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This video by the Baby Friendly Initiative talks through how to hand express breast milk

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Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Hand expression

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A video by UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative about Hand Expression

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Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Hand expression

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A guide from UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative about caring for your baby at night.

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This Family Hub's Youtube channel has videos about responsive feeding in Romanian, Bengali, Polish, Arabic and Sorani

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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A video from UNICEF Europe & Central Asia to explain the science behind how breastfeeding works.

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How breastfeeding really works (and how to increase your milk supply)

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Virtual weaning sessions run in partnership by Growing Healthy Northumberland and Family Hubs.

To book your place visit hdft Northumberland Virtual

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Contact your local Family Hub to find out when the next Starting Solids session is running Find a Family Hub | Family Hubs

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A guide from the Breastfeeding Network on how to breastfeed, including how to get started.

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How to breastfeed - The Breastfeeding Network

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Getting Started Breastfeeding should be COMFORTABLE How you sit (or lie down) and how close you hold your baby as you feed can make a difference to how well things go. Sometimes a little difference in how your baby is feeding can make a big difference to how comfortable it is for you and how [...]

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This video from Best Beginnings shows different breastfeeding positions and holds.

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Best Beginnings - creators of Baby Buddy

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This guide to positioning & attachment also shows some different positions to help make breastfeeding comfortable for you.

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Getting your baby positioned and attached comfortably at the breast is an art-mothers often say it takes a little while for breastfeeding to feel entirely comfortable and natural, even if they've breastfed before. In the past girls grew up learning about breastfeeding by watching mothers in their families and communities. These days many of us become mothers having never seen a baby breastfeed.
But breastfeeding has worked for mothers and babies for thousands of years and it can work for you too.
Many babies can find their way to the breast by themselves, especially if they haven't been too affected by birth interventions. Other mums and babies need a little longer to work it out with maybe some help from a skilled breastfeeding supporter such as an LLL Leader.

When all is going well, specific holds and positions don't really matter because you and your baby will work out what suits you best. However if you are finding it awkward, uncomfortable or downright painful then the following information is designed to help you think about where you can make adjustments and get breastfeeding working comfortably for you.

Good positioning and attachment is important for maintaining milk production. A baby who attaches deeply at the breast is able to remove milk effectively. This is important for maintaining milk production. Well-drained breasts make milk quickly. If there is any concern about how much milk you are making, working on improving positioning and attachment is an important first step.

There's no 'right' or 'wrong'. If you are comfortable, your baby is producing plenty of dirty nappies and is gaining weight after the first few days, then breastfeeding is going well for you. There are no rules-but there are a few principles that can help you work out what to do if things aren't going well: see Latching on - getting a good attachment.

Positioning describes how you sit or lie and how you support your baby as he takes the breast. How you hold your baby can make a big difference to how well he can breastfeed. Even small adjustments can be significant. Attachment describes the way he latches onto the breast.

Tips for getting started
The laid-back approach
Latching on - getting a good attachment
Different breastfeeding positions
As time goes by

Tips for getting started

If it hurts then make changes

If it doesn't feel right to you, then it isn't fine, whatever anyone says. Pain is your body's way of letting you know something is wrong. Start by trying to improve positioning and attachment. A few quick adjustments to how you are sitting or lying or how your baby comes towards the breast may be all that are needed.

Sometimes it can take a little longer. You may need to work with one or more skilled breastfeeding supporters over a period of time to get to the point where everything falls into place and breastfeeding starts feeling natural.

Each mother and baby pair is different and what works well for one mother and baby may not work for you. This is one reason why you may hear different suggestions from different helpers. You are the best judge of what is helpful so don't be afraid to use what feels right for you and discard the rest.

Your baby needs to be calm

You can offer the breast at any time when you are both calm. You may even find it easier if your baby isn't obviously hungry. Feed your baby before he needs to cry. Early cues for wanting to eat include suckingtheir hand, smacking their lips, turning their head towards you, or fussing. They won't latch well if they are distressed. If your baby is upset take time to soothe them. Hold them upright against you, stroke them and talk to them. A little expressed colostrum or breastmilk given on a spoon can help to calm them if they are desperately hungry.

Your baby needs full body contact

When your baby is held in full body contact against you, they will feel stable and be better able to coordinate their movements. Laid back positions ensure full body contact. If you're sitting up, you'll need to hug your baby in as tightly as if you were standing up holding them against you. Babies who don't feel stable tend to wave their arms around, which can make latching more difficult. Pillows can get in the way and aren't always necessary. So wait until after your baby's latched on, and then tuck them in only if you need them for support.

Some babies need time

Some babies find it difficult to latch on, or simply nurse ineffectively at the breast. Often a difficult birth or interventions during labour or birth are the cause. Giving a baby time to recover, and using laid-back breastfeeding positions with skin-to-skin contact can maximise your baby's natural instinct to breastfeed. If your baby isn't latching or feeding well seek help from an LLL Leader and read our page My Baby Won't Breastfeed. With time and patience, most babies will breastfeed. In the meantime express your milk for your baby to maintain milk production and give you both the time to work it out.

Laid-back breastfeeding

Many people assume you have to sit up to breastfeed. Not so. In fact evidence suggests humans evolved to breastfeed in laid-back positions with our babies upright against our chests. You may have experienced this type of position when you had your first feed, soon after your baby's birth. There is more and more evidence that laid-back breastfeeding positions (also called Biological Nurturing) help babies breastfeed more effectively and are more comfortable for mothers, especially in the early days and weeks.

Laid back breastfeeding is really useful for those first few days and weeks when you want to rest and recover and your baby needs to be in close contact with you to get breastfeeding established. It can be done skin-to-skin or with you both lightly dressed. You don't have to be in bed; the sofa or a reclining chair is a comfortable alternative.

You can also use laid-back breastfeeding principles when sitting in an upright chair by shifting your weight back onto your tail bone and reclining your body back a little, to open up a space for your baby. This allows more of their weight to be supported by your body and less by your arms. It isn't safe to sleep with your baby on a chair or sofa.

Sleepy babies

If your baby is sleepy, perhaps because of birth interventions, then using laid-back positions with skin-to-skin contact can encourage your baby's interest in feeding. In laid-back positions babies often attach and feed when in light sleep so it helps to spend substantial periods of time with your sleepy baby against you. When you notice the little movements that indicate your baby is moving into a light period of sleep you can encourage them to latch.

