will be weighed in the first two weeks to make sure they are regaining their birth weight.

After the first two weeks, your baby should be weighed:

once a month up to six months old

every two months from six to 12 months old

every three months over the age of one.

(NHS Choices, 2017a)

Your baby will usually only be weighed more often if you ask for it or if health professionals are concerned about their health or growth.

Baby weight gain

What to expect

In the first few days after birth, your baby will probably lose a little weight as they get rid of urine and meconium (NHS Choices, 2017a). Most babies have returned to their birth weight by three weeks old (NICE, 2017).

Babies shouldn't lose more than 10% of their weight from when they were born (NICE, 2017). If your baby loses more than this or has not returned to it by three weeks old, a health professional will assess them (NICE, 2017).

Assessment

An assessment will look for signs of illness, like dehydration. The health professional will ask for details about how your baby has been feeding. The health professional might also ask to look at your baby having a feed. That can help them give you some support with feeding (NICE, 2017).

You can also ask your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding counsellor to observe you feeding your baby. They can check your positioning and whether your baby is taking in milk effectively (NHS Choices, 2017a). They can also help to see whether your baby is attached well at your breast and they can spot a tongue tie (NHS Choices, 2017a).

If health professionals are concerned about your baby's weight loss, they will continue to support you. Your baby should be reweighed at suitable intervals depending on the level of concern. Your baby might then be referred to paediatric services if they are showing signs of illness, obvious weight loss or if they're not responding to feeding support.

What can I do if my baby is not gaining weight?

If your baby hasn't regained their birth weight and you're breastfeeding, you might need to offer them more breastfeeds. It can take time to get the hang of breastfeeding but there is plenty of support available.

Find out from your local NCT branch what breastfeeding support services are available in your area. An NCT breastfeeding counsellor might be available locally to visit you at home. You can ask a breastfeeding counsellor about how to increase your baby's breastmilk intake.

You might have a local drop-in breastfeeding support session too, where you can meet other mums and their babies. Peer support like this can be really beneficial.

How is my baby's weight recorded?

After your baby is two weeks old, they will have their weight recorded on a centile chart in their red book (Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2016). Centile charts track average weight and height gain for all babies whether they are fed breast or formula milk.

A baby on the 25th centile is heavier than 24% of babies the same age, and lighter than 74% of babies the same age. Most babies roughly follow the same line of growth on the chart as they get older, while others veer away from the line or find a 'new' line (NHS Choices, 2017a).

Causes for concern

There might be concern about your baby's growth if:

there is a fall across one or more weight centile spaces, if their birth weight was below the ninth centile

there is a fall across two or more weight centile spaces, if their birth weight was between the ninth and 91st centiles

there is a fall across three or more weight centile spaces, if their birth weight was above the 91st centile

their current weight is below the second centile for age, whatever their birth weight.

If there is concern about your baby's growth, a health professional might:

perform a clinical, developmental and social assessment

take a detailed feeding or eating history

observe feeding or meal times

check for urinary tract infections and coeliac disease, if the diet has included gluten-containing foods

perform further investigations as needed based on the clinical assessment.

When your baby is weighed, you'll be keen to make sure it's done accurately. Your baby should be naked each time. Check the weight reading yourself and how it's written in your records as mistakes can happen.

What if my baby's weight gain is slower than expected?

Most babies who gain weight more slowly than expected are healthy with no underlying illness or difficulty. They might just be naturally slow at gaining weight (NHS Choices, 2017a).

You and your health visitor can discuss your baby's weight. If there is concern but no urgent medical recommendations, the first step is to try to increase your baby's intake of milk. You can:

Try breastfeeding more often, day and night.

Offer at least both breasts at each feed. Try 'switch nursing', which is when you try to use each breast several times at each feed.

Try breast compression.

Keeping your baby close to you, skin-to-skin when possible as this usually helps your baby to feed more often. This might be something you can try intensively over a period of a few days, it's sometimes called a 'babymoon'.

(NHS Choices, 2016a)

What about giving my baby expressed breastmilk?