How laid back breastfeeding works

You lay back in a comfortable, supported semi-reclining position (not flat) that opens up your body, creating space for your baby.

Your baby lies against you, their whole front against your body, vertically or at any comfortable angle.

Your baby feels stable and secure and their instinctive feeding reflexes are triggered, prompting them to bob their head and seek out the breast.

Gravity helps them latch deeply and stay latched, rather than hindering the process.

Your hands are free to support and caress your baby and help them attach.

Your body releases the hormones that stimulate milk production and make you experience loving feelings towards your baby.

There are no rules-you and your baby are free to work it out between yourselves.

Latching on - getting a good attachment

Your baby needs to tip their head back and reach forward with their lower jaw. As your baby tips their head back their jaw drops and their mouth opens wide, so they can anchor their chin and lower lip firmly against your breast. If they have to tuck their chin in to reach the nipple they won't be able to open their mouth so wide. Tipping their head back also makes a deep latch possible, swallowing easier, and frees up their nose for comfortable breathing. In laid-back positions lay your baby with their head between your breasts. If you are sitting up, keep your supporting hand away from the back of their head. Babies tend to creep forward, so try shifting them so that their eyes and nose are opposite the nipple to encourage them to reach forward and anchor their chin first. In sitting or side lying positions a little push between the shoulder blades with your supporting hand or arm as they latch brings their chest in closer and helps their head tip back.

Their lower jaw needs a clear space to anchor. Think about how you might take a mouthful from a big sandwich by placing your lower jaw first then opening your mouth to accommodate the top of the sandwich-the principle is the same. Your baby's lower jaw needs to be deeply placed on your breast well away from the nipple. Keep the fingers of your supporting hand away from the place where their chin and lower jaw need to be so their lower lip and chin can sink into your breast. Your baby's chin needs to stay firmly in contact with your breast.

Your baby needs a big mouthful. When a baby chews on a nipple, this compresses the milk ducts, prevents milk flowing and hurts. When a baby has a good big mouthful of breast beyond the nipple, breastfeeding is comfortable and milk can flow. Some women like (or need) to hold their breast when nursing. They flatten their breast as they would a big sandwich they were offering to the baby, matching it to the oval of his mouth. This can help their baby grasp more breast tissue. It doesn't matter if fingers are closer to the upper jaw but try to keep the "lower jaw fingers" out of your baby's way. Biological Nurturing™ positions make use of gravity to help a baby get a bigger mouthful.

The exaggerated latch. To get an even deeper latch you could try this optional extra. Place your thumb or finger near the base of the nipple where the middle of your baby's upper lip will be, lined up with their nose. If you press, your nipple will tilt away from your baby, presenting them with your breast rather than your nipple. Avoid pressing your nipple into their mouth. As they open wide, snuggle them in close and use your thumb or finger to tuck the breast into their mouth. Your nipple will be taken in last and unroll in their mouth. You can then slip your finger out.

Our own video below demonstrates flipple technique (aka exaggerated latch), it can be very helpful for getting an effective pain free latch:

Let your breast rest at its natural level. It can be tempting to lift your breast and move it towards your baby's mouth. If you do this, your baby probably won't get a full mouthful, and after a while your hand will get tired and the breast will drop and slip out of their mouth. Breastfeeding pillows can get in the way too because they lift a baby up too high and prevent you tucking them in against your tummy. See where your breasts naturally rest and hold your baby accordingly. If you need them, tuck pillows in after they are well attached.

Bring baby to breast, not breast to baby. Since breasts are attached to you and you baby is moveable it makes much more sense to bring your baby to the breast, not the other way round! And it works better too. With their body tucked firmly against you (or laid on top of your body), your baby will feel more stable and have better head control, and you'll feel a lot more comfortable too.

It's easier to latch onto a softer breast. It's much easier to get a deep mouthful if the breast is soft so breastfeed frequently to avoid engorgement. When your baby bobs their head and licks the nipple, it naturally makes it easier to latch on. If your breast is full and hard, you can use reverse pressure softening to move fluids away from the nipple area so your baby can latch on well. Apply gentle steady pressure with your fingertips on the areola around your nipple for about a minute. You can also press with the sides of your thumbs or fingers. Denting the breast at the edge of the areola with a finger and placing your baby's chin in the dent may also help. Gently hand express a little milk too if needed.

Your baby needs to choose his own timing. Your baby will probably do best if they pick the moment to latch on. You can help by supporting them in a position that lets them do this when they are ready. To encourage your baby to gape hold them close against you, close enough to the breast so they know the nipple is there, but where they can't quite reach it. Be prepared for your baby to lick and nuzzle for several minutes before they are ready to open wide.

The natural or laid-back breastfeeding positions shown in the following videos can be a great help in encouraging your baby to latch on well, as well as being comfortable for you. You can recline comfortably with your baby on top of you with their whole front against you and their body completely supported by yours.

Best Beginnings' video demonstrates clearly how to make sure your baby is attaching well to the breast, you can view it here.

This video from Global Health Media demonstrates how to enable your baby to latch deeply on to your breast so that breastfeeding is comfortable for you and means your baby get enough milk:

This video from Raising Children.net.au shows how to attach your baby well, and shows a variety of comfortable breastfeeding positions:

Using different breastfeeding positions

The cradle hold

Although the cradle hold is one of the most common nursing positions it can be a challenge for new mothers to learn. You need to hold your baby's body firmly against you to give them stability because their weight is supported mainly by your arms. Shifting so you are sitting on your tailbone, rather than upright can help stability and reduce the strain on your arms (see picture right). It can be difficult to control a baby's head and to keep them high enough and close enough to your breast. A small baby may tend to curl up in a ball in this position if not pulled in closely enough against your body. It may not be the best choice at first if you're experiencing any problems with latch-on, milk transfer or if you have sore nipples. Once you're more confident with breastfeeding, you may find you use a version of the cradle hold much of the time, especially when out and about.

Your baby's whole front is against your tummy, their hip resting on or near your thigh, tucked around you like a comma. Their chest will be snuggled into the breast and your nipple near their nose.

Their head is resting on your forearm and/ or wrist (not the crook of the elbow).

As your baby opens their mouth to take the breast, pull their body in firmly against you.

Once your baby is attached, settle back a little for your own comfort and so that more of their weight is taken by your body.

Laid back breastfeeding

Remember that Biological Nurturing™ positions aren't just for the first week or two. They can be really useful later on when you want to relax, and especially if you are breastfeeding more than one baby or if your baby is fussy or unwell.

The cross-cradle hold

The cross-cradle position can be useful in the early days because it gives you more control in guiding your baby to the breast. It can be uncomfortable to maintain without good support under your arms, especially with larger babies, so once your baby is attached, switch arms as shown in the picture below. After the first few weeks and as your baby grows longer and heavier, you may prefer to use other comfortable holds. Avoid touching the top or back of your baby's head because it often causes a baby to pull back from the breast. Forcing a baby onto the breast by firmly holding the back of the head usually has the opposite effect and can put a baby off breastfeeding.

Cross cradle

Tuck their whole front against your tummy, their hip near or resting on your thigh.

Your hand supports their neck (not the back of the head) with your palm between their shoulder blades.

Your other hand is free to shape or stabilise your breast if needed.

Make sure your baby isn't too far round the front-line them up so their eyes and nose are near the nipple.

As your baby opens their mouth, give a little push with the palm of your hand to bring their chest in close against you.

This will help their head tip back and let them plant their chin deeply against your breast.

Once your baby is attached you can bring your other arm round to support your baby's body and settle back a little for your own comfort and so that more of his weight is taken by your body. Hold your baby with the arm opposite to the breast he's going to latch onto.

The underarm (clutch or rugby) hold

The underarm hold is useful if you have had a caesarean birth. It helps keep the weight of your baby off your incision. It is also a good position for mothers with flat or inverted nipples and for babies with latch-on or sucking problems because it offers you a good view of baby and breast and control of your baby's head. You can also feed two babies at once in this position. For larger, longer babies you may need extra cushions behind your back to bring you further forward and allow space for your baby's length.

Your baby's front is close against your side, with your hand under their shoulders and neck.

Your elbow keeps them tucked closely against your body.

Your baby approaches your breast from below. This can work well if you have large breasts. If you have smaller breasts you may need to bring your baby into a semi-sitting position.

Make sure your baby isn't too far round the front. You may need a cushion between your back and the chair back to allow room for your baby's length and prevent them pushing themselves forward with his feet.

Side lying

This side-lying position is helpful if you are recovering from a caesarean birth or an episiotomy and invaluable for nursing in bed during the night.
It can take a while to get the knack but it's well worth persisting because it can make night feeds so much easier.
Some mothers decide to sleep with their baby alongside them. Others choose to move their baby back onto a separate sleep surface.
Safe Sleep and the Breastfed Baby will help you decide on the safest sleep arrangements for your family, based on your own individual circumstances.

* Lie on your side, with your knees bent up and a pillow under your head.
* Place your baby on their side facing you so that their body and your body form a V-shape, meeting at your hips, with your nipple level with their nose or eyes.
* You can put your arm under your baby's head as shown, or up by the pillow with your baby lying on the bed.
* As your baby latches, give a little push between their shoulder blades to bring their chest in closer and help their head to tip back and their mouth to
open wide.
* You may find it helpful to tuck a small pillow or rolled blanket behind the small of your back and/or between your knees.

Standing up

At some feeds babies just do better if you stand up. You can sway or bounce gently to help calm your baby, and the lack of a lap can be helpful. As always keep your baby nice and stable and let them lead the way. Try angling their legs down instead of holding them horizontal, and see what happens. Or try starting with them against your shoulder, supporting them as he moves down to the breast. Even when using other positions, sometimes just standing up and sitting down again straight away helps everything settle into a comfortable position.

As time goes by

Whether you choose to breastfeed sitting up, reclining or lying on your side, you will need to adjust how you support your baby as he grows in length and weight. Use the principles shown here as you experiment with different positions. Sometimes there are physical or medical causes for pain or discomfort such as tongue tie or a thrush infection. If you are still finding it difficult to get comfortable, do persist with seeking further and continued support. There is almost always a breastfeeding solution to breastfeeding problems. You can contact an LLL Leader by calling our Helpline. You can also find support and encouragement from breastfeeding mothers in your local LLL group.

Written by Sue Upstone, Karen Butler and mothers of LLLGB

Further Reading

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

Mastitis
Beginning Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Your Baby - easy read
Caesarean Birth & Breastfeeding
Comfortable Breastfeeding - easy read
Skin-to-Skin
Engorged Breasts - Avoiding & Treating
Hand Expression of Breastmilk
Inverted Nipples
My Baby Needs More Milk
My Baby Won't Breastfeed
Nipple Confusion?
Nipple Pain
Nipple Shields
Nursing Supplementers
Safe Sleep & the Breastfed Baby
Sleepy Baby - Why & What To Do
Tongue Tie
Too Much Milk & Oversupply

LLLI Resources
Position to breastfeed

Other resources
How to do Biological Nurturing: www.biologicalnurturing.com/video/bn3clip.html
Best Beginnings videos to watch online: www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/watch-fbtb

References
Breastfeeding Answers Made Simple. Mohrbacher, N. Amarillo, TX: Hale Publishing, 2010.
Biological Nurturing: Laid-back breastfeeding for mothers (DVD). Colson, S. et al. 2012.
An Introduction to Biological Nurturing; New angles on breastfeeding, Colson S. Amarillo, TX: Hale Publishing, 2010.
Supporting Sucking Skills, Watson Genna, C. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett, 2012.

This information is available to buy in printed form form the LLLGB Shop.
It is also available in kindle edition.

Information, references and links on this page are taken from La Leche League resources, unless stated otherwise. Please note that LLLGB does not endorse information from outside sources, extra information is provided for you to consider. Information supplied is not intended as advice, and you are in the best position to make a decision as to how the information offered will affect you and your baby.

Copyright LLLGB 2016

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Positioning & Attachment - La Leche League GB

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Good positioning and attachment is important for maintaining milk production. A baby who attaches deeply at the breast is able to remove milk effectively.

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A short video by Lucy Webber IBCLC showing a deep latch technique.

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Disagreements are normal in any relationship, but when they become frequent, intense or unresolved, they can have negative impacts on the wellbeing of you and your children.

Healthy Relationships offer tools, sessions and 1-2-1 support to reduce conflict and improve families lives by giving you the tools and knowledge to see things differently, listen and create opportunities to communicate better and reduce stress.

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Find out more about free Healthy Relationships workshops at your local Family Hub in Northumberland.

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Having a child can be the most rewarding and also most challenging time in anybody's life, but you are not alone. Personalised support is available to new and expecting mothers, fathers and and significant others (up until a child is two), who are experiencing mental health issues.