Expressing and offering expressed breastmilk in addition to direct breastfeeds is another possibility. If your baby is feeding well from the breast, extra direct breastfeeds are an easier option. The more your baby feeds at the breast, the more milk your body will produce.

What about donor milk?

Donor milk is breastmilk from other mothers. It might be available from a hospital-based milk bank. But mostly, milk banks give milk to vulnerable, pre-term or sick babies who are still under hospital care. Donor milk is also available through private milk donation schemes.

What is a supplemental nursing system?

Some women whose baby has problems breastfeeding use a supplementary nursing system (SNS). This device allows a baby to receive extra milk at the breast, rather than top-ups by bottle.

It is a container of milk connected to a feeding tube at the breast. The baby breastfeeds as well as receiving extra milk from the supplementary nursing system. You can use expressed breastmilk, donor milk or formula-milk in this system.

Does my baby need formula?

Using formula might be medically necessary to help your baby grow if their weight is still a concern. This might be the case if extra breastfeeds are not making enough difference or you can't get donor milk (NHS Choices, 2017b).

Feeding your baby with formula milk does not mean you have to stop breastfeeding if you don't want to - you can do both. It also doesn't mean the benefits of breastfeeding are wiped out (NHS Choices, 2017b).

If you still want to breastfeed, you can limit the amount of formula and you may be able to drop it once your baby's weight is ok, if that's what you prefer. Talk about this with a breastfeeding counsellor or a healthcare professional.

Should my baby have solid food?

Babies under six months don't generally benefit from food other than breastmilk or formula milk. Solids might not increase a baby's calorie intake and may even mean a baby takes less milk than before. So it may be an ineffective way to address low weight (NHS Choices, 2015).

This is something you can discuss with your health visitor or GP (NHS Choices, 2015).

Most babies who are slow to gain weight eventually catch up and most are healthy with no underlying illness or difficulties. Weight is only one aspect of your baby's health and development (NHS Choices, 2017a). Trust your instincts and contact your GP if you are concerned about your baby, especially if you think they might be dehydrated, which can be serious for young babies.

Further information

NCT supports all parents, however they feed their baby. If you have questions, concerns or need support, you can speak to a breastfeeding counsellor by calling our helpline on 0300 330 0700, whether you are exclusively breastfeeding or using formula milk. Breastfeeding counsellors have had extensive training, will listen without judging or criticising and will offer relevant information and suggestions.

Read our list of breastfeeding support contacts to help you get support if you need it.

Find out from your local NCT branch what breastfeeding support services are available locally.

If you have serious concerns about your baby or are worried they are getting dehydrated contact your GP or 111.

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My baby is not gaining weight | Baby & toddler, Feeding articles & support | NCT

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Your baby will be weighed at birth and at particular stages during their first weeks and months (NHS Choices, 2017a). This is because weight gain can be an important indicator of how healthy and well they are. Your baby will be weighed in the first two weeks to make sure they are regaining their birth weight.

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Sore nipples when breastfeeding | Baby & toddler, Feeding articles & support | NCT

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Sore nipples can be a problem in the early days of breastfeeding and beyond. This article discusses causes of sore nipples and how to ease the pain.

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What is mastitis and how can I treat it?

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Mastitis: symptoms and treatment | Baby & toddler, Feeding articles & support | NCT

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Mastitis is a painful breast condition. Here we discuss its symptoms, treatment, how to continue breastfeeding with mastitis and how to help prevent it.

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Jaundice is common in newborns and is helped by effective feeding

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Jaundice in Healthy Newborns - La Leche League GB

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If your new baby has jaundice, it's normal to be worried and concerned. Knowing more about newborn jaundice will help you decide if you need to see medical help and understand why tests may be needed. More than 80% of all newborns appear jaundiced during the first week of life.

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Tips for supporting partners

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Support For Crying And Sleepless Babies | Home | Cry-sis

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Cry-sis, the only UK charity offering help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. From modest beginnings Cry-Sis...