Support is available for:

Understanding low mood

Breastfeeding

Connecting with other parents

Feeling less worried about parenting

Establishing routines

Feeling less anxious

Accessing services

Contact your local Family Hub or speak to your midwife/ health visitor to learn more.

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Talking Therapies are effective and confidential treatments delivered by fully trained and accredited NHS practitioners. They can help if you're struggling with things like feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety or PTSD.

Support is available in person, by video, over the phone, or as an online course. You need to be registered with a GP to access Talking Therapies.

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How to access free psychological therapies (talking therapies) like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling and guided self-help on the NHS.

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Virtual Parentcraft Sessions run by midwives from Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust.

Labour and Birth - first Thursday of the month 6-8pm

Postnatal Care - second Thursday of the month 6-8pm

Fit for Pregnancy, Labour, Birth and Beyond - third Thursday of the month 6-8pm

Breastfeeding in the Early Days - fourth Thursday of the month 6-8pm

Next Birth after Caesarean - first Wednesday of the month 6-7pm

Sign up at Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust Events - 5 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite

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Infant Feeding Drop-In Session available every Saturday 09:00-13:00 at North Tyneside General Hospital - Antenatal Clinic

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Sometimes we worry that baby might not be getting enough milk, these are some signs to look out for to consider whether your baby is receiving enough milk.

There is further information at Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk? - La Leche League GB

and How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk? - The Breastfeeding Network

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La Leche League have some resources available in other languages on their website.

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Support in languages other than English - La Leche League GB

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LLLGB resources LLLGB breastfeeding information in Welsh is now available on our website. Bwydo ar y fron Hanfodion bwydo ar y fron A yw fy mabi’n cael digon o laeth? Our Leaders offer support to Mums in the following languages: Afrikaans, Bemba, British sign language, Croatian, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, […]

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Breastfeeding guidance in other languages from Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative

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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)

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Foreign language resources - Baby Friendly Initiative

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These infosheets are available in multiple languages and can be used to support parents with feeding and responding to their baby.

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Guidance for parents of twins or triplets on Safer Sleeping from The Twin's Trust.

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Helpful information from La Leche League on twins and more.

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Learning you are pregnant with twins, triplets or more changes your expectations and plans. But your decision to breastfeed doesn't have to change.

Breastmilk is especially important for multiples, who are often small at birth and need all the health benefits it provides. Breastfeeding also helps you create a special bond with each of your babies. Many mothers have nursed their multiples; you can enjoy nurturing your babies this way, too.

Planning ahead

Attend La Leche League meetings or our Antenatal Breastfeeding classes in pregnancy to learn about breastfeeding and meet breastfeeding mothers. Do read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, Mothering Multiples by Karen Gromada and our page on Birth and Breastfeeding.

A healthy diet with plenty of protein, complex carbohydrates and good fats will get you all off to a good start. Gaining healthy amounts of weight during pregnancy is good for your babies' birth weights and may also help prevent premature birth.

Even with good care, you might experience complications during pregnancy so it helps to be prepared. Ask your midwife for information on warning signs for premature labour. Seek medical attention quickly if any occur, or you have any of these symptoms: a severe headache or stomach ache, see spots in front of your eyes, or feel extremely irritable or tense.

Limit visitors

Limit visitors while in hospital and in the early days to those you feel comfortable breastfeeding in front of. When nursing two babies at once, you may feel exposed, at least until you can manage both babies and keeping your breasts covered (if you feel you want to). Tell friends and family you need time to recover and suggest they visit later, or drop round a meal!

Separation

Any separation after birth may make breastfeeding harder, but it's still possible. Hold, or at least touch, your babies immediately after the birth or as soon as you can. You can still touch and stroke a baby in special care and may be able to hold him against you in 'kangaroo mother care'. If he can't breastfeed, express your milk for him. This is the most important thing you can do whilst you are waiting to start breastfeeding. When you are back together, spend as much time as possible snuggling together skin-to-skin or lightly dressed to establish breastfeeding.

If you need to express your milk because one or both babies can't nurse, hand expression is useful in the first few days. Plan to express from both breasts at least eight times in 24 hours, about every two to three hours during the day and at least once during the night. As your milk increases, you can switch to a hospital grade automatic electric pump.

Once breastfeeding is established, mothers of multiples often find nursing two at once is easiest and it saves time to co-ordinate feeds. Biological Nurturing ™ positions can leave your hands free.

Breastfeeding at night lying down gives you more rest. It gets easier as your babies grow. In the meantime, use enough pillows to recline in bed and feed two babies at once. Keep a drink and snack handy plus books or music to pass the time. See Safer Sleep and the Breastfed Baby.

Making enough milk

The more milk your babies take, the more your breasts will make. This is especially important in the first few weeks. Since mothers of multiples usually experience more breast development during pregnancy, mothers of twins can almost always produce enough milk for both babies, and triplets can also be totally breastfed.

See Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?

Encourage each baby to feed at least 8-10 times in 24 hours. If one of your babies is too sleepy or groggy to rouse himself every few hours, you will need to wake him to feed to ensure he gets enough milk. See our page Sleepy Baby-why and what to do.

At first you may feel you are doing nothing but feeding, but things will settle down as your babies grow and your milk production adjusts. Practical help with everything else will allow you to sit or lie down and concentrate on the important job of establishing breastfeeding.

Looking after yourself

You'll be busy looking after your babies but don't forget to look after yourself too. Try to eat a balanced diet and drink enough. Get as much rest as possible, and sleep whenever your babies sleep.

Looking after your babies will be a full-time job for quite a while so expect to do only the absolute minimum of housework.

Others will offer help with housework or entertaining older children-do accept if you feel you want to and make an effort to ask for help when you need it. Have a list of simple tasks ready to make it easier when people do offer help and you could share information from our pageSupporting a Breastfeeding Mother.

Your partner or support person will have a crucial role both practically and emotionally. Because they are needed so much, non-gestational parents of multiples have the opportunity to quickly develop close relationships with their babies. Other family members may also enjoy the chance to be practically involved. Take moments to appreciate this special time and be proud that you can nourish and nurture two or more little human beings at once!

Other sources of practical help

Midwives, health visitors, clinics and surgeries.

Homestart - a charity which offers support and friendship to families who are struggling to cope for a variety of reasons.

Local college students studying child development or members of local community groups.

Mixed feelings

Parents of twins or more often have mixed emotions about their multiple babies. It's normal to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of caring for two or more babies at once.