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Choosing formula milks and responsive bottle feeding

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Choosing formula milks and responsive bottle feeding

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Some useful info about sleep patterns and feeding needs

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Popular beliefs about when babies should be 'sleeping through the night' are based on studies conducted in the 1950s and 1960s on groups of formula-fed babies. However, it is normal for babies - especially breastfed babies - to wake and feed throughout the night during, at least, the first year. Encouraging babies to 'sleep through' before they are ready to do so makes it difficult to keep breastfeeding and may encourage babies to develop mature sleep patterns out of sequence with their other circadian patterns, such as those controlling the regulation of temperature, hormone production, and the genes that control our biological rhythms.

Babies operate according to their own internal biological rhythms, and they are unaware of what their parents are reading or being told. Babies do not have a body clock when they are born. It often takes several months for a baby's day-night pattern of wake and sleep to become established, and for night-time sleep consolidation to happen. During this time many parents just need reassurance that their baby is normal, and that their baby's sleep patterns are developing as expected.

New-born babies may sleep for 18 or so hours a day, but often for only for 2-3 hours at a time. During the first-year overall sleep duration falls to around 15 hours a day, and the majority of sleep becomes concentrated during night-time as the circadian rhythms* develop.
Sleep variation
In a comprehensive systematic review (Galland et al. 2012) combined data from 34 studies relating to normal infant sleep duration. The chart below shows part of this data for babies aged up to one year. Data from each study & age range are represented by a dot which shows the average total sleep experienced. [The dotted line shows the amount of variation around that average.] It is clear that younger babies sleep longer overall, but there is also a lot of variation among individual babies, and within studies for this group.

Sleep is a developmental process, and our sleep needs change throughout our lifetimes. Babies' sleep patterns mature over the first several years of life, and the sleep architecture of newborns is very different to that of adults. Newborns sleep for 18-20 or so hours a day, but only for 2-3 hours at a time. During the first-year overall sleep duration falls to around 15 hours, and the majority of sleep becomes consolidated during night-time as circadian rhythms develop (Parmelee et al 1964).

*Circadian rhythms - biological processes which are roughly tied to the 24-hour day, and periods of daylight and dark. Processes regulated by our circadian rhythms include heart rate, temperature and our 'body clock', along with the production of hormones which make us feel sleepy or alert.*

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use hair dye? spray tan? manicures? Common concerns for breastfeeding mothers.

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Can I drink alcohol while breastfeeding?

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Can I drink alcohol while breastfeeding?

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Some useful information.

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video: approx. 10 minutes

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Attaching Your Baby at the Breast – Breastfeeding Series

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Article reading time: approx. 10 minutes.

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by Dr. Amy Brown

Responsive parenting e.g. responding promptly and appropriately to a baby's needs is widely recognised as an important protective element for infant health, wellbeing and development ¹. When babies feel secure in the care of a primary caregiver, they go on to have better outcomes socially, educationally and emotionally ².

There are many elements to responsive parenting but one of the central aspects within this relationship is the importance of responsive feeding. Responding to a baby's feeding cues (both of hunger and satiation), whether they are breast or bottle fed is an important step to helping a baby develop not only a secure attachment relationship, but in establishing longer term positive eating behaviours. Responsive feeding takes advantage of a young baby's natural ability to regulate their intake of calories - something that can disappear when a baby gets older ³. Feeding when they are hungry and being able to stop when they are full helps them to retain this ability ⁴.

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However, the notion of responsive feeding can lead to significant concerns for new parents, particularly in relation to how often breastfed babies feed. One concern is whether feeding frequently is a sign that the baby isn't getting enough milk, exacerbated by not being able to see how much milk the baby is consuming. Others may worry about whether babies need to learn to feed less frequently in a set pattern. However, responding to a baby's natural cues is a critical step in establishing milk supply and encouraging healthy weight gain and development in babies.
How often do babies breastfeed?
As with everything, how often a baby naturally wants to feed will vary amongst individuals. However studies that explore how often babies breastfeed find that most do so between 8 - 12 times per 24 hours, although some feed much more than that (up to around 18 times in some studies). Most tend to feed towards the latter part of that range, with around 11 - 12 feeds per 24 hours ⁵.

Notably, babies calorie needs do not change vastly after the first few weeks, but they become able to take bigger feeds. This means that from around 8 - 12 weeks some babies start feeding in longer intervals. However, this pattern doesn't necessarily remain. Studies that have tracked this longitudinally find that many babies do start to feed less often but then start feeding again more frequently (akin to a newborn) around 4 months of age, before dropping down again. This fits with the commonly observed 'four month growth spurt', which is often seen as a mistaken need for solid foods ⁶. However, as with everything, some babies will continue to take smaller feeds more often until they move to solid foods (and, still even then). Just as with adults, some of us prefer set meals a day whereas others prefer to graze.

As well as being little and often, most babies don't naturally breastfeed to a set pattern e.g. every three hours. If allowed to feed whenever they want to, many breastfed babies are good at feeding according to hunger, which doesn't fit into a set pattern (how many adults truly eat or drink at precise set intervals?). Things like growth spurts and cluster feeding (where babies feed numerous times over a period of up to a few hours) are common and are thought to stimulate the body to produce more ⁷.

Variations will also occur according to the content of the mothers milk. Research has shown that fat content can vary between mothers. Mothers who produce milk with a higher fat content are more likely to have babies that have shorter feeds e.g. they take in a similar energy density to those with lower fat content in their milk who take a little longer to consume it ⁸.

Breastmilk also changes in content, particularly in terms of calories and fat. During a feed, milk becomes denser in fat as the feed progresses. Fat content and energy density are also higher during the day than the night. In hot weather breastmilk can also be less energy dense, encouraging infants to consume more of a higher water content milk ⁹. Again, this can affect the amount or frequency of how often babies feed. Generally, the less energy dense the milk, the more they take in.

Feeding frequency is also context dependent. In Western culture our norm is to separate from our babies to some extent. Baby wearing for most of the day and co-sleeping are normal from an evolutionary perspective but not common in our society today. Put simply, this means that babies do not always have easy and unfettered access to the breast. However, in cultures where co-sleeping and carrying infants in a sling are common, and babies therefore have free access to the breast, they feed far more frequently than this. An observational stud of the rural hunter- gatherer tribe known as the !Kung, found that babies breastfed on average four times an hour, with an average feed being two minutes or less ¹⁰. Other studies show less frequent feeds, but sill significantly more than in Western cultures. For example one study in rural Thailand found babies averaged 15 feeds over 24 hours ¹¹. In the UK, when babies do co-sleep, they feed more per night ¹².
Why do babies need to breastfeed so often?
Firstly, breastmilk is low in fat and protein but high in carbohydrates and lactose, which makes it easy - and quick - to digest. It is more easily digested than formula milk, which means that breastfed babies often feed more frequently than formula fed babies (approximately every two hours compared to three hour for formula fed babies) ¹³. Breastfed babies reach a fasting state quicker than formula fed infants, with 75% of breastfed infants reached a fasting state within 3 hours from the last feed compared to 17% of formula fed babies ¹⁴.

Breastfed babies also tend to consume less milk than formula fed babies at each feed, preferring to feed little and often compared to many formula fed babies. A baby's tummy has a maximum capacity of 90ml. Breastfed babies tend to take smaller feeds, not completely filling their stomach. In the first six months babies need around 750ml of milk a day meaning that even at maximum capacity that equates to feeding around every three hours ¹⁴. Research has shown that formula fed babies take in more milk from the first day of life (about twice as much on day one and three times as much by day two) ¹⁵.
Why is responsive feeding so important?
Meeting the frequent and unpredictable feeding needs of a breastfed baby can feel challenging and is a common reason why mothers stop breastfeeding - either through anxiety that something is wrong, or a belief that formula will offer a more convenient feeding schedule ¹⁶. However, responsive feeding is not only normal but important for a number of reasons.

Feeding responsively is particularly important when a baby is breastfed because it is intrinsically linked to establishing and maintaining a good supply of breastmilk. Breastmilk starts to be produced in small amounts during pregnancy. Once the placenta is removed after birth this production shoots up, supported by rises in the hormones prolactin and oxytocin ¹⁷.