It can really help to talk to another family in the same situation. Your local LLL Leader can put you in touch with other mothers who have breastfed multiples, some LLL groups have Facebook support groups specifically for mothers of multiples. There may also be a local twins support group near you (see Further Information section). Adjusting to Motherhood has practical tips on dealing with feelings too.

Practicalities of getting out

It's daunting leaving the house with more than one baby. Start by going out briefly with someone else to help.

Keep a changing bag packed and ready. A backpack leaves your hands free.

Keep valuables and keys safe to hand in a waist pack or small bag across your chest.

Consider using a sling or carrier for one baby even when out with a pushchair. A double pushchair can be useful for carrying shopping too.

Alternate which baby gets carried: it's easy to overlook a quieter baby's need for closeness if one fusses more when out and about.

Think about suitable places for feeding ahead of time. Look out for your babies' early feeding cues so you can offer a feed before they start to fuss and attract attention from others.

Get to know your babies: with time, you will come to know your babies as individuals. Take opportunities to give them a little undivided attention: feeding, nappy changes etc. A few minutes here and there all add up. Their personalities will soon show through.

Finding support

It's OK to ask for help-it can take a while for breastfeeding to become easy, or for your babies to learn to breastfeed effectively. It will get easier as time goes on. You can get skilled help from an LLL Leader by calling our Helpline. Seek support and encouragement from the mothers in your local LLL group.

Written by Sue Upstone and mothers of LLLGB, photos courtesy of Sarah W.

Further Reading

Adjusting to Motherhood
Antenatal Expression of Colostrum
Birth and Breastfeeding
Caesarean Birth and Breastfeeding
Hand Expression of Breastmilk
My Baby Needs More Milk
Sleepy Baby - Why and What to Do
Supporting A Breastfeeding Mother
Mothering through special care

LLLI Resources
Breastfeeding Premature Babies

Other websites
Information on nursing multiples by the author of Mothering Multiples.
Website and blog of Krista Gray, IBCLC and mother of twins.
Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets by Kathryn Stagg, IBCLC

Books

The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding. LLLI, London: Pinter & Martin, 2010.
Hold your Prem. Jill Bergman and Dr Nils Bergman. Cape Town: New Voices Publishing, 2010.
Mothering Multiples. Karen Kerkhoff Gromada. Schaumburg, IL: LLLI, 2007.
Breastfeeding Your Premature Baby. Gwen Gotsch. LLLI, 2002.

Further Information

Twins Trust provides information and support networks for families of twins or more. Tel: 0800 138 0509 (10 am-1 pm and 7pm-10pm, daily).

Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets UK is a charity providing breastfeeding information and support run by breastfeeding counsellors

This information is available to buy in printed form from our Shop.

Copyright LLLGB 2016

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Learning you are pregnant with twins, triplets or more changes your expectations and plans. But your decision to breastfeed doesn't have to change. Breastmilk is especially important for multiples, who are often small at birth and need all the health benefits it provides. Breastfeeding also helps you create a special bond with each of your [...]

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Information of breastfeeding twins from the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

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There is some helpful information on feeding twins and triplets on https://breastfeedingtwinsandtriplets.co.uk/

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

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If you need or choose to feed your baby breastmilk in a bottle, take a look at responsive feeding. This allows your baby to take the milk at their pace and take exactly how much they need.

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Information on what symptoms to look for, how to use self help measures and when to seek medical treatment if you suspect you have mastitis.

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This information was updated in December 2022. A PDF version is available here.

"I was surprised by how suddenly I felt ill. We went to a wedding and I only missed one feed.
Within a couple of hours I felt fluey and achey. My GP was reluctant to prescribe antibiotics,
saying they were often not needed if I kept feeding. I also took ibuprofen tablets which helped
me cope. I was surprised how well the self-help worked and that I never needed a prescription.
I felt very miserable and depressed when I had the symptoms, wondering whether
breastfeeding was worth all this - but once I felt better I remembered how good it feels."

Mastitis means inflammation of the breast.

The first sign of mastitis is a swollen usually painful area on the breast. On darker skin tones
there might be a darkening of the skin and on lighter skin tones this might be visible as a red
area on the breast. However, it is important to note that there could be no visible change in
skin colour at all. The inflammation and swelling is not always a sign of infection (WHO, 2000).
Harmful bacteria are not always present: antibiotics may not be needed if self-help measures
are started promptly. Very rarely mastitis can develop into a more serious condition which
needs urgent hospital admission and IV antibiotics (RCOG, 2012).

You may get mastitis when milk leaks into breast tissue from a blocked duct. The body reacts
in the same way as it does to an infection - by increasing blood supply. This produces the
inflammation.
NB You may not have all of the above signs during mastitis.
Prevention of Mastitis

A localised area in the breast which is painful to the touch, often in the outer upper
area. Some mums might notice a change of colour or a red area on their breast.

A lumpy breast which feels hot to touch.

The whole breast aches and may appear swollen and skin may be reddened or darker,
depending on skin tone.

Flu like symptoms - aching, increased temperature, shivering, feeling tearful and tired
(Jahanfar et al., 2013). This feeling can sometimes start very suddenly and get worse very quickly.

Signs that the Baby is Well Attached

Try to avoid suddenly going longer between feeds. If you are intending to reduce breastfeeding, cutting down gradually reduces the risk of mastitis.

Make sure your breasts don't become overfull

Avoid pressure on your breast from clothing and fingers

Start self-help measures at the first sign of any lumpy or swollen areas on your breast

Factors which make mastitis more likely:

Difficulty with attaching your baby to the breast - this may mean that the milk is not

being removed effectively and milk may leak into the breast tissue

Pressure from tight fitting clothing, particularly your bra, or a finger pressing into the

breast during feeds

Engorgement or a blocked duct

Sudden changes in how often the baby is feeding, leaving the breasts feeling full

Injuries, such as bumps or knocks from toddlers

Self-Help Measures
Mastitis starts with poor milk drainage. If your baby is not effectively attached to your breast,
or has difficulty feeding, it may be hard for the baby to remove the milk and some parts of
your breast may not be drained during a feed. Improving the way your baby is attached at
the breast will reduce the chance of you getting mastitis again. If in doubt, contact your
midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding peer supporter for help with attaching your baby for
feeding. You can also contact the National Breastfeeding Helpline.

Your baby's chin is firmly touching your breast.

Your baby's mouth is wide open

Your baby has a large mouthful of breast.

If you can see the darker skin around your nipple, you should see more dark skin above your baby's top lip than below your baby's bottom lip.

It doesn't hurt you when your baby feeds (although the first few sucks may feel strong).

No change in shape or colour of the nipple after feeds e.g. it should not be lipstick shaped or have a pressure line across the nipple

Your baby's cheeks stay rounded during sucking.

Your baby rhythmically takes sucks and swallows (it is normal for your baby to pause from time to time).

Your baby finishes the feed and comes off the breast on his or her own.

Your baby produces 6 or more heavy wet nappies every 24 hours (from 7 days old)

Your baby produces at least two yellow poos at least the size of a £2 coin every 24 hours (from 7-28 days old). See UNICEF's breastfeeding checklist for more details.

If your mastitis comes back after you have taken a full course of antibiotics, or is unusually severe, it is good practice to send a sample of milk for bacteria tests. This will help the GP chose the correct antibiotic for your symptoms (Jahanfar et al., 2013). For public health reasons doctors try to avoid antibiotics that are not essential or are unlikely to be effective. It is important that you finish the whole course of antibiotics to make sure that you recover fully and to help prevent the mastitis coming back with resistant bacteria (NICE NG15).
When should I contact my GP or health visitor? If you do not begin to feel better after 24 hours despite using self-help measures, or especially if you start to feel worse, you should speak to your GP or health visitor. You may need to take antibiotics.
These will also help to clear blocked ducts and engorgement. Most cases of mastitis can be improved or resolved with self-help measures.
When should I seek help urgently?

Keep on breastfeeding - you may feel ill, in pain, tearful or discouraged but continuing to breastfeed will help you to get better, and your breastmilk is still the best food for your baby

Feed your baby frequently and responsively (whenever your baby seems like they want to feed), and/or pump to your normal routine (Mitchell et al., 2022; Douglas 2022)

Don't attempt to "empty the breast" by prolonging feeds or expressing extra milk between feeds. You may see this suggested in some places, but the current research suggests you should aim to meet your baby's needs, but avoid increasing your supply beyond that as it could make the inflammation worse. (Mitchell et al., 2022; Douglas 2022)

Try to rest as much as you can, as this will help you recover

Check that your baby is effectively positioned and attached to your breast - if in doubt seek help from your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter, as even a minor tweak can make a difference.

Try feeding with your baby in different positions.

If necessary, soften your breast, by expressing a little milk or running warm water over it, so that the baby finds it easier to feed well.

Some mothers find warm compresses are soothing, and warmth on the nipple can aid let-down. However, take care using these as compresses that are too hot or used frequently could increase swelling and inflammation. Cool compresses may ease symptoms in between feeds. (Mitchell et al., 2022; Douglas 2022)

Avoid any firm pressure or massage to the breast, or use of items such as an electric toothbrush to massage lumps or sore areas. This could cause tissue damage and increase inflammation (Mitchell et al., 2022; Douglas 2022). Any pressure you apply to your breast should be no firmer than stroking a cat.

Check for clothing or anything else which is pressing into your breast. This includes a bra - some women find it helpful to go without.

Medical Treatment for Mastitis
If you feel these symptoms beginning again, start self-help measures right away.

You should contact your GP if the area becomes round and swollen or, if you can see redness or a change of colour on your skin and the pattern of the colour change/redness changes. Redness may be less visible on darker skin tones. Mastitis can develop into an abscess (a painful collection of pus). There is more information about this here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-abscess/.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend Flucloxacillin 500 milligrams four times a day as first line treatment with erythromycin 250-500 milligrams four times a day or cefalexin 250-500 milligrams four times a day if the mother is penicillin allergic. Other options have been suggested by Jahanfar et al., (2013).
If you feel seriously unwell, dizzy, confused, develop nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea or slurred speech along with the symptoms of mastitis you need to seek urgent medical attention. These can be signs that mastitis is developing into sepsis. If severe, this is a medical emergency which needs urgent hospital admission and IV antibiotics. (NHS Choices: Sepsis, RCOG, 2012:6.1)

This information comes from the Drugs in Breastmilk Service.
References

Ibuprofen reduces the inflammation, relieves pain and reduces temperature. Take 400mg three times a day after food. Ibuprofen should not be taken by women who have asthma, stomach ulcers or are allergic to aspirin. The levels of ibuprofen which pass to the baby are small. Ibuprofen is safe to take whilst breastfeeding. See https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/analgesics/ for more information.

Paracetamol relieves pain and reduces temperature but has no anti-inflammatory action. Take two 500mg tablets four times a day.

Aspirin should not be taken by breastfeeding mothers.

Antibiotics may be needed if no improvement is seen with self-help measures. Mostantibiotics can be safely taken whilst breastfeeding.

It is essential that breastfeeding is not interrupted during mastitis.

Note: Antibiotics can make the baby produce loose, runny motions and become irritable, colicky and restless. This lasts for a short time and will get better when you finish the antibiotics.

Jahanfar S, Ng CJ, Teng CL. Antibiotics for mastitis in breastfeeding women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD005458. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD005458.pub3 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD005458.pub3/abstract (accessed 19 November 2020)

Crepinsek MA, Crowe L, Michener K, Smart NA. Interventions for preventing mastitis after childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD007239. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD007239.pub3. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007239.pub3/full (December 2022)

Hale T., Medications and Mothers' Milk 2014 (16th Ed),

NICE guideline [NG194] Published: 20 April 2021 https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng194/chapter/Recommendations (accessed December 2022)

World Health Organization. 2000, Mastitis: causes and management, WHO: Geneva http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/66230/1/WHO_FCH_CAH_00.13_eng.pdf?ua=1.(accessed December 2022)

NICE guidelines [NG15] Antimicrobial stewardship: systems and processes for effective antimicrobial medicine use www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng15 (accessed December 2022)

NHS Choices: Sepsis www.nhs.uk/conditions/Bloodpoisoning/Pages/Introduction.aspx (accessed December 2022)

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) (2012) Green-top Guideline No. 64b. Bacterial Sepsis following Pregnancy: 6.1. www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gtg_64b.pdf (accessed December 2022)

Unicef: https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wpcontent/uploads/sites/2/2016/10/mothers_breastfeeding_checklist.pdf (Accessed December 2022)

Mitchell, K. B., Johnson, H. M., Rodríguez, J. M., Eglash, A., Scherzinger, C., Zakarija-Grkovic, I., Cash, K. W., Berens, P., Miller, B., & Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (2022). Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol #36: The Mastitis Spectrum, Revised 2022 Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding
Medicine, 17(5), 360-376. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2022.29207.kbm
Please note this information is not yet available in print. The previous print version has now been withdrawn and should no longer be used. A new print version is planned for 2023.
Douglas P. (2022). Re-thinking benign inflammation of the lactating breast: Classification,
prevention, and management. Women's health (London, England), 18, 17455057221091349.
https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057221091349

Original leaflet compiled by Wendy Jones MBE Pharmacist and Phyll Buchanan
Breastfeeding Network Supporter and Tutor, in 2015. With thanks to Magda Sachs who
developed earlier versions

This version revised 22 December 2022.