However, once this initial surge has occurred, one of the most important things for breast milk supply is frequent feeding. Simply, the more milk is removed from the breast (either by a baby or by expressing), the more milk is produced. The human body is very clever at matching how much milk is removed (e.g. how much the body believes the baby needs) to how much it produce ¹⁸. One study that asked mothers to either feed their newborn baby responsively or to feed to a set 3 - 4 schedule found that babies who were fed responsively consumed a third more milk ¹⁹.

Because responsive feeding is linked to a better milk supply, it has a knock on effect onto outcomes for babies. Responsive feeding is associated with mature milk coming in quicker after the birth ²⁰, regaining birth weight faster ¹⁹, and a lower risk of jaundice ²¹. Conversely, supplementing with formula milk, particularly in the early days and weeks, can lead to a drop in supply, or difficulties with latch ²². Using a pacifier can also reduce milk intake as it can lead to a delay in how often babies are fed. Babies who use a pacifier feed on average for half an hour less each day which equates to one fewer feed< ²³.

Based on this, it is not surprising that babies who are fed responsively are more likely to continue being breastfeed ²⁴. Meanwhile, trying to breastfeed to a parent led routine is associated with stopping breastfeeding ²⁵. This can apply to wider parenting style; mothers who adopt a routine for feeding, sleep and day to day care of their infant are more likely to stop breastfeeding in the early days ²⁶. Notably, those who stop breastfeeding after using a routine are more likely to report breastfeeding difficulties e.g. low milk supply, pain on latch and a fussy baby - likely a knock on impact of lower milk supply from less frequent feeding ¹⁶.
What about night time feeding?
Babies' needs do not cease to exist simply because it is dark outside. One of the main needs infants have at night is to feed. A baby's stomach is still the same size and breast milk still easily digested at night as it is in the day. Research suggests that it is not until around two months that a baby's natural day and night circadian rhythm kicks in. Until that point, the concept of sleeping for an extended period of time is not something that babies are physiologically designed to do - and even then it can take a while to get into the habit ²⁷.

However, society continues to sell us the myth that babies should start sleeping through the night after the first few weeks, and that getting them to this stage is an achievement. Aside from evidence to the contrary, given that around a third of adults report at least mild insomnia, should we really believe that babies who cannot meet their own needs if they wake should be able to sleep all night? How many adults when they wake have a drink of water?

Waking at night is also thought to be protective. Babies want to be close to their mother at night and sleeping close to them helps babies maintain their temperature ²⁸, heart rate ²⁹ and have steadier breathing ³⁰. Sleeping too deeply may be a risk factor for SIDS. Babies who have died of SIDS are more likely to have longer periods of uninterrupted sleep and moved about less in their sleep ³¹.

Research exploring night waking in the first year brings estimates of between 30 - 80% of babies still waking at least once with a number of studies saying most babies continue to wake once or twice a night throughout the first year ³². Although sleep problems in older children can be an issue, waking at night as a baby has no link with later sleep problems or development ³³.

Feeding at night is also common - and important - in supporting breastfeeding. Firstly, the body takes into account feeds at night when establishing milk supply. Babies take in around a third of their milk supply at night (although in toddlers in cultures where co-sleeping is the norm, this can rise to 50% as many are busy and distracted during the day) ¹¹. Feeding at night is an important step in developing a good milk supply. Although it may be dark outside, the body still considers frequency of feeds at night when establishing milk supply.

Feeding at night is also an essential part of providing a high level of contraceptive cover through the Lactational Amenorrhea Method. This method offers 98% security of contraception as long as babies are fed responsively (and are under 6 months and receiving no formula milk or solid foods). Feeding at night is an important part of this ³⁴.

Additionally, feeding at night is important from a hormonal perspective. Prolactin is linked to milk supply; generally the higher prolactin levels you have, the more milk is made. Prolactin levels are already higher at night but also rise further when your baby feeds, so feeding at night is a great opportunity to really drive those levels higher and help your milk supply ³⁵.

Sometimes parents worry about their baby continuing to breastfeed at night based on the myths that a) babies should sleep through the night and b) breastfeeding stops babies sleeping through the night. However, rather than being something breastfed babies do more, breastfeeding at night should be recognised as something that is very normal. In countries where night-time infant care and co-sleeping is the norm, babies breastfeed around four times a night ³⁶.

Some studies do show that very young babies who are formula fed start sleeping for longer at an earlier age more, suggesting that breastfeeding was likely used as a tool to encourage the baby back to sleep quickly ³⁷ and have longer periods of deep sleep ³⁸. However once babies get a little older, this difference disappears. One study found that for babies aged 6 - 12 months, babies who were breastfed did more at night than babies who were formula fed. However they did not ³². Indeed, two studies exploring the sleep patterns of mothers who breast or formula fed found that breastfeeding mothers got more hours of sleep overall, alongside feeling in better health< ³⁹ whilst another found that mothers who were breastfeeding actually had more rest per night that those who formula fed because it took less time to resettle the baby ⁴⁰.

When parents are thinking about a routine for feeds, one of the most common places they start is by trying to reduce night feeds, and more generally encourage 'sleeping through the night'. However, sleep training can have a negative impact on breastfeeding success. One intervention to reduce night waking in babies aged 6 - 12 months found that although babies started sleeping for longer, breastfeeding rates dropped far more rapidly than expected during the course of the study ⁴¹.

Feeding responsively is therefore a critical element of establishing and maintaining milk supply, supporting weight gain and promoting positive longer term eating behaviour in children. More importantly, it is the norm and biological expectation of young babies, and a central element of a responsive parenting relationship however a baby is fed. Feeding responsively can be demanding for mothers though and as a society, rather than trying to normalise routines and scheduled feeding, we should be looking towards how we can value and support our new families better. Mothering the mother so she can breastfeed her baby, and more widely, supporting the new family and a unit makes the new responsibility of caring for a young baby that little bit easier.
References and links http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/dev/42/4/627 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19112517
3. Fomon, S.J., Filmer, L.J., Thomas, L.N., Anderson, T.A., & Nelson, S.E. (1975). Influence of formula concentration on caloric intake and growth of normal infants. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavia , 64/2, 172 - 81.
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8. Tyson, J., Burchfield, J., Sentence, F., et al. (1992). Adaptation of feeding to a low fat yield in breast milk. Pediatrics , 89/2, 215-220.
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7352291
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3442252 http://adc.bmj.com/content/89/12/1106 http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v58/n9/full/1601964a.html http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/80/3/434.short http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07315724.2001.10719033 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-277X.2010.01145.x/abstract http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/7818388 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1651-2227.1986.tb10313.x/abstract http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673652904509 http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/510586 http://www.academia.edu/1603964/The_initiation_of_lactation_the_effect_of_early_versus_delayed_contact_for_suckling_on_milk_intake_in_the_first_week_post-partum._A_study_in_Chiang_Mai_Northern_Thailand https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24529621
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10506275
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/107/3/e38.short http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0054229 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0083893 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12897290 http://adc.bmj.com/content/75/3/249.info https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/68c7/5209655dd68925115082acd8730ca1aaea06.pdf https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/jappl.1998.84.4.1374 http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/2740699 http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/bfm.2014.0153 https://www.nationalelfservice.net/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Price-2012-Sleep-Med.pdf
34. Labbok, M.H. et al. Multicenter study of the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM): I. Efficacy, duration, and implications for clinical application. Contraception 1997; 55(6):327-36