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Information on mastitis and breastfeeding, updated December 2022 and provided by the Breastfeeding Network

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Responsive bottle feeding and what formula to choose

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Responsive bottle feeding and what formula to choose

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Information on how you can responsively feed your baby with a bottle and what infant formula to choose.

Babies under 12 months should have Stage 1 milk and can move onto whole milk after 12 months.

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A study completed by Swansea University found that preparation machines did not heat the water to a high enough temperature to kill any bacteria in the formula milk. This poster shows the safet way to prepare a bottle of bottle as is also recommended by the NHS.

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Leaflet from the Breastfeeding Network to offer guidance on the expression and storage of your breastmilk.

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A video to show ineffective attachment and the effect that can have, including causing pain.

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This clip from Best Beginnings shows how ineffective attachment happens and how it can cause sore nipples.

You can see more of the 'From Bump to Breastfeeding' DVD on the Best Beginnings website.

Video not working? Contact us.

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Ineffective attachment video - Baby Friendly Initiative

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This clip from Best Beginnings shows how ineffective attachment happens and how it can cause sore nipples. Watch to learn more.

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A helpful video from Unicef to demonstrate positioning and attachment to the breast.

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In this video, a breastfeeding counsellor helps a mother with her positioning and attachment whilst breastfeeding.

Key to achieving the Baby Friendly standards is a workforce able to support mothers to breastfeed effectively. This video provides some guidance on this.

You can see more of the 'From Bump to Breastfeeding' DVD on the Best Beginnings website.

Video not working? Contact us

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Positioning and attachment video - Baby Friendly Initiativ

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In this video, a breastfeeding counsellor helps a mother with her positioning and attachment whilst breastfeeding. Watch to learn more.

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The benefits of skin to skin continue after the initial newborn period.

It can help with continuation of breastfeeding, comfort baby when they are upset or ill, build their immunity, boost oxytocin for both of you and help to reconnect after time apart.

It's great for both parents to enjoy skin to skin time with baby.

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If you have specific questions about medications or treatments, please message the Drugs in Breastmilk information service Facebook page or email druginformation@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk. If you require breastfeeding support, please call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212

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Click here for Growing Healthy Northumberland's Facebook page

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Click here for Maternity at Northumbria's Facebook page

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Did you know your baby's stomach is only the size of a cherry when they are first born? That is why colostrum is so concentrated to provide them with everything they need and also why they need to feed little & often. Their stomach expands as they grow and they will cluster feed to 'put their order in' for more milk to be made.

You can also see what to expect in the first 10 days for how many wet nappies they should be having and what colour to expect from the stools.

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A guide to buying products suitable for safe sleep.

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Baby product information - The Lullaby Trust

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It can be hard to know which products are safest for your baby to sleep in. We’re here to help you find the safest baby products…

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There are a number of parents who end up co-sleeping with their babies unplanned. Click here to find ways to minimise the risks and prepare your bed, if it were to happen unintentionally.

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This website provides detailed evidence based information on sharing a bed with your baby and other infant sleep questions.

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Research-based information on baby sleep for parents and practitioners, covering normal infant sleep, sleep safety, where and how babies sleep, SIDS and SUDI, parental sleep and free resources.

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Following safer sleep advice can significantly reduce the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (sometimes called SIDS or cot death) occurring. Follow this advice until your child is 12 months old (adjusted for premature babies).

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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.

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Safer sleep overview - The Lullaby Trust

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An easy guide to practicing safer sleep for your baby and reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, or cot death).

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An overview of recent studies relevant to infant feeding and parent-infant relationship building.

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Understanding the research

When reading these papers it is important to consider the methodology, sample sizes, response rates and reported findings to determine their relevance. Where systematic reviews or meta-analyses are available, allowing analysis of findings from a number of well-selected studies, these obviously provide a stronger evidence base on which it is possible to base arguments with greater conviction.

It is always important to bear in mind the following when considering the strength of any evidence:

Carrying out randomised controlled trials which are clearly recognised as the "gold standard" is not always possible as it is not ethical to randomly allocate mothers in a way which arbitrarily may decide that half of the group will bottle feed

Many studies are flawed by staff or mothers deviating from the protocol, as this may seem counter-intuitive or too hard to follow in the situation in which they are being cared for or living

Sample sizes, particularly for older infants, become very small, particularly in countries such as the UK with low breastfeeding continuation rates/exclusivity; it is therefore difficult to accurately infer statistics

In specialist areas such as caring for preterm infants, it is difficult to recruit mothers at such difficult times; again, small numbers are reflected in a lack of solid evidence about many aspects of care

Breastfeeding may be documented as having a "small protective effect" against certain illnesses. Whilst it is clearly accurate to say that that the risk of not breastfeeding is greater with some conditions than others, what is a "small protective effect" in one child is likely to have a much more dramatic effect across a whole population.

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Here you can access an overview of recent studies relevant to infant feeding and parent-infant relationship building.

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In this video, we look at the importance of developing close and loving relationships with babies in their early days and weeks.

Responding to babies’ needs for comfort and food is hugely beneficial for brain development and makes for more confident toddlers. Parents should be supported in breastfeeding responsively and keeping their babies close to help them become happy, healthy and secure children and adults.

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Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Importance of relationship building

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A good baby is a perception held by our society that babies should act in a certain way. Some baby care books take advantage of this by suggesting parents should encourage babies to be in a strict routine for their feeding and sleep.

This latest animation by Dr Amy Brown encourages new parents to put the books down and instead be more responsive to their baby's needs.

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School of Health & Social Care, Swansea University

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Why you might want to put the baby books down...

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The DadPad app is a great resource for new Dad's and Dad's to be.

As a new dad you will feel excited, but you may also feel left out, unsure or overwhelmed. The DadPad can help by giving you the knowledge and practical skills that you need.  The resource will support you and your partner to give your baby the best possible start in life.

Download the DadPad app:

To download on an Apple device click here: DadPad on the App Store (apple.com)

To download on an Android device: DadPad - Apps on Google Play

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I was a bit scared when we found out we were having a baby, obviously happy, but a bit scared and in the beginning I was a bit clueless. The child development part is my favourite bit, but there's things in there, like things about mental health, that I didn't know about and that I didn't know you needed to know about.

Ross, 22

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DadPad | The Essential Guide for New Dads | Support Guide for New Dads

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Developed with the NHS, DadPad gives new dads and dads-to-be the knowledge and skills needed to gain confidence and give their baby the best start in life.

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Find out about how building a strong relationship between you and your new baby supports your baby's development and gives them the best possible start in life.

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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

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Building a happy baby: A Guide for Parents Leaflet - Baby Friendly Initiative

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This leaflet helps parents to get to know their baby and to set up the foundations for a close and loving relationship.

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0345 1202918 - This is open from 8am to 11pm, 365 days a year

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You can call the postnatal ward up to 28 days after birth for support out of hours.

If it is during normal working hours we would recommend you contact your Community Midwife or Health Visitor.

Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) - 0191 607 2815

Berwick Infirmary - 01289 356622

Hillcrest Maternity Unit - 01665 626732

Hexham Midwifery Led Unit - 01434 655351 or 01434 655352

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The Breastfeeding Network and The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers provide the National Breastfeeding Helpline which is currently available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

They are there as a listening ear and to offer support & guidance, whatever your breastfeeding journey looks like.

Support is also available in Welsh, Polish, Bengali & Sylheti and for people who have hearing or speech impairments.

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The Growing Healthy Northumberland Infant Feeding team run peer support groups in the community called 'Feeding Friends'

These groups are a friendly place to socialise, meet other parents and access support.

We hope to see you there, whatever your feeding journey.

Mondays -

Ashington Family Hub 10-11:30

Tuesdays -

Prudhoe Family Hub - 10:00-11:30

(Alongside PEEP Stay & Play)

Cramlington Community Hub (Manor Walks)- 10:00-11:30 (Alongside baby weigh & stay)

Alnwick Family Hub - 10:00-11:30 (Alongside well baby clinic and Stay & Play)

Wednesdays -

Berwick Family Hub - 10:00-11:30 (Alongside well baby clinic)

Blyth West Family Hub 12:30-14:00 (Alongside baby weigh & stay)

Thursdays -

No groups

Fridays -

Hadston Family Hub - 10:00-11:30

(Alongside PEEP Baby Stay & Play weekly & well baby clinic that runs fortnightly)

Hexham Library - 10:00 - 11.30

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This video explains how your body makes breastmilk.

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Expecting a baby? - Find out how your milk making Superpower works! Check out our fab new video explaining all about how lactation works.

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Babies will give cues when they are hungry and they will stop feeding when they are full. Responsive Feeding is when you respond to yours and your baby's cues.

Babies are typically quite sleepy in the first 24 hours and then cluster feed from around 24-72 hours. This is normal!

Responsive breastfeeding is a relationship between you and your baby, that provides everything your baby needs for nutrition, and protection as well as supporting both of your emotional needs.

It's important you respond to baby's needs, but also to yours, for example if your breasts are feeling full

It's a great way to release the happy hormone, oxytocin for both of you, which helps with tiredness, pain, reassurance and bonding

You cannot overfeed a breastfed baby!

Responsive Bottle Feeding

Respond to your baby's cues of hunger and needing a break.

Holding your baby's bottle in the correct way means they will be able to pace themselves through the feed and take the amount they need.

Remember every feed is an opportunity to cuddle and build your relationship with your baby, to encourage their brain development.

Scroll across to the bottle feeding column to find out more about safe and responsive bottle feeding

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There are many benefits to uninterrupted skin to skin contact after birth for your baby, which can sometimes be referred to as the golden hour.

Babies are able to find their own way to the breast if they are given time and skin to skin:

calms and relaxes both mother and baby

regulates the baby’s heart rate and breathing, helping them to better adapt to life outside the womb

stimulates digestion and an interest in feeding

regulates temperature

enables colonisation of the baby’s skin with the mother’s friendly bacteria, thus providing protection against infection

stimulates the release of hormones to support breastfeeding and mothering.

It is a great way to get breastfeeding off to a good start, allowing them to explore how they can attach to the breast.

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We talk about responsive feeding and this video explains what that means.

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Best Beginnings - creators of Baby Buddy

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An introduction to responsive breastfeeding

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Colostrum harvesting is a great way to support your baby in the early days, regardless of your chosen feeding method. Which is why collecting colostrum antenatally is a great 'just in case' for hospital.

We recommend hand expressing from 36 weeks pregnant and bringing it in with you when you have your baby.

This video from Claire, the Infant Feeding Coordinator at Northumbria Health Care Trust explains why colostrum harvesting is helpful and how to do it.

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The Family Hubs are part of Northumberland County Council's Breastfeeding Friendly Scheme.

We are also encouraging local hospitality businesses, such as cafes, soft play centres and community spaces to sign up to show that you will be welcoming to breastfeeding Mothers when they are out in their community.

If you would like to know more or see which venues are registered please visit nland.cc/bff

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We are really proud that the Family Hubs in Northumberland were assessed and achieved full accreditation with UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative.

So what is the Baby Friendly Initiative?

Baby Friendly’s work to support breastfeeding is based on extensive and resounding evidence that breastfeeding saves lives, improves health and cuts costs in every country worldwide, rich and poor alike. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by the WHO recommends for babies until six months’ old and thereafter with other foods for two years and beyond.

In the UK, many mothers stop breastfeeding before they want to. We respond to the particular barriers they face by supporting health professionals to provide sensitive and effective care so that mothers can make an informed choice about feeding, get breastfeeding off to a good start and overcome any challenges.

Baby Friendly works to support all families to develop close and loving relationships with their newborn and to understand the importance of this for their baby’s development.

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Welcome to the Infant Feeding and Nurturing Babies information for the Family Hubs in Northumberland. We want this to be a space where you can access all of the information you need to help your baby have the best start in life.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, get in touch with your local Family Hub Find a Family Hub | Family Hubs (familyhubsnorthumberland.co.uk)

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