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9262927

35. Riordan, J. & Wambach, K. (2010) Breastfeeding and Human Lactation 4th ed. Jones and Bartlett, p. 89
https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=lDb3BQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=Riordan,+J.+%26+Wambach,+K.+(2010)++Breastfeeding+and+Human+Lactation+4th+ed.+Jones+and+Bartlett,+p.+89&ots=NrFUzunn3I&sig=OMVyHApWEzVmFRKVEXYY4dynQeQ#v=onepage&q&f=false http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/089033440101700307 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1523-536X.2003.00243.x/full https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jon_Moon3/publication/21676170_Sleep_Organization_and_Energy_Expenditure_of_Breast-Fed_and_Formula-Fed_Infants/links/5543d6230cf24107d396377b/Sleep-Organization-and-Energy-Expenditure-of-Breast-Fed-and-Formula-Fed-Infants.pdf http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/springer/clac/2011/00000002/00000002/art00007
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41. Hall, W.A., Saunders, R.A., Clauson, M., Carty, E.M. and Janssen, P.A., 2006. Effects of an intervention aimed at reducing night waking and signaling in 6-to 12-month-old infants. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 4(4), pp.242-261.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15402010bsm0404_4 About Amy Brown:

Dr. Amy Brown is an Associate professor in Child Public Health in the Department of Public Health, Policy and Social Sciences at Swansea University, UK. Her research explores the psychology of maternal and infant health and wellbeing, particularly during the first 1001 days of pregnancy and the first two years of life. She has a particular expertise in infant nutrition, but her research also explores the wider yet inter related issues of normal baby behaviour, sleep, parenting and postnatal depression.

As part of her role, Dr Brown leads the MSc in Child Public Health - an interdisciplinary programme which explores the evidence base behind child public health policy in the UK and internationally. This programme is particularly popular amongst health professionals and graduate students alike and has attracted students from South Korea, Nigeria, Canada, Guatemala and Ghana to name a few.

Check out her book Breastfeeding Uncovered at:

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Importance of Responsive Feeding * KellyMom.com

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The importance of responsive feeding in establishing a good breastmilk supply by Dr. Amy Brown Responsive parenting e.g. responding promptly and appropriately to a baby's needs is widely recognised as an important protective element for infant health, wellbeing and development1. When babies feel secure in the care of a primary caregiver, they go on to [...]

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Information about feeding twins and multiples.

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Twins Trust - We support twins, triplets and more...

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Supporting you through every milestone of your journey with twins, triplets or more. From being pregnant with twins, triplets or quads through to parenting twins, triplets or quads, we are here for you.

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some articles and videos about expressing and storage of breastmilk, including hand expressing.

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How to store breast milk

Store breast milk in a sterilised container, or special breast milk storage bags - remember to label and date it. Your milk can then be kept in the:

fridge, at the back and not the door, for up to 5 days (at 4°C or lower)

ice compartment of the fridge for up to 2 weeks

freezer for up to 6 months

Tip: Store your milk in small quantities to avoid waste.

The best way to defrost frozen breast milk is by leaving it in the fridge to thaw out completely. But if you need it straightaway, you can defrost it by placing the bag or container in a jug of warm water, or by holding it under running warm water. Whichever way you defrost the milk, it must be used immediately (never re-freeze it).

Warming breast milk

Your baby may be perfectly happy to drink the milk cold, but if not, you can warm it (up to body temperature) under warm running water, or by sitting it in a jug of warm water. Make sure to use the milk within an hour, anything left over should be discarded.

Microwaves are not suitable for warming or defrosting milk, they can cause hot spots which can burn your baby's mouth.

Feeding your baby expressed milk

You can feed your baby with your expressed milk in a bottle, syringe, spoon, or special feeding cup. If you are feeding your newborn in hospital, your midwife will be able to give you some help and guidance. And if you're at home, your health visitor will be able to help.

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Start4Life - Expressing Breast Milk | Breastfeeding | Start4Life

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Store breast milk in a sterilised container, or special breast milk storage bags - remember to label and date it. Your milk can then be kept in the: fridge, at the back and not the door, for up to 5 days (at 4°C or lower) ice compartment of the fridge for up to 2 weeks freezer for up to 6 months Tip: Store your milk in small quantities to avoid waste.

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What would you expect to see in a newborn's nappy?

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What would you expect to see in a newborn's nappy?

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Signs that feeding is going well

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Newborn baby poo in nappies: what to expect

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Your baby’s nappy can tell you a lot - find out more here.